AAACN’s Advocacy Committee Updates
Members of the Advocacy Committee review legislative initiatives related to nursing practice on an ongoing basis. Through AAACN's involvement with the Nursing Community, a forum for professional nursing organizations to collaborate on a wide spectrum of healthcare and nursing issues, including practice, education, and research, the team reviews and determines if AAACN should support, or not support legislation that will affect AAACN members, and the practice of ambulatory care nursing.
In 2021-2022, AAACN’s active Advocacy Committee has represented AAACN and signed on to support many of the Nursing Community Coalition's (NCC) legislative initiatives below.
| Supported NDAA Amendment that Honors the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps AAACN signed onto a letter promoting recognition for the United States Cadet Nurse Corps in any final bill by retaining Sec. 5103 - Sense of Congress regarding women who served as cadet nurses during World War II. |
| Congratulated Under Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs AAACN signed onto a letter welcoming Dr. Shereef Elnahal to his new position and pledged to work with him to improve veterans’ health through nursing care. |
| Supported Legislation to Address Workplace Violence AAACN signed onto a letter to Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and original Senate cosponsors supported the introduction of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (S.4182) in the Senate and strongly urged the passage of this important legislation this Congress. |
| Thanked Congress for Introducing a Resolution Honoring and Recognizing National Nurses Week 2022 AAACN signed a thank you letter to Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chairs, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), as well as Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30), one of the three nurses in Congress, and House Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. David Joyce (R-OH-14), along with more than 70 bipartisan members in the House and Senate, for introducing S.Res.626/ H.Res.1100- A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, was observed from May 6 through May 12, 2022. |
| Supported Testimony to House and Senate Appropriation Subcommittees AAACN signed on to support written testimony submitted to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony featured the coalition's funding requests of $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2023. |
| Supported Letter to Congress Outlining Top Legislative Priorities AAACN signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action on top legislative priorities that impact nursing education, practice, and research. |
| Supported Letter to Congress on COVID-19 Waivers AAACN joined the NCC in urging Congress to take action to make waivers permanent beyond this Public Health Emergency. |
| Supported FY 2023 Appropriations Requests to House and Senate LHHS-ED Appropriations Subcommittees AAACN signed onto letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies outlining the funding requests of $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for FY 2023. |
| Congratulated Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality AAACN signed on to a letter welcoming Dr. Robert "Bob" Otto Valdez, who was recently named Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. |
| Urged House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees to Advance the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act this Congress AAACN signed onto letters to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees urging them to pass S.1220/H.R.2568 - United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2021 this Congress. House | Senate |
| Congratulated the Administrator of the Health Resources & Services Administration Signed onto a letter welcoming Carole Johnson, who was recently selected to be the Administrator of the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA). |
| Supported Letter to Senators Backing Shared Nursing Priorities in Build Back Better Act AAACN supported a letter urging the Senate to advance sound policies within the Build Back Better Act, including support for nursing education pathways, the Nurse Corps, and Momnibus. |
| Supported Letter to Appropriators Reiterating FY 2022 Funding Requests AAACN signed on to support a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees requesting at least $314.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce and Development Programs and at least $200.782 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. |
| Supported Letter to Congress on COVID-19 Blanket Waivers AAACN backed a letter urging Congress to take action to make waivers permanent beyond this Public Health Emergency (PHE). |
| Backed Letter to Senators Outlining Shared Build Back Better Act Priorities AAACN signed onto a letter strongly urging the Senate to preserve shared nursing priorities, including support for nursing education pathways, the Nurse Corps, and Momnibus, in their Build Back Better Act. |
| Supported Letter to Appropriators Updating FY 2022 Funding Requests AAACN signed onto a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees requesting at least $314.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce and Development Programs and at least $200.782 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. |
| Urged House Veterans' Affairs Committee to Advance the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act AAACN signed onto a letter to the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee urging them to support and advance S.1220/H.R.2568 - United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2021. |
| Congratulated Deputy Administrator and Director of Center for Medicare AAACN signed onto a letter welcoming Dr. Meena Seshamani, who was recently selected to be the Deputy Administrator and Director of Center for Medicare at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). |
| Congratulated Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response AAACN signed onto a letter welcoming Ms. Dawn O’Connell, who was recently confirmed as the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response at the Department of Health and Human Services. |
| Congratulated Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use AAACN signed onto a letter welcoming Dr. Miriam E. Delphin-Rittmon, who was recently confirmed as the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use at the Department of Health and Human Services. |
| Supported Letter to Congress Outlining Shared Public Health Infrastructure Priorities AAACN signed onto a letter to Congressional Leadership and key Committees outlining our shared public health, education, and workforce priorities and urged their inclusion in any infrastructure package. |
| Backed Testimony to Senate Appropriation Subcommittee AAACN signed onto written testimony submitted to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony featured the coalition's funding requests of $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $199.755 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2022. |
| Congratulated Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services AAACN signed onto a letter welcoming Andrea Palm, who was recently confirmed as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. |
| Congratulated Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services AAACN signed onto a letter welcoming Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, who was recently confirmed as the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). |
| Congratulated to U.S. Secretary of Labor AAACN signed onto a letter welcoming Mr. Martin Walsh, who was recently confirmed as the 29th Secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor. |
| Backed Testimony to House Appropriation Subcommittee AAACN signed onto written testimony signed submitted to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony featured the coalition's funding requests of $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $193 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2022. |
| Thanked Rep. Underwood and Sen. Booker for Introducing the Momnibus Act AAACN signed onto a thank you letter to Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) for introducing the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act of 2021 (H.R. 959/S.346). The Momnibus Act provides a multipronged approach to addressing maternal health in the United States. |
| Congratulated Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services AAACN signed onto a letter congratulating recently confirmed Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Rachel Levine, and welcoming her as she begins work to ensure all individuals receive the healthcare they deserve. |
| Congratulated U.S. Surgeon General AAACN signed onto a letter congratulating recently confirmed U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, welcoming him to his new position and thanking him for his commitment to public health, ensuring the health of underrepresented communities, and combating the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| Legislation to Address Workplace Violence AAACN signed onto a letter to Congressional Leadership urging for consideration and passage of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1195). |
| Congratulated U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services AAACN signed onto a letter congratulating recently confirmed U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, Xavier Becerra, welcoming him to his new position and outlining our shared priorities to combat COVID‐19, preserve critical advancements, and support the health of our nation. |
| Backed Appropriations Request to House and Senate LHHS-ED Appropriations Subcommittees AAACN signed onto letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies outlining the funding request levels of $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $193 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for FY 2022. |
| Congratulated U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs AAACN signed onto a letter to the recently confirmed U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough, welcoming him to his new position and pledging to work with him to improve veteran's health through nursing care. |
| Supported Letter to Congress Outlining Shared COVID-19 Priorities AAACN signed onto a letter to Congressional Leadership and key Committee Members, urging them to include shared legislative priorities in the COVID-19 relief package. |
| Congratulated Chairwoman DeLauro on her Leadership of the House Appropriations Committee AAACN signed onto a letter congratulating Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) on her election as Chair to the House Committee on Appropriations. |
| Welcomed 117th Congress AAACN signed onto a letter that welcomed Senators and Representatives to the 117th Congress and outlined our shared priorities to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, invest in Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs, and support nursing research. The NCC looks forward to working with the new Congress to support our current and future nursing workforce. |