Hill Day 2026: Nurses United in Purpose

APHON joined nurses from across the United States on Capitol Hill in June as part of the American Nurses Association (ANA) Hill Day to engage directly with elected representatives about the policies and regulations that shape nursing practice, affect patients, and impact the nation’s health.

APHON President Amy Newman and Executive Director Allison Summers joined more than 500 individuals to educate members of Congress and their staff about priority legislative issues for the nursing profession, including:

“Gaining knowledge and showing up is critical to creating change,” said Newman. “If you are not raising your voice then it indicates that one is okay with everything that is happening around them. While studies indicate the practice of nursing is highly respected, government officials don’t understand the dimensions of our work enough to recognize it as a profession or to allocate the funds necessary for education, research, and measures that enable us to work at the top of our profession and deliver the best care possible. This is why APHON values advocacy. This is why I am happy to exercise my civic rights as a nurse advocate.”

Before Hill Day visits, ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy held a “fireside chat” with Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14). Underwood serves as a vice-chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus, a bipartisan group of legislators dedicated to advancing policies that support the nation’s more than 5 million RNs.

The emphasis of the conversation was that the future of nursing is something that we create together and that there is an imperative to pursue a policy agenda that protects the profession. She also described the current policy and regulatory environment as a “survival moment” as every health indicator shows that we have taken a step back.

She urged attendees to make the case for nursing issues not only during their Hill Day visits but also during Town Halls and other meetings in their representatives’ home districts. Every nurse can make a difference at every level if they boldly share their stories.

Armed with our informational packets and grit, Amy headed off to Congressional visits with the nurses from Wisconsin and Allison with the group from Illinois. They not only spoke up for nurses, but also shared stories about the relevant work of our APHON members, the importance of advanced degrees and research and reminded the individuals that they met with of how dynamic nurses are and the critical role they play in our country today. The ANA has many advocacy resources. Visit RN Action to learn more. To follow APHON’s advocacy efforts, visit Advocacy/Health Policy.