AAACN Supports Nursing Legislation – August 2024
In recent months, AAACN’s active Advocacy Committee has proudly represented AAACN in supporting numerous legislative initiatives from the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) and beyond:
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AAACN endorsed US Representative Jill Tokuda’s Strengthening Pathways to Health Professions Act seeks to grow and strengthen the healthcare workforce and expand access to health professions training. Specifically, the bill would extend tax-exempt status to certain health workforce education scholarship and loan programs, enabling the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to make additional and higher awards to residents, clinicians, and students and faculty in health professions schools. National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment program funds are currently exempt from federal income and employment taxes. |
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NCC Sends Letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Reiterating FY 2025 Funding Priorities AAACN endorsed a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee reiterating support for at least $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in FY 2025. This letter underscores the need for bold investments after the House Appropriations Committee proposed decreases for these essential programs. |
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NCC Thanks Congress for Introducing a Resolution Honoring and Recognizing National Nurses Week 2024 AAACN signed onto a letter thanking the leadership of the House and Senate Nursing Caucuses, along with 27 bipartisan members in the House and Senate, for introducing S.Res.676 and H.Res.1208 - a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2024. |
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NCC Sends Letter to Congress Outlining Top Legislative Priorities During National Nurses Week AAACN signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action on top appropriations and legislative priorities that impact nursing education, workforce, and research. This letter comes as we celebrate National Nurses Week 2024. |
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NCC Submits Testimony to House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees AAACN signed onto 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 at least $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2025. |
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NCC Sends FY 2025 Appropriations Requests to House and Senate LHHS-ED Appropriations Subcommittees AAACN signed onto a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies outlining the funding requests of at least $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. |
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AAACN supported a letter thanking Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and House Nursing Caucus Vice Co-Chair and nurse, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), for reintroducing the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act (H.R.7266/S.3770). This bill would help enhance enrollment and recruitment of nursing students, hire and retain faculty, and support the modernization of nursing education infrastructure. |
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AAACN signed onto a letter thanking Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), along with other supporters, for introducing the Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act (S.2815/H.R.7002). The letter also urged Congress to take up and pass this bill before the end of the year. This legislation would provide much needed grant funding to close the pay gap between faculty and clinical nurses. |
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AAACN endorsed a letter outlining opposition to H.R.3347/S.2070, the Protect Lifesaving Anesthesia Care for Veterans Act of 2023. H.R.3347/S.2070 would unnecessarily, and unjustifiably, restrict access for our CRNAs within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), adversely impacting the health care of our nation’s veterans. |
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AAACN endorsed a letter to Congressional Leadership, as well as to House and Senate Appropriations Committees, requesting at least $302.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $197.693 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in fiscal year (FY) 2024, as outlined in the Senate Appropriations Committee passed bill. The NCC urged Congress to avoid a long-term continuing resolution (CR) and fully fund these critical programs. |