Hirono, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Resolution Celebrating National Nurses Week

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) joined Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and 23 Senate colleagues in introducing a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing National Nurses Week. National Nurses Week 2024 is celebrated from May 6-12. Companion legislation was introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA).

The resolution honors and celebrates the important contributions of America’s nurses to safe, high-quality care and the invaluable role that nurses play in patient care every day. The resolution also highlights the extra care nurses provide in treating injured and sick patients during wartime, natural disasters, and public health emergencies. It also acknowledges the indispensable role nurses play in advancing medical research, tailoring services to diverse communities and individuals, addressing public health disparities, promoting healthy behaviors, and much more.

As of 2024, there are more than 4.7 million registered nurses in the United States. However, despite this substantial number, our nursing sector faces pressing challenges including a continuing shortage of nurses, burnout, and other mental health struggles and the need for safer working conditions. According to a research project from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, about 100,000 registered nurses left the workforce in 2021 and 2022 due to stress, burnout, and retirement. This same research also outlined that by 2027, almost 900,000 registered nurses intend to leave the workforce.

In addition to Senators Hirono, Merkley, and Wicker, this legislation is cosponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

The full text of the resolution is available here.

Senator Hirono is committed to supporting essential healthcare workers and enhancing the preparedness of our healthcare system. Earlier this year, she introduced the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act, bicameral legislation that would support a grant program to increase the number of faculty and students at nursing schools, which is critical to addressing nursing workforce shortages.

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