Strengthening the Workforce

Added to Collection

To amplify our influence, AACN often works in coalition with groups that share our goals. The Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), a consortium of more than 60 nursing organizations, is a powerful partner that works directly with government agencies and lawmakers to address the interests of all nurses.

We are a platinum member of NCC, which gives us access to monthly meetings and voting privileges on specific actions. Our advocacy to ensure funding for nursing research and education is advanced in collaboration with NCC and other partners.


2025

Letter to Department of Education on Implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill

AACN signed on to an NCC letter to the U.S. Department of Education, urging the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee to include post-baccalaureate nursing programs in the regulatory definition of "professional degree programs" when implementing the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Oct. 2025



National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers

AACN Strategic Advocacy staff members presented and published details on AACN's HWE and staffing initiatives.
Sept. 2025



NINR 40th Anniversary Scientific Symposium

AACN representatives attended the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) 40th Anniversary Scientific Symposium: Advancing Nursing Science to Improve Health for All. This milestone event underscored the significance of nursing research and its crucial role in shaping the future of healthcare.
Sept. 2025



NCC Reiterates FY 2026 Appropriations Requests to Senate Appropriations Committee

AACN signed onto a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee reiterating 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 $530 million for Title VIII, $210 million for NINR, and preserving NINR as an independent Institute within NIH in FY 2026. This letter comes as the Committee prepares to mark up the Senate FY 2026 Labor, Health and Humans Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill.
Aug. 2025



AACN Signed on to Telehealth Extension Letter

AACN joined other organizations and stakeholders in signing on to a letter to Congressional leadership strongly urging them to take action to extend telehealth access after September 2025 and reiterated support to establish permanent or long-term access to telehealth.
Aug. 2025



NCC Thanks Members of Congress for Introducing the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025

Sixty-two members of the NCC, including AACN, signed onto a letter thanking the Senators and Representatives who introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.1874/H.R.3593), and urging its passage this Congress.
July 2025



NCC Sends Letter Welcoming NINR Interim Director

AACN signed onto a letter from NCC welcoming the Interim Director of the NINR, Dr. Courtney Aklin. The NCC has a long tradition of working with NINR by supporting the work of nurse scientists, advocating for investments in research and future researchers, and sharing the Institute’s foundational work to improve healthcare delivery across the care continuum.
June 2025



NCC Thanks Members of Congress for Introducing the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2025

AACN and fifty-four members of the NCC signed onto a letter to Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), along with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), thanking them for introducing the bipartisan, bicameral Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2025 (S.1548/H.R.3145).
June 2025



NCC Submits Testimony to Senate Appropriation LHHS-ED Subcommittee

Sixty-three members of NCC, including AACN, signed onto written testimony submitted to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony featured the coalition's funding requests of at least $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), as well as preserving NINR as an independent Institute within NIH in FY 2026.
June 2025



National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers

Two members of AACN's Strategic Advocacy Team attended and exhibited at the 2025 conference.



NCC Thanks Congress for Introducing a Resolution Honoring and Recognizing National Nurses Week 2025

AACN and all members of NCC signed onto a letter thanking the leadership of the House and Senate Nursing Caucuses, along with 16 bipartisan members in the Senate, for introducing S.Res.206 and H.Res.389 - a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week.
May 2025



NCC Sends Letter to Congress Outlining Top Legislative Priorities During National Nurses Week

All sixty-four members of NCC, including AACN, signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action on top appropriations and legislative priorities that impact nursing education, workforce, and research. This letter comes as we celebrate National Nurses Week 2025.
May 2025



Changes in Federal Policy and Regulations

The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is monitoring changes in federal policy and regulations that may impact our community of acute, progressive and critical care nurses and the patients and families they care for.
Sept. 2025



Letter Urging Congress to Protect the Medicaid Program

AACN signed on to a letter with the American Nurses Association (ANA) and 84 nursing organizations urging Congress to protect the Medicaid program as it develops and considers legislation through the budget reconciliation process. Included in the letter is an offer to help identify sustainable solutions that strengthen Medicaid to ensure that our nation’s most vulnerable patients have timely access to nurses and the high-quality health care services that nurses provide across the country.
Apr. 2025



Testimony to House Appropriation LHHS-ED Subcommittee

Sixty-three members of NCC, including AACN, signed onto written testimony submitted to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony featured the coalition's funding requests of at least $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2026.
Apr. 2025



FY 2026 Appropriations Requests to House and Senate LHHS-ED Appropriations Subcommittees

AACN and sixty members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies requesting at least $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in fiscal year (FY) 2026.
Mar. 2025



