OADN continues our federal advocacy on your behalf as a member of the Nursing Community Coalition, where we work to ensure that nurses are supported and that nursing education is funded.

NCC Sends Letter Outlining Top Legislative Priorities for Congress to Pass Before the End of the 117th Congress
On December 2, sixty-two members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto a letter urging Congress to pass top legislative priorities addressing the needs of nursing education, practice, and research before the end of the 117th Congress.

NCC Sends Letters to Retiring Members of Congress and Staff who are Strong Champions for Nursing
On December 6, sixty-three members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent thank you letters to our nursing champions in Congress who are retiring or leaving Capitol Hill at the end of this year, including: Reps. Roybal-Allard (D-CA-40), Rodney Davis (R-IL-13), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30), and David McKinley (R-WV-01), as well as Debbie Jessup, a nurse and congressional staffer for Rep. Roybal-Allard. We are extremely grateful for all their support of our current and future nursing workforce.

NCC Thanks Members of Congress for Introducing the National Nursing Workforce Center Act
On December 21, forty-eight members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto a letter thanking Representatives 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 four cosponsors for introducing the National Nursing Workforce Center Act of 2022 (H.R.8817/S.4844). This bipartisan legislation would offer an important step forward as we look to gather additional data on the needs within the nursing workforce.

Congress Releases FY 2023 Omnibus
On December 20, Congress released the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Omnibus spending package. This nearly $1.7 trillion bill is expected to be considered by Congress later this week, and hopefully before the December 23 deadline. As we await passage of the final bill, below are a few highlights, including:

• $300.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs, which is a $20 million increase over FY 2022 enacted levels!
• $197.693 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research, which is a $16.831 million increase over FY 2022 enacted levels! This comes as part of the nearly $47.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

See below for full bill text, explanatory statements, most up-to-date NCC funding chart, and other documents:

• Bill Text
• Explanatory Statement for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED)
• Senate Bill Summary for LHHS-ED
• House Bill Summary for LHHS-ED
• House Fact Sheet for LHHS-ED
• Omnibus Press Release
• NCC Funding Chart