Nursing Workforce Legislation in Congress: Bipartisan Efforts and Challenges
In the 119th Congress, three registered nurses are currently serving as members of the U.S. House of Representatives: Lauren Underwood from Illinois, Jen Kiggans from Virginia, and Sheri Biggs from South Carolina. Despite differing backgrounds and political affiliations, they have collaborated on legislative matters concerning the nursing workforce. However, significant divergences remain on broader health policy issues.
Underwood and Kiggans have frequently crossed party lines to support nursing-related legislation. An example of this bipartisan effort is the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025. Introduced in May 2025 and co-sponsored by Underwood, Kiggans, Dave Joyce, and Suzanne Bonamici, this legislative initiative aims to reauthorize federal funding critical for nursing education. More than 50 organizations, including the American Nurses Association, supported the bill, which passed out of subcommittee in September.
At the bill's introduction, Kiggans emphasized the importance of expanding clinical education and investing in nurse educators as a response to the nursing shortage. Underwood highlighted nurses' essential role in public health and affordable healthcare, advocating for continued support of the nursing workforce.
Sheri Biggs, though not a co-sponsor of this bill, has championed efforts to ensure that rural communities retain access to nurse practitioner programs, emphasizing the importance of nursing education funding.
Nursing Influence in Policy-Making
The Congressional Nursing Caucus, co-chaired by Joyce and Bonamici with Underwood and Kiggans as vice chairs, focuses on addressing the nursing shortage. Biggs, while not part of the caucus leadership, often draws on her clinical experience in health policy discussions.
However, when legislative issues extend beyond the nursing workforce, political differences become more pronounced. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in July 2025, resulted in significant Medicaid cuts and did not extend enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, projecting coverage losses for millions. Although Kiggans demonstrated bipartisan efforts by co-leading a coalition proposing a temporary ACA tax credit extension with fraud safeguards, the proposal did not pass. The presence of nurses in Congress has underscored the impact of clinical experience, yet when broader health policies arise, voting often aligns with party lines. The influence of healthcare professionals in policy-making continues to evolve as ongoing debates shape the landscape.