H.R.3354, Title VIII Workforce Development Amendment

Floor Speech

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Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my amendment to highlight the importance of each of the individual Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs, including Advanced Education Nursing; Nursing Workforce Diversity; Nurse Education, Practice, and Retention; and the Nurse Faculty Loan Program. Title VIII programs are a critical lifeline for America's nursing workforce and the patients they serve.

Demand for healthcare services provided by nurses continues to grow, so we should be expanding not cutting programs that maintain a

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highly-educated nursing workforce. Just last year, Title VIII supported more than 61,000 students in almost every state.

Additionally, Title VIII programs create a culturally diverse workforce to make sure that our increasingly diverse patient population is cared for by culturally aware providers. Title VIII programs also prepare nurses to serve the most vulnerable communities and regions, such as rural areas that are in desperate need of providers.

I was disappointed to see that this bill condensed funding for the Title VIII programs into a single-line item. Each of the programs is designed to target specific needs within the nursing workforce and patient population, and that is why it's imperative that we preserve funding for each individual program.

I will continue to advocate for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development and hope my colleagues will join me in supporting continued funding for the individual programs.

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