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AACN Applauds Congress for Enacting the Stimulus Bill That Includes Funding Nursing Education

WASHINGTON – The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) applauds President Obama and our Nursing Champions on Capitol Hill for securing additional funding for nursing education in the newly enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1). Of the $500 million allocated for health professions training in the final stimulus package, $300 million will be awarded to the National Health Service Corps and the remaining $200 million will be divided between the Nursing Workforce Development Programs (Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act) and the Health Professions Training Programs (Title VII). In addition, the conference agreement includes $10 billion for the National Institutes of Health with $7.4 billion being distributed to the Institutes (including the National Institute of Nursing Research), the Centers, and the Common Fund.

“In their work to stimulate the U.S. economy, federal legislators recognized the connection between funding health professions education and preparing a workforce large enough to meet the nation’s healthcare needs,” said AACN President Fay Raines. “Nurse educators are grateful for this infusion of funding, which will help nursing schools battle the financial challenges they are currently facing.”

“The nursing community truly came together as a strong voice to save funding for nursing education,” said Representative Lois Capps, RN (D-CA). “I am proud to have helped my fellow nurses achieve this goal and strengthen the nursing workforce so that all Americans will benefit from the quality health care nurses provide.” Below is Congresswoman Capps’ floor statement in support of the bill.

“The American Recovery Act is about creating jobs,” Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) said. “Not only jobs in construction, but jobs in healthcare, jobs in education, and jobs for women. America is facing a nursing shortage that affects every city in every state. If we don’t invest money in educating our healthcare professionals, we won’t be able to increase our healthcare workforce, which is so important for our hospitals and for our patients.”

“The funding for health professions and nursing training included in this legislation ensures that thousands of vacant healthcare positions across the country will be filled,” said Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Majority Whip. “More than that, it gives men and women the opportunity to secure meaningful, well-paying jobs where they will work everyday to help prevent illnesses and save lives.”