With the 2010 election season fast approaching, and some surprise special elections already in the books, the 2010 season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive cycles in recent history and the ANA’s Government Affairs team wants to make sure you know about ANA-PAC’s endorsement process. In the most recent election cycle (2008), ANA-PAC endorsed 103 candidates, including President Obama, with an 89% win rate.
We are only two months into 2010 and nurses are poised for challenging state legislative sessions. Legislators, faced with severe budget deficits, are limiting policy decisions primarily to those that will be revenue generating or reduce costs. State nurses associations are not deterred, advancing agendas that demonstrate the contributions and value of nurses in the health care delivery system.
I’ve always enjoyed working on political issues, campaigns, and legislative projects but at the beginning of last year, I found myself deeply involved with a new way to volunteer. On January 18, 2009, Congressman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) and his wife Denice were blessed with the safe delivery of their three healthy baby girls: Cristina, Daniela, and Gabriela. These babies completed their wonderful family that already included 5 year old Angelina. Having to care for three babies at the same time requires careful planning, endurance, and lots of patience. I know that when parents have to call on families and friends all of the time to help with multiple births, it takes a toll on everyone. So I rounded up a bunch of enthusiastic and energetic nurses eager to volunteer to add to the list of those helping care for these precious babies.
With recent news of excessive, harmful radiation from medical imaging procedures, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration announced on February 9, 2010 an initiative to decrease unnecessary exposure from computed tomography (CT) scans, nuclear medicine studies, and fluoroscopy. These contribute substantially to total radiation exposure, with much higher radiation than standard and dental X-rays, and mammography.
The Senate passed its healthcare bill, H.R. 3590, the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” on Christmas Eve by a vote of 60-39! ANA wants to make sure you have the latest information on what is happening in Washington, DC! Where is the health care reform debate going? What has happened since the Senate voted on Christmas Eve? All of your questions concerning health care reform are answered here!
In the midst of trying to pass historic healthcare reform legislation, both the House and Senate took time to vote on an omnibus package which would assure funding for government agencies to run the remainder of fiscal year 2010 (FY2010). On December 16, President Barack Obama signed the $447 billion omnibus package into law, which included nearly $500 million in funding for Title VII and Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs. This is more than 26% above the funding level in 2009. The Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs received $244 million, a 42% increase ($73 million) over 2009 funding levels ($171 million).
