News & Press https://aannet.org/news/default.asp Fri, 5 Jun 2026 01:48:10 GMT Tue, 19 May 2026 21:42:00 GMT Copyright © 2026 American Academy of Nursing (AAN) AAN President Joins NC Attorney General as 26 States Act to Protect Patients & Nursing Workforce https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=727575 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=727575 American Academy of Nursing
American Academy of Nursing President Joins North Carolina Attorney General as 26 States Take Action to Protect Patients and the Nursing Workforce
Multistate Lawsuit Challenging the Department of Education's Rule Excluding Nursing from the "Professional Degree" Definition Announced
Washington, DC (May 19, 2026) — Today, American Academy of Nursing (Academy) President Debra J. Barksdale, PhD, FNP-BC, FAANP, ANEF, FAAN, joined North Carolina’s Attorney General Jeff Jackson, State Senator Gale Adcock (an Academy Fellow), and leaders from the North Carolina Nurses Association and the North Carolina Academy of Physician Associates (PA) to inform the public about the grave impact on the health of Americans that will come to fruition as a result of the U.S. Department of Education’s rule, Reimagining and Improving Student Education – Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations.
 
During the press conference, Attorney General Jackson announced the multistate lawsuit filed today by twenty-four attorneys general and two governors – representing Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Kentucky (Governor), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania (Governor), Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin –in opposition to the final rule excluding advanced degree nurses and PAs from the “professional degree” definition. Dr. Barksdale emphasized that the Department’s decision will undermine the availability of exceptional nursing care throughout the United States, particularly in rural and underserved areas.
 
"Nurses who hold professional graduate degrees are educated with the highest level of rigor, science, and clinical expertise — skills that are deeply needed in every corner of the country," said Academy President Dr. Barksdale. "This rule will have far-reaching consequences on both patient care and the future nursing workforce. I was proud to join Attorney General Jackson and Senator Adcock to champion this vital legal action that twenty-six states have chosen to advance on behalf of countless patients."
 
The Academy believes the Department failed to assess the long-term health economic impact of this decision. As noted in the formal comments submitted to the Department, the Academy demonstrated that nursing is a distinct scientific discipline guided by rigorous licensing, educational, and certification requirements — criteria that clearly qualify it as a professional degree. Learn more about the Academy.
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About the American Academy of Nursing
The American Academy of Nursing serves the public by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge. Academy Fellows are inducted into the organization for their extraordinary contributions to improve health locally and globally. With more than 3,300 Fellows, the Academy—an honorific society and policy organization—represents nursing’s most accomplished leaders in policy, research, administration, practice, and academia. 
 
Contact
Caroline Kane | 202-777-1170 | ckane@aannet.org


]]> Tue, 19 May 2026 22:42:00 GMT Sign-On Letter to Congress for Public Health Research into Firearm Morbidity & Mortality Prevention https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=727507 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=727507

The Academy joined over 400 organizations on a letter to House and Senate Appropriations leaders requesting $35 million for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), $25 million for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and $1 million for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to conduct public health research into firearm morbidity and mortality prevention in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027.

 Read More  ]]> Mon, 18 May 2026 13:54:00 GMT Sign-On Letter in Support of Federal Investment in Overdose Prevention and Recovery Services https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=727129 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=727129 The Academy joined 94 national and state-level organizations in a letter led by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator to leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, urging sustained federal investments in overdose prevention, substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, and recovery support services in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027.

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]]> Tue, 5 May 2026 21:29:00 GMT Sign-On Letter for Stabilization to Prevent (STOP) Suicide Act https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=726204 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=726204 The Academy joined 44 members of the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) in a letter to Representatives Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8) and Don Bacon (R-NE-2) in support of the bipartisan Stabilization to Prevent (STOP) Suicide Act (H.R. 8124). This act would create grant program at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to expand the use of evidence-based models for stabilizing individuals with serious thoughts of suicide, allowing more providers to deliver outpatient or virtual stabilization services while relieving pressure on emergency departments and law enforcement.

