Title VIII Reauthorization Advances Out of the Senate HELP Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C., July 22, 2026 – The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) commends the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee for advancing the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.1874) out of Committee as amended. Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs help address all aspects of nursing workforce demand, including education, practice, recruitment, and retention. By reauthorizing these crucial programs, this bipartisan bill would help ensure that nursing pathways remain strong, and patients across the country continue to have access to high-quality nursing care.

During the Committee’s markup, two amendments to S.1874 were adopted by voice vote, including:

• Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)'s amendment, which authorizes a nurse faculty demonstration program to support the recruitment and retention of nurse educators.

• Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)'s amendment, which establishes a 3-year pilot program to expand and establish state nursing workforce centers.

AACN commends the Senate HELP Committee Chairman, Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Ranking Member, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for supporting the nursing profession and moving this vital legislation forward. Additionally, we applaud the work of Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), as the sponsor of S.1874, and co-leads Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) for their tireless efforts to introduce this legislation and advance it through the Senate process. We also thank the original cosponsors of this bill, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Coons (D-DE), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Adam Schiff (D-CA), as well as all other Senators who have cosponsored the bill since its introduction. Additionally, AACN applauds Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) for their leadership on the Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act as well as Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and their Senate colleagues for championing the National Nursing Workforce Center Act, as these bills have similar language to the amendments adopted in today’s markup.

As the largest dedicated source of federal funding for nursing education and workforce development, AACN is proud to see support throughout the community for advancing S.1874. This includes AACN Advocates who have sent more than 5,000 messages to Congress supporting Title VIII Reauthorization as well as the unanimous support from the Nursing Community Coalition. The combined efforts of AACN’s various stakeholders undoubtedly helped make today’s achievement possible!

As we look ahead, AACN remains eager to build on this momentum and collaborate with the full Senate and House to ensure swift passage of this crucial legislation before the end of the year. See AACN’s Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs one-pager for more information on these essential programs and the reauthorization effort.

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The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) is the national voice for academic nursing representing more than 890 schools of nursing nationwide. AACN establishes quality standards for nursing education, influences the nursing profession to improve health care, and promotes public support of baccalaureate and graduate nursing education, research, and practice.