Kiggans Co-Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Honoring National Nurses Week

WASHINGTON, D.C.: This week, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (VA-02) introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing National Nurses Week alongside Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) and her fellow Congressional Nursing Caucus colleagues Representatives Dave Joyce (OH-14), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Lauren Underwood (IL-14).

The resolution honors and celebrates the important contributions America’s nurses have in providing safe, high-quality care and the invaluable role that nurses play in patient care every day— particularly in treating injured and sickpatients during wartime, natural disasters, and public health emergencies.

“Across the country, nurses are on the frontlines of healthcare”, said Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, Congressional Nursing Caucus Vice Chair. “As a primary care geriatric nurse practitioner, I had the honor of caring for our Greatest Generation and their families. I’m proud to formally recognize National Nurses Week and will continue be a voice for our nursing workforce as a member of Congress!”

“Nurses are among the most trusted and selfless healthcare professionals in America,” said Congressman Joyce, Co-Chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus. “As the husband of a nurse and Co-Chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus, I know the amount of dedication and hard work nurses put into their daily task of caring for their patients. I am proud to introduce this resolution to continue to advocate for America’s nursing workforce and celebrate their accomplishments.”

“National Nurses Week is an opportunity to show our deep gratitude to nurses for their tireless service and to recognize that they are the backbone of our health care system,” said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. “We must also acknowledge that we need to do more to support nurses throughout the year and create more paths for people to enter the nursing field. I’m committed to doing all I can to support our nurses.”

“As one of three nurses in Congress, I’m thrilled to help introduce this resolution and recognize nurses for all they do to care for their communities and protect public health,” said Underwood. “Every day, nurses are providing high-quality clinical care, engaging in policy advocacy, and leading in their communities. National Nurses Week is an opportunity to show our thanks and recognition. I look forward to continuing my work to support nurses at every stage of their education, training, and careers.”

“As the husband of a nurse, I’ve seen close-up how difficult nurses’ jobs are and how important they are to patients,” said Senator Merkley, Co-Chair of the Senate Nursing Caucus. “Nurses in every corner of Oregon and all across the country provide crucial care, support, and advocacy for their patients and families during some of their most difficult moments. This week, let’s all take a moment to appreciate and celebrate the nurses in our communities for their dedication and care, and recommit ourselves to doing all we can to provide them with the support they need to keep saving lives.” 

“Nurses are integral to our nation’s health care system,” said Senator Wicker, Co-Chair of the Senate Nursing Caucus. “They ensure patients receive timely and quality care, and their dedication is unmatched.  Our country needs more of these heroes, and I hope young people will consider joining the nursing profession.  This resolution is a small token of our gratitude for their service.”

“In honor of National Nurses Week, the American College of Nurse-Midwives applauds the steadfast commitment of our nation’s nurses to improving the culture of health care and the positive impact nurses have on the people and families they serve,” stated ACNM Interim CEO Michelle L. Munroe, DNP, CNM, FACNM, FAAN. “Nurses play an essential role in providing care, comfort and compassion in every health setting and should be honored for their contributions to the workforce.”

“Every day and in every setting, nurses are providing high-quality care to patients. The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) thanks our nation’s nurses for their hard work, dedication, and compassion,” said AANP President April Kapu, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, FAANP, FCCM, FAAN. “AANP also thanks the Congressional Nurses Caucus for introducing the resolution recognizing National Nurses Week.”

“Nurses are incredibly important to ensuring older adults’ well-being across aging services settings from nursing homes to home health to hospice. As the number of Americans over 65 years continues to grow, so will demand for the care nurses provide. This National Nurses Week, we recognize nurses’ contributions—which are ever more valuable given the national workforce crisis that providers like our nonprofit, mission-driven members are facing. Nurses, older adults, and their families need solutions from across the government and support for programs that bolster the healthcare workforce,” said Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services.

Nurses represent the single largest component of the health care workforce, with an estimated 4.5 million registered nurses in the United States. Our country needs nurses, yet the reality of the demands placed upon our nursing workforce requires our immediate attention and appreciation. With nearly a third of the nation’s nursing workforce stating they plan on leaving the profession, today’s resolution comes at a critical time and recognizes the importance of nurses in providing quality care, conducting medical research, tailoring care to each community and individual, reducing public health disparities, promoting healthy lifestyles, and more. 

The resolution recognizes the need to strengthen nursing workforce development and education, and calls upon all Americans to recognize and celebrate National Nurses Week this year, and to support our nursing workforce today and every day. 

In addition to Kiggans, Joyce, Bonamici, and Underwood, this resolution is also cosponsored by Representatives Donald Payne (NJ-10), Raul Grijalva (AZ-07), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Lisa Blunt-Rochester (DE-AL), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Brian Higgins (NY-26), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Bill Pascrell (NJ-09), and Kelly Armstrong (ND-AL).

In addition to Merkley and Wicker, this resolution is also cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Shelly Capito (R-WV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Ales Padilla (D-CA), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Peter Welch (D-VT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Richard Blumenthal (D-NY), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ben Ray Lujan (NM).

Full text of the resolution can be found here.

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