AAACN’s Advocacy Committee Updates, November 2023
In the past several months, AAACN’s active Advocacy Committee has represented AAACN and signed on to support many of the Nursing Community Coalition's (NCC) legislative initiatives:
| Supported Letter to Congressional Leadership Outlining Updated FY 2024 Funding AAACN signed on to 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 emphasized that now is not the time to go backwards on funding and advised Congress to avoid a long-term continuing resolution (CR) and fully fund these critical programs. |
| Welcomed the New Chief Nurse Officer at the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps AAACN helped to welcome RDML Jennifer Moon as the new Chief Nurse Officer at the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. |
| Thanked Members of Congress for Introducing the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act in the House of Representatives AAACN signed a letter to Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Brian Higgins (D-NY-26), Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), and Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), thanking them for introducing the bipartisan Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2023 (H.R.5080). |
| Thanked Senators for Introducing the I CAN Act AAACN signed a letter thanking Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Jeff Merkley, and Senator Cynthia Lummis, for introducing the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act (S.2418). |
| Sends Statement for the Record to the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health AAACN signed a statement for record for the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health hearing on, “VA’s Federal Supremacy Initiative: Putting Veterans First?” The NCC urged support for removing barriers to practice and allowing for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to practice to the full extent of their education and abilities within the VA. |
| Thanked Rep. Underwood and Sen. Booker for Introducing the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act AAACN signed a letter to Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) thanking them for introducing the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (H.R.3305/S.1606). |
| Thanked Sen. Merkley for Introducing the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2023 AAACN signed a letter to Sen. Jeff Merkley and a bipartisan group of 11 cosponsors, thanking them for introducing the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act (S.1446). |
| Thanked Sen. Warren and Rep. Lawler for Introducing the U.S. Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act AAACN signed letters to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY-17), along with a bipartisan group of 21 original cosponsors, thanking them for introducing the United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2023 (S.1633/ H.R. 3428). |
| Thanked House Nursing Caucus Co-Chairs and Vice Co-Chairs for Introducing the I CAN Act AAACN signed a letter thanking Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) for introducing the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R.2663/S.1176). |
| Thanked Representative Courtney and Senator Baldwin for Introducing the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act AAACN signed a letter thanking Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) for introducing the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R.2663/S.1176). |
| Thanked Members of Congress for Introducing the National Nursing Workforce Center Act AAACN signed a letter thanking Representatives Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-At-Large) and Young Kim (R-CA-40), as well as Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Sen. Thomas Tillis (R-NC), and eight cosponsors for introducing the National Nursing Workforce Center Act of 2023 (H.R.2411/S.1150). This bipartisan legislation would provide an important step forward as we look to gather additional data on the needs within the nursing workforce. |
| Thanked Congress for Introducing a Resolution Honoring and Recognizing National Nurses Week 2023 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 came as we celebrated National Nurses Week 2023. |