Introduction of the PRECEPT Nurses Act

Fifty-five members of the NCC, including AACN, signed a letter thanking Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) for introducing the bipartisan and bicameral Providing Real-World Education and Clinical Experience by Precepting Tomorrow’s (PRECEPT) Nurses Act (H.R.392/S.131).
Feb. 2025



Request for action to establish permament or long-term access to telehealth

Signed on to a letter to Congressional leadership thanking them for their ongoing efforts to advance access to health care through telehealth and to request their leadership in ensuring Americans are able to access the same telehealth that they were able to utilize in 2024.
Feb. 2025



Letter to Congressional Leadership Reiterating FY 2025 Funding Requests

All sixty-four members of the NCC, including AACN, sent a letter to Congressional Leadership, as well as to House and Senate Appropriations Committees, requesting at least $310.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $197.693 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in fiscal year (FY) 2025, as outlined in the bipartisan Senate Appropriations Committee passed bill.
Feb. 2025



Welcome Letter to the 119th Congress

AACN, along with all sixty-four members of the NCC, signed onto a letter welcoming Representatives and Senators to the 119th Congress. The letter outlined shared priorities including support for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).
Jan. 2025



End-of-Year Legislative Priorities

AACN, along with 62 other members of the NCC, signed onto a letter urging Congress to cosponsor and pass shared legislative priorities impacting nursing education, workforce, and research before the end of the 118th Congress.
Nov. 2024


2024

Letter to Congressional Leadership Reiterating Funding Requests

All sixty-four members of the NCC, including AACN, signed onto a letter to the Congressional Leadership, as well as the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, requesting at least $310.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $197.693 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in fiscal year 2025.
Nov. 2024



Funding Requests for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and NINR

All sixty-four members of the NCC, including AACN, signed onto a letter to the Congressional Leadership, as well as the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, urging Congress to support at least $310.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs (Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 296 et seq.]) and at least $197.693 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), as outlined in the bipartisan Senate Appropriations Committee passed bill.
Sept. 2024



Feedback on NIH Reform

All sixty-four members of the NCC, including AACN, signed a comment letter to the Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in response to a proposed framework to reform the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The comments emphasize the vital work of nurse the researchers and scientists of the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), and urge Congress to preserve NINR as an independent institute within NIH.
Aug. 2024



Funding Requests for Title VIII and NINR

Along with all sixty-four members of the NCC, AACN signed onto a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee reiterating support for at least $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in FY 2025.
July 2024



National Nurses Week Thank You

AACN, along with all sixty-four members of the NCC, signed a letter thanking the leadership of the House and Senate Nursing Caucuses for introducing S.Res.676 and H.Res.1208, a resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, observed May 6 through May 12, 2024.
June 2024



Top Legislative Priorities for National Nurses Week

To celebrate National Nurses Week 2024, AACN and all 64 members of the NCC signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action on top appropriations and legislative priorities that impact nursing education, workforce, and research.
6/6 2024



Testimony to House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees

Fifty-eight members of the NCC, including AACN, signed written testimony submitted to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony featured the coalition's funding requests of at least $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2025.
May 2024



FY 2025 Appropriations Requests to House and Senate Subcommittees

AACN and 56 other members of the NCC signed onto a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies outlining the funding requests of at least $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year (FY) 2025.
Apr. 2024



AACN Supports the FAAN Act

AACN joined with the NCC to thank Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair Jeff Merkley and House Nursing Caucus Vice Co-Chair and nurse Lauren Underwood for reintroducing the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act (H.R.7266/S.3770). This bill would help enhance enrollment and recruitment of nursing students, hire and retain faculty, and support the modernization of nursing education infrastructure.
Mar. 2024



NCC Statement on the President's FY 2025 Budget

The NCC issued a statement supporting increased funding for key domestic and health care programs, such as Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research, in the Administration's Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget.
Mar. 2024



The Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act

AACN joined with 50 other members of the NCC to thank Senator Dick Durbin, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, and other supporters, for introducing the Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act (S.2815/H.R.7002). This legislation would provide much needed grant funding to close the pay gap between faculty and clinical nurses.
Feb. 2024



Funding Requests for Title VIII and NINR

AACN joined with 62 other members of the NCC on letter to Congressional Leadership and House and Senate Appropriations Committees that requested at least $302.5 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $197.7 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in fiscal year 2024, as outlined in the Senate Appropriations Committee passed bill. The letter urged Congress to fully fund these critical programs.
1/9 2024


2023

Welcomes New NIH Director

AACN signed on to an NCC letter to Dr. Monica M. Bertagnolli welcoming her as the 17th Director of the National Institutes of Health and outlining our commitment in elevating nursing research and the work of our nurse scientists.
Nov. 2023



