The country needs more nurses – a lot more nurses!
Sen. Jeff Merkley
D-Oregon
More nurses needed!!
Merkley Leads Push for Senate Leadership to Invest in Nursing Workforce Development Programs, Including Loan Repayment
Nurses have long provided critical care and play an invaluable role in the nation’s pandemic response
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley today led a group of ten of his colleagues in urging Senate leadership to include critical support for America’s nursing workforce in upcoming coronavirus relief legislation.
Specifically, the senators requested in their letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer that at least $15 billion in supplemental funding be allotted for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs—including at least $5 billion specifically for the Nurse Corps Loan Repayment and Scholarship programs.
Title VIII programs are designed to maintain a strong nursing workforce that meets current demands and is prepared to address future public health needs, and include the Advanced Nursing Education program; Nursing Workforce Diversity program; Nurse Education, Practice, Quality, and Retention program; Nurse Faculty Loan program; and Nurse Corps Loan Repayment and Scholarship programs.
Senator Merkley was joined in sending today’s letter by U.S. Senators Richard Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Kamala Harris (D-CA), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).
