Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair Senator Merkley (D-OR) is currently circulating a Dear Colleague Letter urging the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED) to provide the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs with $610 million for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027. The deadline for your senators to sign onto the Senate Dear Colleague Letter is COB April 17, 2026.

We need your help. Please ask your Senators to sign onto the Senate Dear Colleague Letter. The more signatures we can secure, the stronger the case we can make to Senate Appropriators to support the nursing community's funding request for FY 2027. 

Please take a moment to message your senators through our action center--every signature counts!