Policy Watch: Congressional Briefing and Call for Nominations

The Department of Health and Human Services has issued a call for nominations for a new Healthcare Advisory Committee to advise the HHS Secretary and the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on programs and policies that can help improve the US healthcare system. We need to ensure nursing is at the table! If you have a potential candidate for nomination, or are interested in serving in this capacity, please fill out this survey by COB, Monday, September 15, 2025.

AACN Joins Congressional Briefing on Nursing Education, Workforce, and Research

• On September 4, the Nursing Community Coalition, which AACN convenes, hosted a Congressional Briefing on the top three ways members of Congress can support the nursing workforce. We were pleased to have panelists from five nursing organizations join this conversation, including our Government Affairs Committee member, Dr. Melody Eaton. House Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), commenced this briefing by outlining the importance of funding nursing workforce programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research, as well as support for more nursing faculty.

Federal Policy Updates

• Breaking News: The House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health has advanced the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R.3593) to the full Committee. AACN will continue to update the membership as we have additional information.
• The Department of Education and Department of Labor move to integrate education and workforce systems through staff detail, integrated state plan portal, and centralizing program funds.
• HHS's MAHA Commission released a new report, the Make Our Children Healthy Again Strategy.

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