News & Press https://aannet.org/news/default.asp Wed, 22 Jul 2026 01:41:18 GMT Tue, 14 Jul 2026 19:04:00 GMT Copyright © 2026 American Academy of Nursing (AAN) Amicus Brief on Parent A.A. v. Department of Justice https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=731224 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=731224 The Academy joined an amicus brief in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals with the American Academy of Pediatrics and other health organizations in the case Parent A.A. v. Department of Justice. This case challenges administrative subpoenas sent from the Department of Justice to health care organizations targeting their work on gender-affirming care.

  Read More]]> Tue, 14 Jul 2026 20:04:00 GMT AAN Submits Comments to the Office of Management and Budget on Proposed Rule https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=731063 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=731063 The Academy submitted comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in response to the May 29, 2026 Proposed Rule that outlines significant proposed changes to procedural guidance on federal grant awards. 

 Read More  ]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2026 21:47:00 GMT Sign-On Letter to Office of Management and Budget on Proposed Budget https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=731181 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=731181 The Academy joined members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in submitting comments to the OMB in response to the May 29, 2026 Proposed Rule that outlines significant proposed changes to procedural guidance on federal grant awards. 

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]]> Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:06:00 GMT Sign-On Letter to Senate Appropriations in Support of Title VIII and NINR Funding https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=731183 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=731183 The Academy joined members of the NCC in sending a letter to the leadership of the Senate Appropriations Committee regarding the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations package, reiterating the funding requests for Title VIII and NINR, along with support for report language related to nursing as a professional degree. 

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]]> Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:13:00 GMT Sign-On Letter In Support of the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=731180 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=731180 The Academy joined members of the NCC in sending a letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee urging the Committee to advance the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.1874).

  Read More  ]]> Thu, 9 Jul 2026 14:00:00 GMT Sign-On Letter in Support of States Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment (SHARE) Act https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=729847 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=729847 The Academy joined members of the Nursing Community Coalition in supporting the States Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment (SHARE) Act (S.1101/H.R.2332). This bipartisan legislation makes necessary technical corrections to current law to ensure states belonging to interstate occupational licensure compacts receive federal criminal background check information through a smooth and efficient process.

Read More]]> Tue, 16 Jun 2026 21:01:00 GMT Sign-On Letter for OMB Federal Comment Extension Request https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=729853 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=729853 The Academy joined more than 300 groups on a letter to the Office of Management and Budget requesting an extension of an additional 45 days to respond to the Proposed Rule: Regulation Codifying Policies on Federal Financial Assistance, Revisions to 2 CFR, 91 FR 32198 (May 29, 2026). 

Read More  ]]> Fri, 12 Jun 2026 21:24:00 GMT Sign-On Letter in Support of Nursing is a Professional Degree Act https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=729851 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=729851 The Academy joined a letter from the Nursing Community Coalition supporting the introduction of the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act (S.4568/H.R.8691). This legislation ensures that post-baccalaureate nursing degrees (MSN, DNP, and PhD) are included in the regulatory definition of professional degree programs. 

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]]> Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:18:00 GMT Academy Letter for OMB Federal Comment Extension Request https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=729855 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=729855 The Academy sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget requesting an extension of an additional 45 days to respond to the Proposed Rule: Regulation Codifying Policies on Federal Financial Assistance, Revisions to 2 CFR, 91 FR 32198 (May 29, 2026).

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]]> Tue, 9 Jun 2026 21:36:00 GMT Academy Comment Letter to NIH on NIH Strategic Plan https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=729856 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=729856 The Academy submitted comments to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) regarding their NIH strategic plan.

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]]> Tue, 26 May 2026 21:43:00 GMT Sign-On to Senate Appropriations Testimony for HRSA and NINR Funding https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=729850 https://aannet.org/news/news.asp?id=729850 The Academy joined members of the Nursing Community Coalition to send testimony in support of increased funding for nursing workforce programs at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and nursing research at the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).

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]]> Thu, 21 May 2026 21:11:00 GMT 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.

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