EMAIL ALERT: ***Senate Support needed re Funding for Nurse Education ***

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Contact Your Senators Support the Collins/Mikulski Letter on Funding for Nurse Education

5/13/03

http://www.nursingworld.org/gova/federal/news/alerts.htm#TitleVIII

Senators Susan Collins (R, ME) and Barbara Mikulski (D, MD) have asked for our help in urging their US Senate colleagues to sign onto a letter in support $175 million in funding for the Nurse Education Act (Title VIII, Public Health Service Act). ANA fully supports this letter, we are also working to secure $175 million in funding for these programs in FY 2004.

The Nurse Education Act (NEA) provides federal support for nurse workforce development. It is the primary source of funding for nursing education. It includes the new programs created last year in the Nurse Reinvestment Act. $175 million in FY 2004 funding would represent a $62 million (55%) increase, and would make great strides in ANA's goal of doubling funding for Title VIII in two years.

A copy of theCollins/Mikulski Dear Colleague letter is available for download. ANA's position on Title VIII funding is also available for download. (Both documents are in pdf format.)

Please contact your Senators to urge them to sign onto this letter. The more support we are able to generate for the Collins/Mikulski effort, the more likely we are to secure this needed funding.

Ask your Senator to sign onto the Collins/Mikulski Dear Colleague letter. Tell them that the growing nursing shortage requires a significant investment in Title VIII. The promise of the Nurse Reinvestment Act will not be met without this increase in funds.

Do not delay. Senators Collins and Mikulski need to hear from your Senators by this Friday, May 16th. You can reach your Senators by calling the US Capitol switchboard at [phone].