2024 Year in Review | AACN Policy & Advocacy

As we enter a new year, new Congress, and new Administration, and reflect on the past year, we are proud of what the academic nursing community has achieved and appreciate your ongoing efforts to advance sound policy and legislation.

2024 Year In Review | Ways to Engage in 2025 | Federal Policy Agenda | Additional Resources

2024 Year in Review

$305.472 million

for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs, a $5 million increase.

$197.693 million

for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).

Preserve NINR

Urged Congress to retain National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) as an independent Institute with NIH.

FAAN Act

Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act reintroduced to support our schools, faculty, and students.

6,889 Messages

sent by AACN members in the 118th Congress.

Supporting Faculty

Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act introduced in the House to help address the pay gap between clinical and faculty positions.

Nominations

36 nominations submitted resulting in nurses appointed to the National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice (NACNEP) and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Comments

Doubled the number of comments on policy issues as we work to support NINR, advance future cures, and address the needs of academic nursing.

Advocacy Day

405 participants from 46 states met with their members of Congress during the March Capitol Hill Day.

In addition to the above work, AACN has submitted letters, collaborated with other organizations, helped administer grants, and much more over the past year. View some of our highlights below. For a full list of our work, visit the AACN Government Affairs and Policy web page.

Supporting Future Cures: AACN submitted comments in response to a Congressional request for information on how Congress can better support research into cures and treatments for diseases.
Prioritizing NINR: AACN sent a letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, in response proposed reforms to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The letter urged the Committee to prioritize funding for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) and to maintain NINR as an independent Institute within NIH.
Advocating for GNE: AACN submitted comments to the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on CY 2025 Physician Fee Schedule and advocated for the inclusion of graduate nursing education (GNE) and preceptor funding. We also encouraged continuing use of provider neutral language; increasing nursing leadership in healthcare and health policy; and strengthening the existing framework of telehealth.
Advancing Top Legislative Priorities: AACN sent a letter to Congress urging them to include AACN’s top appropriations and legislative priorities in any must pass legislation prior to the end of the 118th Congress.
Having Nurses at the Table: AACN sent a letter to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Dr. Xavier Becerra, urging the inclusion of nurses on the Scientific Management Review Board.
Ongoing Work with All of Us Research Program: AACN joined with NIH to advance this initiative by administering mini-grants to facilitate the engagement of nurse researchers with the All of Us Research Workbench. Six AACN member schools were selected to receive funding to help raise awareness about the All of Us Research Program during the 2023-2024 cycle.

For all comments and letters submitted in 2024, please visit our website.

Ways to Engage in 2025

Nominate a Nurse

Help us as we ensure more nurses are at the federal policy table! As the convener of the Ad Hoc Nomination Consortium, AACN collaborates with 22 other nursing organizations to identify and nominate experts to serve on federal committees, task forces, councils, and boards. Click the button above to see current nomination opportunities.

Take Action

As we welcome the 119th Congress, it is crucial that your Representative and Senators hear from you! Sign-up for alerts so you can take action and send messages to your federal policymakers throughout this Congress. Together, our collective voices have an impact. Click the button above to become an AACN Advocate today!

Students posing at Student Policy Summit

AACN’s 2025 Student Policy Summit is fast approaching with registration deadline two months away! Register your students today for this two-day conference, taking place March 30-31, 2025, in Washington, DC. For more information, to register your students, or to be a sponsor of the Summit click on the button above.

Newly Released: AACN’s 2025 – 2026 Federal Policy Agenda

AACN is committed to fostering collaborative relationships with nursing, interprofessional, healthcare, and higher education communities, as well as Congress and the Administration. Through these partnerships, AACN has helped advance policies that sustain the nursing workforce and establish the critical role of nurses in delivering high-quality, cost-effective, team-based healthcare. AACN stands ready to work with the 119th Congress and the new Administration as we advance the following priorities essential to improving health and healthcare in our nation:

Enhance the Connection between Higher Education and Nursing Practice
Pursue Transformative Research Led by Nurse Scientists
Develop and Support a Robust Nursing Workforce
Improve the Health of the Nation through Nursing Care

Download Now

Did you know?

The AACN Government Affairs and Policy Team can:

Help schedule meetings with Congressional offices and coordinate in-district/state visits.
Assist with legislative and policy needs, including written testimony.
Share federal level resources, state sheets, one-pagers, and other state resources.
Serves as your one-stop legislative and policy resource team.
Provide internship and student opportunities.
Present to AACN member schools.
And much more!

Advocacy Resources

Connect with Us

@AACNPolicy