Van Hollen, Merkley, Wicker, Johnson, Joyce Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution to Celebrate National Nurses Week
Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Seantors Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) and David Joyce (R-Ohio) to introduce a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing National Nurses Week.
The resolution honors and celebrates the important contributions of America’s nurses to safe, high-quality care and the invaluable role that nurses play in patient care every day and particularly in treating injured and sick patients during wartime, natural disasters, and public health emergencies—including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nurses represent the single largest component of the health care professions, with an estimated 4 million registered nurses in the United States.
Today’s resolution recognizes the importance of nurses in providing quality care, conducting medical research, tailoring care to each community and individual needs, eliminating public health disparities, promoting healthy lifestyles, and more—especially as the world continues to navigate life through the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resolution recognizes the need to strengthen nursing workforce development and education, and calls upon all Americans to recognize, and celebrate National Nurses Week this year.
In addition to Merkley and Wicker, the resolution is cosponsored by Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Ben Lujan (D-N.M.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Steven Daines (M-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.).
In addition to Johnson and Joyce, the resolution is cosponsored by Representatives Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), John Yarmuth (D-Ky.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Nanette Barragan (D-Calif.), Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.), Cindy Axne (D-Iowa), Bobby Rush (D-IL), Alma Adams (D-N.C.), Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.), Danny Davis (R-Ill.), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), John Larson (D-Conn.), Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas), Madeleine Dean (D-Pa.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Michael San Nicolas (D-GU, At Large), Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), Tom O’Halleran (D-Ariz.), Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), Stacey Plaskett (D-VI, At Large), Scott Peters (D-Calif.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Sean Maloney (D-N.Y.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Dwight Evans (D-Pa.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.), Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.), David Trone (D-Md.), Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), Peter Welch (D-VT, At Large), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.), Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), and Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.).
The full resolution can be found here and below.
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2022.
Whereas, beginning in 1991, National Nurses Week has been celebrated annually from May 6, also known as ‘‘National Recognition Day for Nurses’’, through May 12, the birth- day of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nurs- ing;
Whereas National Nurses Week is a time of year to reflect on the important contributions that nurses make to pro- vide safe, high-quality health care;
Whereas nurses serve on the front lines, risking their lives treating the injured and sick during wartime, natural dis- asters, and public health emergencies, including the COVID–19 pandemic;
Whereas nurses are known to be patient advocates, acting to protect the lives of individuals under their care;
Whereas nurses represent the largest single component of the health care profession, with an estimated population of more than 4,000,000 registered nurses in the United States;
Whereas nurses are leading in the delivery of quality care in a transformed health care system that improves patient outcomes and safety;
Whereas the Future of Nursing report of the Institute of Medicine has highlighted the need for the nursing profes- sion to meet the call for leadership in a team-based deliv- ery model;
Whereas, when nurse staffing levels increase, the risk of pa- tient complications and lengthy hospital stays decreases, resulting in cost savings;
Whereas nurses are experienced researchers, and the work of nurses encompasses a wide scope of scientific inquiry, in- cluding clinical research, health systems and outcomes re- search, and nursing education research;
Whereas nurses provide care that is sensitive to the cultures and customs of individuals across the United States;
Whereas nurses are well-positioned to provide leadership to eliminate health care disparities that exist in the United States;
Whereas nurses are the cornerstone of the public health in- frastructure, promoting healthy lifestyles and educating communities on disease prevention and health promotion;
Whereas nurses help inform, educate, and work closely with legislators to improve—
(1) the education, retention, recruitment, and prac- tice of all nurses; and
(2) the health and safety of the patients for whom the nurses care;
Whereas there is a need—
(1) to strengthen nursing workforce development
programs at all levels, including the number of doctorally prepared faculty members; and
(2) to provide education to the nurse research sci- entists who can develop new nursing care models to im- prove the health status of the diverse population of the United States;
Whereas nurses touch the lives of the people of the United States through every stage of life; and
Whereas nursing has been voted the most honest and ethical profession in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National
Nurses Week, as founded by the American Nurses Association;
(2) recognizes the significant contributions of nurses to the health care system in the United States; and
(3) encourages the people of the United States to observe National Nurses Week with appropriate recognition, ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate the importance of nurses to the every day lives of patients.