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]]> Tue, 21 Apr 2026 15:31:00 GMT AAN Written Testimony to LHHS Appropriations Committees for FY 2027 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=727127 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=727127 The Academy submitted written testimony to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education highlighting the essential role of biomedical research, nursing science, and scientific enterprise in protecting the health of the nation. The testimony featured funding requests supported by the Academy for essential agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). 

Read the House Letter   Read the Senate Letter  

]]> Thu, 16 Apr 2026 21:26:00 GMT Sign-On to House Appropriations Testimony for Title VIII and NINR Funding https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=726383 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=726383 The Academy joined 59 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) on written testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony featured the NCC's funding requests of at least $610 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $215 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research in Fiscal Year 2027.

Read More  ]]> Thu, 16 Apr 2026 14:54:00 GMT Amicus Brief on TD v. Wrigley https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=725297 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=725297 The Academy joined the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations in filing an amicus brief for a case in the North Dakota Supreme Court regarding their state law on gender-affirming care for individuals under the age of eighteen.

Read More  ]]> Fri, 10 Apr 2026 21:18:00 GMT Sign-On Letter with Nursing Community Coalition for FY 2027 LHHS Appropriations https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=724948 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=724948 The Academy joined 58 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies requesting at least $610 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $215 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in fiscal year (FY) 2027.

Read More  ]]> Fri, 3 Apr 2026 17:10:00 GMT Sign On Letter for the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=724820 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=724820 The Academy joined 74 organizations in letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED) requesting at least $45 million for the programs enacted by the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act in FY 2027. The Lorna Breen Act protects health care provider wellbeing by enacting measures that reduce clinician burnout, prevent suicide, and advance mental health support. 

Read the House Letter   Read the Senate Letter]]> Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:05:00 GMT Sign On Letter in Support of FAAN Act https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=724075 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=724075 The Academy joined 58 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in a letter thanking Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and House Nursing Caucus Vice Co-Chair and nurse, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), for reintroducing the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act (H.R.6607/S.3435). This bill would help enhance enrollment and recruitment of nursing students, hire and retain faculty, and support the modernization of nursing education infrastructure.

Read More]]> Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:47:00 GMT Sign On Letter to Appropriations Committees for CDC Tobacco Prevention Programs https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=724071 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=724071 The Academy joined 89 organizations in letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED) requesting $310 million for tobacco prevention and cessation programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2027. Tobacco use has long been the leading preventable cause of death in the United States, and this funding would provide the CDC with necessary resources to reduce the death and disease caused by tobacco use.

Read the House Letter   Read the Senate Letter  ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2026 21:28:00 GMT Academy Support Letter of AAP Pediatrics Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for 2026 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=722593 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=722593 The Academy endorsed the Pediatrics Childhood and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for 2026 published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The recommendations advanced by the AAP immunization schedule are rooted in decades of rigorous scientific evaluation, and thus serve as a strong basis for providers, caregivers, and patients seeking vaccine guidance. 

 Read More   ]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:52:00 GMT Academy Support Letter for 2026 Momnibus Act https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=722592 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=722592 The Academy sent letters to Representatives Lauren Underwood and Alma Adams, and Senator Cory Booker in support of the Momnibus Act. The Momnibus Act is a comprehensive set of legislation that aims to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity through strong investments in research, workforce development, and community-based programs.

 Read the House Letter   Read the Senate Letter]]> Wed, 18 Mar 2026 19:50:00 GMT Sign On Letter for Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=724074 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=724074 The Academy joined 55 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in a letter thanking Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), along with other supporters, for introducing the Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act (S.3707/H.R.7279) and urging its inclusion in any health care or workforce package. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation would provide much needed grant funding to close the pay gap between faculty and clinical nurses.

Read More]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2026 21:41:00 GMT Sign-On Letter for ARPA-H FY 2027 Funding https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=722440 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=722440 The Academy joined over 120 organizations in a letter to House and Senate Appropriations leaders urging that at least $1.7 billion annually be provided for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) for Fiscal Years (FY) 2027 through FY 2029. Established in 2022, ARPA-H complements the work of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) by funding high-risk, high-reward, end-product-driven research and development.

 Read More  ]]> Fri, 13 Mar 2026 21:42:00 GMT Amicus Brief on WPATH v. FTC https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=724940 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=724940 The Academy joined an amicus brief with the Association of American Medical Colleges and other health organizations in the case WPATH v. FTC. This case challenges Civil Investigative Demands (CIDs) sent from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to health care organizations targeting their work on gender-affirming care.

