Pledging
These are the original issues in this subcategory
- DRUG SHORTAGES
- HOSPITAL PREPAREDNESS
- NURSING SHORTAGE
Older people require considerably more healthcare services than the young. Nearly 80 million baby boomers are currently entering our Medicare system, bringing their health problems and high healthcare expectations with them. Nursing is the nation's largest healthcare profession, with about 3 million registered nurses nationwide. Even so, for years there has been a shortage of professional nurses to staff hospitals, retirement facilities and private practices. It is estimated that 11 million new nurses will be needed in the upcoming years to avoid a further shortage. The reasons for our nursing shortage include an aging nurse population and not enough young recruits. Employment opportunities for nurses are projected to grow at a faster rate (15%) than all other occupations from 2016 through 2026.
The average age of our nurse population is 44 and many are close to retirement. The nurses working in today’s hospitals are short-staffed, extremely overworked – even before our current pandemic - and many report they are dissatisfied with their job. It is not uncommon for nurses to be “asked” to work 12-hour shifts, sometimes longer. The shortage of nurses is causing some emergency rooms to redirect patients to more distant hospitals. Healthcare advocates claim these conditions result in longer waiting times for treatment, more mistakes by health care providers and more patient deaths. Studies have shown that nurse shortages contribute to nearly a quarter of all unexpected problems that result in death or injury to hospital patients each year.
Pending Legislation: S.1874 - Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Markey (OR)
Status: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Chair: Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA)
Tweet
The average age of our nurse population is 44 and many are close to retirement. The nurses working in today’s hospitals are short-staffed, extremely overworked – even before our current pandemic - and many report they are dissatisfied with their job. It is not uncommon for nurses to be “asked” to work 12-hour shifts, sometimes longer. The shortage of nurses is causing some emergency rooms to redirect patients to more distant hospitals. Healthcare advocates claim these conditions result in longer waiting times for treatment, more mistakes by health care providers and more patient deaths. Studies have shown that nurse shortages contribute to nearly a quarter of all unexpected problems that result in death or injury to hospital patients each year.
Pending Legislation: S.1874 - Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Markey (OR)
Status: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Chair: Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA)
Tweet
- I oppose forming current nursing shortage policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Leader John Thune (SD).
- I support reauthorizing funding for federal programs that support nursing education, practice, recruitment, and retention through FY 2030 by: 1.) Extending the authorization for the Nursing Workforce Development Programs through fiscal year 2030. These programs were last reauthorized through FY 2025 as part of the CARES Act in 2020. 2.) Providing grants to universities and other institutions for nursing education programs, including those for nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists. 3.) Funding the Nurse Faculty Loan Program to increase the number of qualified nurse educators by providing loans to graduate students who agree to teach upon graduation. 4.) Supporting programs that strengthen nursing capacity, address nursing shortages, and promote nurse retention. 5.) Providing specific support to institutions that educate nurses for practice in rural and medically underserved communities. 6.) Including provisions to help individuals advance their careers and encourages internships and residencies. And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
- I support reauthorizing funding for federal programs that support nursing education, practice, recruitment, and retention through FY 2030 by:
1.) Extending the authorization for the Nursing Workforce Development Programs through fiscal year 2030. These programs were last reauthorized through FY 2025 as part of the CARES Act in 2020.
2.) Providing grants to universities and other institutions for nursing education programs, including those for nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists.
3.) Funding the Nurse Faculty Loan Program to increase the number of qualified nurse educators by providing loans to graduate students who agree to teach upon graduation.
4.) Supporting programs that strengthen nursing capacity, address nursing shortages, and promote nurse retention.
5.) Providing specific support to institutions that educate nurses for practice in rural and medically underserved communities.
6.) Including provisions to help individuals advance their careers and encourages internships and residencies.
And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.
You May Pledge Your Support For This Issue With A Monetary
Donation And By Writing A Letter To Your Representatives
Donation And By Writing A Letter To Your Representatives
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Pledge Period - Opening Date
October 13, 2025
Pledge Period - Closing Date
October 19, 2025
Trustee Election - Begins
October 20, 2025