The 119th Congress kicked off with a flurry of activity on Capitol Hill. During the first quarter of 2025, the American Nurses Association worked with nursing champions in Congress to advance nursing priorities and introduce key pieces of legislation to address issues ranging from the workforce pipeline to mental health resources for healthcare workers. Learn more below:
PRECEPT Nurses Act (H.R. 392/S.131)
The Providing Real-World Education and Clinical Experience by Precepting Tomorrow’s (PRECEPT) Nurses Act would set up a 7-year pilot program to provide a $2,000 tax credit for nurse preceptors. A critical bottleneck in expanding the nursing workforce is the limited availability of clinical preceptors—experienced providers who provide hands-on training to nursing students, new nurses, or advance practice nurse candidates serving health professional shortage areas. Take Action for the bill!
The Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act would modernize outdated Medicare and Medicaid policies placed on advance practice registered nurses (APRNs) seeking to treat patients to the full extent of their education and training. The bill would improve access to care, particularly in rural and underserved communities where APRNs often serve as primary care providers. Take Action for the bill!
Increasing Access to Quality Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Act (S.717)
This bill is included in the ICAN Act and would give nurse practitioners (NP), clinical nurse
specialists (CNS), and physician associates (PA) the ability to order cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services.
Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act (H.R. 1616)
This bill would allow a nurse practitioner or physician associate to order diabetic shoes for their patients. Current law requires a physician to certify the need for the shoes, despite the fact that many NPs and PAs act as the sole primary care providers for patients with diabetes, imposing additional costs and delays for patients.
Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Reauthorization Act (H.R. 929/S. 266)
The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act became law in 2022—establishing mental health and substance-use disorder resources and trainings for nurses and healthcare workers. Now, the bill needs to be reauthorized, or its life-saving resources will be at risk. Take Action for the bill!
Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act (H.R. 2234)
This is a new bill that would allow nurse anesthetists to practice to the full extent of their education and clinical training within the Veterans Health Administration.