U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) and U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) on March 30 introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation aimed at addressing the nation’s nursing workforce shortages.
“I’m proud to co-introduce this bipartisan legislation that will enhance collaboration and coordination, enabling state and local experts to identify and address unique challenges to increase the resiliency of the nursing workforce,” said Sen. Tillis.
“Our nurses went above and beyond to care for Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic and are now suffering from burnout, exhaustion, and unsustainable schedules due to the nursing workforce shortage,” Rep. Kim said. “Nurses play a vital role in protecting public health and deserve our full support.”
Rep. Kim introduced the National Nursing Workforce Center Act, H.R. 2411, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), while Sen. Tillis unveiled the same-named S. 1150 with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and fellow original cosponsor U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS).
If enacted, the bill would establish a fully offset, sustainable pilot grant program through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) that would support state-based nursing workforce centers, according to a one-page bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Additionally, the bill would broaden HRSA’s authority to establish Health Workforce Research Centers on any program under the Public Health Service Act, rather than just Title VII programs authorized under current statute, and give HRSA clear authority and a mandate to focus on nursing issues by requiring the agency to establish a nursing focused research and technical assistance center under the Health Workforce Research Center Program.
Finally, the bill also would require reports assessing this public-private partnership and if and how it should be expanded nationwide, the summary says.
“Resolving existing nursing workforce challenges, in conjunction with the increased demand for health care and our rapidly aging population, requires innovative approaches that support and strengthen every aspect of the nursing workforce pipeline,” Sen. Tillis said.
Yorba Linda City (Calif.) Councilwoman and Nurse Practitioner Beth Haney and the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers support the bill.
“The National Nursing Workforce Center Act will take important, targeted steps to help stabilize and strengthen our nursing workforce,” said Rep. Kim. “I am proud to work with Rep. Blunt Rochester and Sens. Tillis and Merkley on this bipartisan, bicameral effort and will always stand with our heroes in nursing and the patients they support.”