Back to News Policy Watch: Title VIII Advocacy and Federal Funding Developments Wednesday, July 30, 2025 | Policy & Advocacy On July 31, the Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to mark up its Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill, which includes the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR). AACN has been actively advocating for continued funding for nursing workforce, education, and research in FY 2026. However, we still need your help. Click here to ask your Senators to support Title VIII and NINR funding. AACN continues to hear from members who have received cancellation notices for their Nursing Workforce Diversity Grant and Nursing Faculty Loan Program. If you've received such a notice, please share your experience with us. In Case You Missed It AACN was proud to join the Coalition for Health Funding’s Hill Day on July 24 to advocate for the future of public health, including support for all Title VIII Programs and NINR. On July 25, AACN signed onto a letter led by the Committee for Education Funding, Coalition on Human Needs, Coalition for Health Funding, and Campaign to Invest in America’s Workforce to the leadership of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. The letter urges the Committees to increase funding for various health, education, and workforce programs in the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The Department of Education announced negotiated rulemaking to implement President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill. Lawsuit over NIH Grant Funding heads to the Supreme Court. We Need Your Engagement Amplifying the voice of AACN member schools, faculty, and students is essential to advancing our policy priorities. Please join our efforts by: Becoming an AACN Advocate. Sending messages on critical issues to your Member of Congress. Sharing your personal story through the Face of Academic Nursing initiative. Connecting with AACN staff to relay what you are experiencing in your area. View all updates from Policy Watch