AAACN Supports Nursing Legislation
In recent months, AAACN’s active Advocacy Committee has proudly represented AAACN in supporting numerous legislative initiatives from the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC):
NCC Submits Testimony to House Appropriations LHHS-ED Subcommittee
AAACN joined 59 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in signing onto written testimony submitted to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony featured the NCC's funding requests of at least $610 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $215 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research in Fiscal Year 2027.
NCC Sends FY 2027 Appropriations Requests to House and Senate LHHS-ED Appropriations Subcommittees
AAACN joined 58 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in signing onto a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies requesting at least $610 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $215 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in fiscal year (FY) 2027.
NCC Thanks Senator Merkley and Congresswoman Underwood for introducing the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act
AAACN joined 58 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in signing onto a letter thanking Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and House Nursing Caucus Vice Co-Chair and nurse, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), for reintroducing the FAAN Act (H.R.6607/S.3435). This bill would help enhance enrollment and recruitment of nursing students, hire and retain faculty, and support the modernization of nursing education infrastructure.
NCC Thanks Senator Durbin and Congresswoman Bonamici for Introducing the Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act
AAACN joined 55 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in signing onto a letter thanking Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), along with other supporters, for introducing the Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act (S.3707/H.R.7279) and urging its inclusion in any health care or workforce package. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would provide much needed grant funding to close the pay gap between faculty and clinical nurses.
NCC Sends Comments to the Department of Education Supporting Nursing as a Professional Degree
AAACN joined all 65 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in signing onto written comments to the Department of Education (ED). The comments strongly requested that ED explicitly include post-baccalaureate nursing programs (MSN, DNP, PhD) in its definition of “professional degree” programs as it implements the Public Law 119-21 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1).
Nursing and Friends Send Comments in Response to the Department of Education’s Proposed Rule
AAACN was among 277 national and state-level organizations to sign onto written comments to the Department of Education urging them to amend their proposed rule and include post-baccalaureate nursing degrees (MSN, DNP, PhD) explicitly in the list of “professional” degrees.
NCC Sends Letter Urging Congress to Pass the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025
AAACN joined all 65 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in signing onto a letter to the leadership of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee, urging them to consider and pass the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.1874/H.R.3593) this Congress.
NCC Sends Letter to Congress Supporting Full-Year FY 2026 Appropriations for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
AAACN joined 64 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in signing onto a letter thanking the House and Senate Appropriations Committees for including nursing education, workforce, and research funding in the "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026." Specifically, the letter urges Members of Congress to vote to pass this bill, which includes $305.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $197.693 million for National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), before the January 30th deadline.
NCC Reiterates FY 2026 Appropriations Requests to Congressional Leadership and Appropriators
AAACN joined 63 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in signing onto a letter to House and Senate leadership, along with the members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, outlining the NCC's fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding requests and strong support for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). This includes a request of at least $303.472 million for Title VIII and $197.693 million for NINR, as outlined in the bipartisan Senate Appropriations Committee-passed FY 2026 Labor, Health and Humans Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
NCC Sends Letter to Department of Education on Implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill
AAACN joined 57 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in signing onto a letter to the U.S. Department of Education, urging the Department’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee to explicitly include post-baccalaureate nursing programs in the regulatory definition of “professional degree programs” when implementing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
