ANA Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 31, 2003

CONTACT:
Cindy Price, 301-628-5038
Carol Cooke, 301-628-5027
rn=realnews@ana.org

ANA Applauds Push in Congress for Additional $50 Million in Funding for Nursing Education, Recruitment Programs

House letter supports proposal to set FY 2004 appropriations funding at $163 million

Washington, DC --The American Nurses Association (ANA) has commended the 96 members of the U.S. House of Representatives who signed on to a letter sent to leaders of the U.S. House and Senate this week urging acceptance of an appropriations bill provision offering additional funding for nursing education and recruitment.

The “Dear Colleague” letter was circulated in Congress by Reps. Lois Capps (D-CA) and Ed Whitfield (R-KY), the chairs of the recently formed Congressional Nursing Caucus. The letter supports a provision in the Senate version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Act that would provide an additional $50 million in nursing education and recruitment funds, bringing the total FY 2004 funding for them to $163 million.

“We would like to thank the Congressional Nursing Caucus and Representatives Lois Capps and Ed Whitfield in particular for circulating this much-needed call for greater funding,” said ANA President Barbara Blakeney, MS, APRN,BC, ANP. “And we are truly impressed with the bipartisan show of support that has resulted for this proposal, which promises to significantly increase funding for nursing education programs.

“ANA strongly supports the proposed increase in funding for nursing education,” added Blakeney. “This money is desperately needed to increase the supply of new nurses and to help practicing nurses pursue advanced education in specialty areas experiencing acute shortages.”

# # #

The American Nurses Association is the only full-service professional organization representing the nation's 2.7 million Registered Nurses (RNs) through its 54 constituent member associations. The ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

# # #

Return to Press Releases

line
Search Contact ANA Join/Renew Membership Members Only Online CE
NursingInsiderspacerSpecial Offersspacernursesbooks.org
line
© 2008 The American Nurses Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Copyright Policy | Privacy Statement