To strengthen and advance policies for nurses, U.S. Representatives Dave Joyce (D-OH), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA) launched the 118th Congressional Nursing Caucus in April 2023. Joyce and Bonamici are the caucus co-chairs, and Underwood, an RN, and Kiggans, a geriatric nurse practitioner, serve as vice chairs. ONS is a sponsoring organization in support of the caucus’s congressional efforts.
The Congressional Nursing Caucus supports and promotes legislation to address the nursing shortage, bolster the workforce pipeline, and provide nurses with the resources and tools they need to care for patients. Nurse representation on the caucus’s leadership is critical to achieving those goals.
“Nurses are leaders in our communities and deserve meaningful support at every stage of their education, training, and careers,” Underwood said. “As an RN, I couldn’t be more excited to continue my advocacy for nurses and serve as vice chair of the Congressional Nursing Caucus. We must make robust investments to grow the nursing workforce and make sure every nurse can practice to the full extent of their training and education, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to support nurses as they provide high-quality clinical care, engage in policy advocacy, and lead in their communities in Illinois and across the country.”
“Caring for our greatest generation as a primary care geriatric nurse practitioner is a true privilege,” Kiggans said. “I’m proud to continue my work to provide patients with access to quality, affordable health care by leading this bipartisan caucus with Joyce, Bonamici, and Underwood. It’s a privilege to use my position in the U.S. Congress to be an advocate for my fellow nurses. Supporting the more than four million Americans who make up our nation’s nursing workforce directly impacts the future health of our country.”