Title VIII Funding
January 3rd, 2018
The Honorable Thad Cochran
Chairman
Appropriations Committee
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Patrick Leahy
Vice Chairman
Appropriations Committee
U.S. Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Rodney Frelinghuysen
Chairman
Appropriations Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Nita Lowey
Ranking Member
Appropriations Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairmen Cochran and Frelinghuysen, and Vice Chairman Leahy and Ranking Member Lowey:
On behalf of the 52 undersigned organizations representing the Nursing Community Coalition, we strongly urge Congress to fund each of the Nursing Workforce Development programs, authorized under Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296 et seq.), with at least the levels proposed by the Senate’s Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee bill totaling $234.472 million in FY 2018. We are deeply concerned with previous efforts to consolidate certain Title VIII programs and cut critical investments in them. Consolidation would dilute the distinct mission of each program and jeopardize the lifelines that Title VIII provides communities across the country. We request that you fund all of Title VIII programs, which include:
• Advanced Nursing Education (Sec. 811), which includes the Advanced Education Nursing Traineeships and Nurse Anesthetist Traineeships
• Nursing Workforce Diversity (Sec. 821)
• Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention (Sec. 831)
• NURSE Corps Loan Repayment and Scholarship Programs (Sec. 846)
• Nurse Faculty Loan Program (Sec. 846A)
• Comprehensive Geriatric Education (Sec. 855)
Additionally, please provide at least $155.210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), within the National Institutes of Health, as proposed by the Senate’s LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee bill for FY 2018. For 30 years, scientific endeavors through NINR have been integral to advancing the health of individuals, families, and communities. True to NINR’s mission, research projects funded through this institute are aimed at reducing burdensome chronic illness, improving end of life care, and promoting patient-centered care across the life continuum.
The Nursing Community Coalition is the largest coalition representing nursing constituencies in America and represents the cross section of education, practice, research, and regulation within the profession.
We believe that the healthcare delivery system should be one that promotes wellness, advances2 research through scientific discovery, and provides timely access to care. As a result, we know first-hand the critical assistance that Title VIII and NINR funding affords.
The Nursing Community Coalition recognizes the challenging fiscal climate and the difficult decisions that must be made by your Committee. However, we urge you to help ensure America’s health is a top priority by advancing funding for all of the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and for the National Institute of Nursing Research. If the Nursing Community can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Dr. Suzanne Miyamoto, Executive Director, at 202-463-6930 ext. 247 or smiyamoto@aacnnursing.org.
Sincerely,
Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing
American Academy of Nursing
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
American Association of Heart Failure Nurses
American Association of Neuroscience Nurses
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
American Association of Nurse Assessment Coordination
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
American Association of Occupational Health Nurses
American College of Nurse-Midwives
American Nephrology Nurses’ Association
American Nurses Association
American Organization of Nurse Executives
American Pediatric Surgical Nurses Association
American Psychiatric Nurses Association
American Society for Pain Management Nursing
American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
Association for Radiologic and Imaging Nursing
Association of Community Health Nursing Educators
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses
Association of Public Health Nurses
Association of Rehabilitation Nurses
Association of Veterans Affairs Nurse Anesthetists
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service
Dermatology Nurses’ Association
Emergency Nurses Association
Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association
Infusion Nurses Society
International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners
National Association of Neonatal Nurses
National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
National Association of School Nurses
National Black Nurses Association
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers
National League for Nursing
National Nurse-Led Care Consortium
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties
Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs
Oncology Nursing Society
Organization for Associate Degree Nursing
Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society
Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society