Read More  ]]> Wed, 11 Mar 2026 15:51:00 GMT Sign-On Letter in Support of the Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=722055 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=722055 The Academy joined 95 organizations in a letter to Congress encouraging the enactment of the bipartisan Lowering Costs for Caregivers Act (S.1565/H.R.138). This bill would allow family caregivers to use funds from their health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts to cover the medical expenses of a parent or parent-in-law.

Read More  ]]> Tue, 10 Mar 2026 21:02:00 GMT Sign-On Letter with Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research on FY 2027 NIH Budget https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=721718 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=721718 The Academy joined over 500 members of the Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research in a letter to Congress recommending an appropriation of at least $51.303 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in fiscal year (FY) 2027, which would allow the NIH’s base budget to keep pace with the biomedical research and development price index and allow meaningful growth of roughly 6%.

Read More  ]]> Tue, 3 Mar 2026 17:04:00 GMT Sign-On Letter with NP Roundtable on Dept of Ed Proposed Rule https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=721713 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=721713 The Academy joined 18 members of the NP Roundtable in a letter to the Department of Education urging them to amend their proposed rule and include post-baccalaureate nursing degrees (MSN, DNP, Ph.D.) in the list of professional degrees so that future NP students have access to the financial support necessary to pursue their education and ultimately serve their communities. 

Read More  ]]> Mon, 2 Mar 2026 17:00:00 GMT Sign-On Letter with 277 National & State-Level Organizations in Response to Dept of Ed Proposed Rule https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=721701 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=721701 The Academy joined 277 national and state-level organizations in a letter to the Department of Education urging them to amend their proposed rule and include post-baccalaureate nursing degrees (MSN, DNP, Ph.D.) explicitly in the list of “professional” degrees. 

Read More  ]]> Mon, 2 Mar 2026 16:12:00 GMT Sign-On Letter with Nursing Community Coalition on Department of Education Proposed Rule https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=721699 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=721699 The Academy joined 65 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in written comments to the Department of Education (ED). The comments strongly requested that ED explicitly include post-baccalaureate nursing programs (MSN, DNP, Ph.D.) in its definition of “professional degree” programs as it implements the Public Law 119-21 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R.1).

Read More  ]]> Mon, 2 Mar 2026 16:03:00 GMT Sign-On Letter with Friends of AHRQ to Senate HELP Requesting FY 2027 Funding https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=721697 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=721697 The Academy joined with 259 organizations in a letter initiated by Friends of AHRQ to the leadership of the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies. This letter requested that $500 million be obligated in FY27 to fully fund the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), and asks that the Agency have sufficient staff to manage its statutory obligations.

Read More  ]]> Mon, 2 Mar 2026 15:52:00 GMT Academy Comment Letter to HHS on the Adoption and Use of AI in Clinical Care https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=720909 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=720909 The Academy submitted comments in response to the December 23, 2025 request for information regarding actions the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) can take to accelerate the adoption and use of AI as part of clinical care. The Academy's comments emphasized the need to develop strong policies that safeguard patients, families, and communities, govern privacy, and uphold data protection while fostering innovation. In addition, the Academy maintained the critical need to include nursing expertise throughout the development, implementation, and regulation of clinical AI tools.

Read More  ]]> Mon, 23 Feb 2026 22:21:00 GMT Sign-On Letter in Support of Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=720908 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=720908 The Academy joined 65 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in a letter to the leadership of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee, urging them to consider and pass the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.1874/H.R.3593) this Congress.

Read More  ]]> Thu, 12 Feb 2026 22:19:00 GMT Sign-On Letter in Support of Prevent Youth Suicide Act (H.R. 5482) https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=720907 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=720907 The Academy joined 33 members of the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) in a letter to Representatives Zachary Nunn and Chris Pappas in support of the Prevent Youth Suicide Act (H.R. 5482). This act would help provide consistent access to trained professionals, effective prevention programs, and coordinated support following a crisis by ensuring schools are better prepared to identify, support, and connect students in distress to appropriate care. 

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