Published June 01, 2022 
Senate “Dear Colleague Letter” for Title VIII Funding Receives Strong Democratic Support
On May 25, a Democratically supported “Dear Colleague” letter, led by Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), was sent to the House Appropriations Subcommittee of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies requesting $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs in Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. Forty Senators signed onto this bipartisan letter supporting Title VIII programs. This letter reinforces the need for additional funding of these programs, which support nursing schools, faculty, and students. AACN will continue to monitor this process and looks forward to working with Congress as we continue to advocate for the Title VIII programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). To view the letter, click here.
AACN Board Chair Dr. Cynthia McCurren Testifies Before the House Appropriations Subcommittee
On May 26, Dr. Cynthia McCurren, Chair of the AACN Board of Directors, testified to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies requesting $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $210 million for NINR for FY 2023. Dr. McCurren’s request emphasized that funding is crucial for these programs in creating a more resilient and robust workforce with the need for further investments as growing demands for health care continue. To watch the testimony, click here. To view the press release, click here.
Follow AACN on Twitter at @AACNPolicy for more updates as we continue to advocate for the Title VIII programs and NINR.
The Center for American Progress Releases Report on the Nursing Shortage
On May 23, the Center for American Progress (CAP) released the report “How to Ease the Nursing Shortage in America.” The report shows that the COVID-19 pandemic has had an even a greater impact on the national nursing shortage, which was already present across much of the nation. CAP’s report specifically discusses how policymakers must invest in higher education, and how by addressing issues related to the social determinants of health and the nursing pipeline, it can strengthen the entire healthcare system. To read the full report, click here.