APHON and the Nursing Community Coalition urged congressional leaders to include the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act in the next COVID-19 package. The FAAN Act was introduced by nurses in Congress, Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30), and Nursing Caucus Co-Chair Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR).

Following the July letter organized by NCCN urging the US to remain in the World Health Organization (WHO), APHON joined NCCN, ASH, ACS CAN, HOPA and others to support funding for the WHO. This letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and key committee members.

APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition’s letter welcoming the new National Institute of Nursing Research’s (NINR) Director, Dr. Shannon Zenk. This is part of APHON’s efforts to promote the work of nurse scientists and advocate for investments in research.

APHON and the Nursing Community Coalition reiterated their shared priorities, including Title VIII, in a letter sent to House and Senate leadership and key congressional committees outlining priorities for any COVID-19 legislative package.

Through CIACC, APHON joined the letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar urging HHS to consider oral chemotherapy access as they implement the Executive Order on Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access. This is particularly important as it is related to telehealth expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In mid-July, APHON, ASCO, ASH, HOPA, and others joined a letter organized by NCCN urging the president to reconsider the withdrawal of the US from the World Health Organization (WHO). This reinforces APHON’s support for the WHO, an organization that is foundational to cancer care. The letter expresses support for the bipartisan Global Hope Act, which passed the House and was introduced by Reps. McCaul (R-TX) and Engel (D-NY). The Global Hope Act supports the notion that the US should work to support the WHO Initiative for Childhood Cancer goals, which helps increase survival rates for children with cancer.

This Senate letter supports permanently reauthorizing the FDA priority review voucher program to incentivize pharmaceutical manufacturers to invest in drugs with indications for rare pediatric diseases through the Creating Hope Act Reauthorization Act.

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) in response to the Preparing for the Next Pandemic white paper. The letter advocates for the Cancer Drug Parity Act and oral chemotherapy and expanded access to care during COVID-19 and beyond in future pandemics and public health emergencies.

APHON signed on to the Nursing Community Coalition letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education reiterating our shared funding request of at least $278 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $182 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2021.

Several nursing organizations, including APHON and led by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, submitted a letter to the White House as a call to action for psychological first aid for nurses on the frontline of COVID-19 patient care. The letter was also shared with Health and Human Services and Congress, as well as state governors, as activating and deploying this aid, would require state action.