Policy Watch: NINR Strategic Plan Input & Legislative Priorities

Input Requested: NINR Releases RFI for FY 2027-2031 Strategic Plan

The National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) is seeking public input on its Strategic Plan for FY 2027–2031, including priorities related to emerging science, workforce and education, innovation, care settings, and partnerships. AACN is responding to this strategic plan and we need your help! Please provide your feedback using this form by October 2, to ensure that AACN’s response reflects the needs and priorities of academic nursing.

Policy Snapshots This Week

• AACN submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the CY 2027 Physician Fee Schedule, underscoring the need to invest in graduate nursing education and ensure nurses are included in policy conversations.
• AACN led a Friends of Nursing letter that included 167 national and state organizations urging Congress to pass the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act (S.1874/H.R.3593) this year.
• AACN signed onto a Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) letter welcoming Dr. Courtney F. Aklin as the new director of the National Institute of Nursing Research.

Sponsor Today! Support AACN’s 2027 Student Policy Summit

Empower your students to become the next generation of nurse advocates at AACN’s 2027 Student Policy Summit scheduled in March! Sponsoring helps showcase your institution to attendees and supports students as they enjoy the Summit and Hill Day experience. To register your students for the 2027 Summit, click here, and to learn more about sponsoring, click here.

Did You Know? AACN Convenes a University Government Relations Collaborative

The University Government Relations Collaborative (UGRC) provides government relations staff who represent AACN schools of nursing and related health systems with a direct link to AACN’s Government Affairs and Policy team and information concerning nursing education, advocacy initiatives, and other federal policy work. To have your school join this collaborative, please contact AACN’s Government Affairs and Policy Manager, Amanda Rosensky, at arosensky@aacnnursing.org.

Take Action Today! Support Title VIII Reauthorization & Other Legislative Priorities

With only a handful of legislative days left this year, it is imperative that your federal representative and senators hear directly from you! Please click the links below to reach out to members of Congress TODAY and urge them to support the following efforts to support our nursing schools, faculty, and students:

• Click here to cosponsor and pass the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act (S.1874/H.R.3593).
• Click here to support other top priorities, including providing elevated funding for Title VIII Programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in fiscal year 2027, and cosponsoring and passing legislation to support nursing as a professional degree.

Thank you for your efforts as we continue to elevate academic nursing at the federal level! 

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