Updated FY 2024 Funding Requests

All 63 members of the NCC, including AACN, sent a letter to Congressional Leadership and Appropriations Committees, requesting at least $302.5 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $197.7 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research in fiscal year 2024, as outlined in the Senate Appropriations Committee passed bill.
Nov. 2023



Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act

Fifty-seven members of the NCC, including AACN, sent a letter to Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Brian Higgins (D-NY-26), Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), and Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), thanking them for introducing the bipartisan Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2023 (H.R.5080).
Oct. 2023



Thanks for Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2023 Introduction

AACN and 55 other members of the NCC sent letter to Sen. Jeff Merkley and a bipartisan group of 11 cosponsors, thanking them for introducing the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act (S.1446).
July 2023



Thanks for National Nursing Workforce Center Act Introduction

AACN and 54 members of the NCC signed onto a letter thanking Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE-At-Large) and Young Kim (R-CA-40), as well as Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Sen. Thomas Tillis (R-NC), and eight cosponsors for introducing the National Nursing Workforce Center Act of 2023 (H.R.2411/S.1150). This bipartisan legislation would offer an important step forward as we look to gather additional data on the needs within the nursing workforce.
June 2023



Outlines Top Legislative Priorities During National Nurses Week

All sixty-three members of the NCC, which includes AACN, signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action on top appropriations and legislative priorities that impact nursing education, workforce, and research. This letter comes as we celebrate National Nurses Week 2023.
May 2023



Testimony to Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees

AACN signed onto NCC's written testimony submitted to both the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony featured the coalition's funding requests of at least $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2024.
Apr. 2023



Sends Health Workforce RFI Response to Senate HELP Committee

Sixty-three members of the NCC, including AACN, signed onto a response to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee's Health Workforce Request for Information (RFI).
Mar. 2023



Sends Letter to Congress on PHE Waivers

AACN and 51 other members of the NCC signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action to make waivers permanent beyond this Public Health Emergency (PHE).
Mar. 2023



Sends FY 2024 Appropriations Requests to House and Senate LHHS-ED Appropriations Subcommittees

Fifty-nine members of the NCC, including AACN, signed onto a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies outlining the funding requests of at least $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for FY 2024.
Mar. 2023


Welcomes 118th Congress

Fifty-nine members of the NCC, including AACN, signed onto a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies outlining the funding requests of $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for FY 2024.
Jan. 2023


2022

Letter to members of Congressional Nursing Caucus

Members of the bipartisan Congressional Nursing Caucuses develop and advance legislative strategies to support our profession. AACN contacted Senate and House Nursing Caucus leaders to share our latest National Nurse Work Environment survey results. Citing key findings that demonstrate higher rates of inappropriate staffing and deteriorating work environments, AACN offered support for legislators’ ongoing efforts to improve conditions and create a healthy and sustainable nursing workforce.
Nov. 2022



Outlines FY 2023 Omnibus Requests

Sixty-two members of NCC, including AACN, sent a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees requesting at least $324.47 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $208.57 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Omnibus.
Nov. 2022



Outlines Top Legislative Priorities During National Nurses Week

AACN and 61 other members of NCC signed onto a letter urging Congress to pass top legislative priorities impacting our current and future nursing workforce before the end of the 117th Congress.
Sept. 2022



Updates FY 2023 Funding Requests

Sixty-two members of NCC, including AACN, sent a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees requesting at least $324.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce and Development Programs and at least $208.571 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 as outlined in the House Appropriations Committee passed bill.
Sept. 2022



Submits Testimony to House and Senate Appropriation Subcommittees

AACN and 58 other members of NCC submitted written testimony to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony featured the coalition's funding requests of $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2023.
May 2022



Urges Congress to Act on Top Legislative Priorities

Sixty-one members of NCC, and AACN, sent a letter urging Congress to take action on top legislative priorities that impact nursing education, practice, and research.
May 2022



Requests to LHHS-ED Appropriations Subcommittees

AACN and 57 other members of NCC signed onto letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies outlining the funding requests of $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for FY 2023.
Apr. 2022



Commends Passage of the FY 2022 Omnibus

The Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) commended Congress for passing the bipartisan FY 2022 Omnibus spending bill and for supporting increases to Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research.
Mar. 2022



FY 2022 Funding Requests Reiterated

Sixty members of the NCC, which includes AACN, sent a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees requesting at least $314.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce and Development Programs and at least $200.782 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2022.
Jan. 2022



Supports Shared Nursing Priorities in Build Back Better Act

AACN and 56 other members of the NCC sent a letter urging the Senate to advance sound policies within the Build Back Better Act, including support for nursing education pathways, the Nurse Corps, and Momnibus.
Jan. 2022