Advocacy/Health Policy
APHON is committed to ensuring that pediatric hematology/oncology nurses are provided with the latest information on pending legislative and regulatory issues and activities impacting the profession and patients. For more information, view our health policy agenda or contact us at info@aphon.org.
Legislative Action Center
The APHON Legislative Action Center provides federal and state legislative information about pediatric hematology/oncology patient care and nursing. Get involved by staying informed and taking action!
Advocacy Correspondent
A quarterly offering from the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses, the newsletter’s goal is to inform members about legislative and regulatory issues impacting the profession of pediatric hematology/oncology nursing and the patients we serve.
Sign-On Letters
Sign-on letters are policy-oriented letters sent to Congress members, congressional committees, or federal agencies expressing the signatories’ viewpoint.
View 2023 Sign-On Letters
Letter to Senator Merkley in Support of the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2023
JULY 24, 2023
APHON has expressed support for the Nurse Corp Tax Parity Act of 2023, which would create parity in federal programs and support for current and future nurses who receive Nurse Corp funding.
PREVENT HPV Cancers Act Letter of Support
JULY 18, 2023
APHON has expressed support for the PREVENT HPV Cancers Act, which would provide for a public awareness campaign with respect to human papillomavirus.
Letter to Sponsors of the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care for Kids Act
JULY 18, 2023
As member of the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, APHON signed onto a letter in support of the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act, which would create an alternative opt-in pathway for providers in good standing to enroll in multiple state Medicaid programs, allowing them to provide essential, time-sensitive care to children with special health care needs.
United States Cadet Nurse Corp Service Recognition Act of 2023 Introduced
JUNE 28, 2023
APHON signed onto a letter thanking Congressman Lawler and Senator Warren for introducing the United States Cadet Nurse Corp Service Recognition Act of 2023. This bill would recognize service as a member of the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps between July 1, 1943, and December 31, 1948, as active-duty service, qualifying these individuals to certain benefits afforded to veterans.
Letter to House Sponsors of the Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act
JUNE 20, 2023
APHON continued its support of the Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act by signing onto a letter to the sponsors. This bill would eliminate barriers to the Medicare and Medicaid programs that prevent APRNs from practicing to the full extent of their training.
Letter Urging Passage of Bill to Prevent Workplace Violence for Health Care Workers
JUNE 16, 2023
APHON, in conjunction with the Nursing Community Coalition, sent a letter urging passage of the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. Workplace violence is an issue of growing concern for the nursing workforce.
Letter to Sponsors of the National Nursing Workforce Center Act of 2023
JUNE 12, 2023
Along with 54 other organizations of the Nursing Community Coalition, APHON has expressed support to the House and Senate sponsors of the National Nursing Workforce Center Act of 2023. This bill would offer an important step forward in gather additional data on the needs within the nursing workforce.
Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees to Support Research Funding for Palliative Care
MAY 18, 2023
APHON joined the Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC) requesting support from House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to prioritize a Palliative Care, Trans-Institute Strategy led by the National Institute of Aging in order to increase access to quality palliative care and appropriate, effective pain management.
Letter to Congress Outlining Top Legislative Priorities During National Nurses Week
MAY 8, 2023
Along with 62 other member organizations of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), APHON signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action on top appropriations and legislative priorities that impact nursing education, workforce, practice, and research. This letter coincided with the celebration of National Nurses Week 2023.
Letter to the National Cancer Institute Supporting the CC-DIRECT Program
APRIL 4, 2023
APHON signed onto a letter from the Alliance for Childhood Cancer to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to offer collaboration and support for the newly proposed Childhood Cancer – Data Integration for Research, Education, Care, and Clinical Trials (CC-DIRECT) program.
Written Testimony to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
APRIL 4, 2023
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in supporting written testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies requesting at least $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Federal Fiscal Year 2024.
Letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health, and Human Services
MARCH 23, 2023
APHON joined with the Alliance for Childhood Cancer in asking for $50.924 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), including $9.988 billion for cancer research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), $30 million in funding to the Childhood Cancer STAR Act, and $50 million to fund the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative all for Federal Fiscal Year 2024.
View the letter to the House View the letter to the Senate
Letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense
MARCH 23, 2023
APHON joined with the Alliance for Childhood Cancer in requesting an increase to $150 million for the Department of Defense’s Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) and the continued inclusion of pediatric, adolescent, and young adult (AYA) cancers, pediatric brain tumors, neuroblastoma, sarcomas, germ cell cancers, blood cancers, lymphoma, and thyroid cancer as eligible topics of funding under the program for Federal Fiscal Year 2024.
View the letter to the House View the letter to the Senate
Written Testimony to House Appropriations Subcommittee
MARCH 23, 2023
Sixty-one member organizations of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), including APHON, signed onto written testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education in support of Federal Fiscal Year 2024 funding of $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research.
PQLC Response to Senate HELP Committee Request for Information on Workforce Issues
MARCH 20, 2023
In conjunction with the Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC), APHON supported a response with a focus on palliative care and the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee request for information (RFI) seeking feedback on how to address issues related to the healthcare workforce.
NCC Response to Senate HELP Committee Request for Information on Workforce Issues
MARCH 20, 2023
APHON and 62 other members organizations of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) supported a unified response to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee request for information (RFI) seeking feedback on how to address issues related to the healthcare workforce.
Letter to House and Senate Leadership to Support Continuation of Certain PHE Waivers
MARCH 9, 2023
APHON and 51 other organizations signed onto a Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) letter to Congress urging action to make certain waivers that are impactful to patient access to care permanent beyond this Public Health Emergency (PHE).
Letter to House and Senate Subcommittees for FY2024 Appropriations Requests
MARCH 6, 2023
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) requesting support from House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on funding requests of at least $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Federal Fiscal Year 2024.
APHON Letter to FDA Regarding Partial Clinical Hold for ALL Trials
MARCH 1, 2023
APHON sent a letter to the FDA to express our concerns regarding the partial clinical hold for certain Children’s Oncology Group clinical trials. APHON can provide a unique perspective on this issue as our membership has first hand knowledge of the importance of pediatric clinical trials.
Letter to House and Senate Committee Leadership Supporting the Need for Pediatric Reference Intervals
FEBRUARY 22, 2023
APHON joined 32 other organizations to support the need for pediatric reference intervals to ensure appropriate care for children.
Letter to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension Committee Leadership on PCHETA
FEBRUARY 16, 2023
APHON joined the Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC) in thanking the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee for holding a hearing, “Examining Health Care Workforce Shortages: Where Do We Go From Here?”and their work on this important issue. The letter also requests their consideration of the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) which would address interdisciplinary workforce shortages for the care of patients with serious illness.
Letter to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Expressing Concern of a Partial Clinical Hold for Trials AALL1731 and AALL1821, Both of Which Include the Delivery of Blinatumomab.
FEBRUARY 13, 2023
APHON joined the Alliance for Childhood Cancer to let the FDA know of our concerns regarding the clinical hold for two clinical trials the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) is conducting for standard risk and relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The FDA has disallowed the delivery of 72- and 96-hour IV bags of blinatumomab to newly diagnosed patients enrolling in AALL1731 and AALL1821 due to safety concerns.
Letter to All Senate and House Members Welcoming them to the 118th Congress
JANUARY 11, 2023
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) to welcome all members of the Senate and House to the 118th Congress and outlined our shared priorities of investing in the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs and supporting nursing research.
View the supporting letter to the House
View the supporting letter to the Senate
Coalitions
Many times, the best way to make an impact with a broad audience is to partner with a coalition that can help advance our priority issues. APHON belongs to the following coalitions:
APHON is also an active member of the Nursing Community Coalition which is comprised of 63 national professional nursing associations.