Back to News Policy Watch: AACN Policy & Advocacy 2026 Mid-Year Review Wednesday, July 1, 2026 | Policy & Advocacy As we reach the midpoint of 2026 and near the end of the 119th Congress, AACN remains committed to advocating for academic nursing and keeping our members up to date on the latest developments in the legislative and policy arena. We are proud to present our 2026 Mid-Year Review, covering AACN’s advocacy activities and key accomplishments during the first half of this year. Click here or the image below to see the full Mid-Year Review. In Case You Missed It On June 24, the Senate voted not to advance S.J.Res.196, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution led by Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) that would have overturned the U.S. Department of Education's RISE Committee final rule. During floor debate, Sen. Merkley highlighted AACN data as he supported nursing as a professional degree (see remarks in Senate Session, Part 2 beginning at 06:22:20). Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) also spoke on the issue. Read Sen. Merkley’s press release here. Apply Today! Title VIII Grant Application Deadlines Fast Approaching: Nursing Workforce Development Program. Apply by July 8. Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP). Apply by July 10. Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention (NEPQR) – Transition to Practice (TPP). Apply by July 17. On June 29, the Department of Education released the Student Tuition and Transparency System (STATS) and Earnings Accountability rule, which establishes a new accountability framework that measures whether college programs lead to stronger earnings after graduation. View all updates from Policy Watch