Letter to Senators Outlining Shared NCC Build Back Better Act Priorities, Including the FAAN Act
December 2nd, 2021
The Honorable Charles Schumer
Majority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Republican Leader
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Leader Schumer and Leader McConnell:
As you work to advance the Build Back Better Act and support the public health, education, and workforce needs of our nation, 56 undersigned organizations representing the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), strongly urge you to include and pass the below priorities, including:
• At least $500 million to Support Nursing Education Pathways: This investment, similar to the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act, supports the needs of nursing students, helps retain and hire diverse faculty, modernizes nursing education infrastructure, and creates and expands clinical education opportunities. These efforts are essential and will help prepare nursing students as they transition from the classroom to the frontlines in communities across the country.
• $500 million for the Nurse Corps: These resources would help support scholarships and loan repayment for nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs),1 who work in areas that need them the most.
• Include major provisions of the Momnibus Act, such as:
o $170 million to grow and diversify the nursing workforce in maternal and perinatal health;
o $100 million in Maternal Mental Health Equity grant programs;
o $85 million in funding for education and training at health professions schools to identify and address health risks associated with climate changes, including for pregnant, lactating, postpartum or individuals who are looking to become pregnant;
o $50 million in funding for antidiscrimination and bias training; and millions for other programs including promoting equity in maternal health outcomes through digital tools.
The NCC is a cross section of education, practice, research, and regulation within the nursing profession representing Registered Nurses (RNs), APRNs, nurse leaders, students, faculty, and researchers who are foundational to the health of the nation. Our members care for patients in all communities, including rural and underserved areas, are at the frontlines of public health challenges, and lead the way to ensure today’s science translates to tomorrow’s cures. We appreciate your recognition of how vital our current and future nurses are to the fabric of America’s health care system. As you consider and take up the Build Back Better Act, it is essential that resources for nursing education, research, and the workforce are included.
Therefore, we urge the Senate to incorporate these shared priorities in any final bill. If the Nursing Community Coalition can be of any assistance to you or your staff, please do not hesitate to contact the coalition’s Executive Director, Rachel Stevenson, at rstevenson@thenursingcommunity.org or at 202-463-6930, ext. 271.
Sincerely,
Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
Academy of Neonatal Nursing
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 Anesthesiology
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing
American College of Nurse-Midwives
American Nephrology Nurses Association
American Nurses Association
American Nursing Informatics Association
American Organization for Nursing Leadership
American Public Health Association, Public Health Nursing Section
American Society for Pain Management Nursing
American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
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 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
Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research
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 Hispanic Nurses
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 Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence
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
Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates
Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society
CC:
Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Jeff Merkley
Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Roger Wicker
All Members of the U.S. Senate