Policy Watch: Updates on Education Funding and Access

Nursing as a Professional Degree Continues to Gain Momentum on the Hill

• On December 12, Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chairs, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), House Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), and Vice Co-Chair and nurse, Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), led a sign-on letter with more than 140 members of Congress to the Department of Education expressing concern over the exclusion of nursing as a “professional degree.” This letter was endorsed by more than 65 national organizations. See Senator Merkley’s press release and AACN’s statement.
• On December 10, Representative Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15) sent a letter to Secretary of Education Linda McMahon expressing concern about the Department’s forthcoming implementation of new limits on federal student loans, as well as the definition of “professional degree” programs currently under consideration.
• To follow the latest developments as AACN continues to advocate for Nursing as a Professional Degree, please visit our webpage here.

• On December 11, Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and House Nursing Caucus Vice Co-Chair and nurse, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), introduced the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act. This bill would invest $1 billion into schools of nursing to ensure nursing education pathways remain strong. AACN was proud to be one of more than 50 organizations who endorsed this bill. See Senator Merkley’s press release with quotes from AACN leadership.

• Prior to Thanksgiving, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Administrator Tom Engels and Principal Deputy Administrator Ann Sheehy visited the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Department of Preventive Medicine and School of Nursing to see firsthand how HRSA’s workforce investments are shaping the future of health care.

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