Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2017
January 16th, 2018
The Honorable Greg Walden
Chairman
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
2185 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Frank Pallone
Ranking Member
House Committee on Energy and Commerce
237 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Michael Burgess
Chairman, Subcommittee on Health
2235 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable Gene Green
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Health
2470 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Chairmen Walden and Burgess and Ranking Members Pallone and Green,
The Nursing Community Coalition, on behalf of the 51 undersigned organizations, urges you to make the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2017 (H.R. 959) a priority for the committee in the second session of the 115th Congress. H.R. 959 would reauthorize the Nursing Workforce Development programs (authorized under Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 296 et. seq]) through fiscal year 2022 and modernize the programs so they can continue to develop a workforce that meets the healthcare challenges of today and tomorrow.
For over fifty years, Title VIII has helped to build the supply and distribution of qualified nurses. These programs bolster nursing education at all levels, increase the number of nurses in the workforce, and provide support to institutions that educate future nurses to ensure the high demand for nursing care is met. Nurses supported through these programs go on to provide high-quality, evidence-based care to patients in a variety of settings, with a focus on those living in rural and medically underserved communities.
We commend the introduction of the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2017 and the Subcommittee on Health’s role in recognizing these important programs, which advance the sustainability of America’s health by ensuring they have the federal authorization necessary for funding in future fiscal years. We implore the committee to make H.R. 959 a priority for the remainder of the 115th Congress.
On behalf of the undersigned Nursing Community Coalition organizations we look forward to supporting your efforts to see this legislation passed. If the coalition can be of assistance, please contact the coalition’s Executive Director, Dr. Suzanne Miyamoto, at smiyamoto@aacnnursing.org or 202-463-6930.
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 Occupational Health Nurses
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
American College of Nurse-Midwives
American Nephrology Nurses’ Association
American Nurses Association
American Nursing Informatics 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 periOperative Registered Nurses
Association of Public Health Nurses
Association of Rehabilitation Nurses
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 Association of Forensic Nurses
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 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
Society of Pediatric Nurses
Promoting America’s Health Through Nursing Care www.thenursingcommunity.org · 202-463-6930 ext. 272