NLN Lauds Senate Committee Recommendation to Increase Funding for Vital Nursing Workforce Development Programs in 2009 Budget

The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended a 7.44 percent increase in funding for Title VIII programs for the FY 2009 federal budget, an increase from FY '08 of $11.6 million to $167 million. This amount represents a 52.61 percent increase over the president's proposed budget for FY 2009. The House Appropriations Committee adjourned without a decision.

New York, NY (PRWEB) June 29, 2008 -- The Title VIII -- Nursing Workforce Development Programs received a boost yesterday (June 26) when the Appropriations Committee of the Senate recommended increasing Title VIII funding from FY '08 by $11.6 million to $167 million. This amount represents a 52.61 percent increase over the president's proposed budget for FY 2009.

Reacting to the news, NLN CEO Dr. Beverly Malone said, "Federal funding is imperative to address the critical issue of expanding nursing education capacity to enroll and educate the numbers of students needed to meet future nursing demands. The Senate Committee on Appropriations has alleviated our grave concerns about the impact President Bush's proposed budget cuts for nurse workforce development would have on our nation's health. We urge the House committee to follow suit."

"In 1973, federal investment in Title VIII programs was $160.61 million. Inflated and adjusted to today's dollars, this appropriation would be $763.52 million. This is almost five times the current appropriation," explained NLN president Dr. Elaine Tagliareni. "As the voice for nurse faculty, the NLN is pleased that the Senate Appropriations Committee continues to recognize the indisputable connection between the persistent shortage of nurses and the severe shortage of nurse faculty."

Editors and reporters: For interview opportunities, please contact Karen R. Klestzick, at 212-812-0376 or kklestzick@nln.org.

Dedicated to excellence in nursing, the National League for Nursing is the premier organization for nurse faculty and leaders in nursing education. The NLN offers faculty development, networking opportunities, testing services, nursing research grants, and public policy initiatives to its 27,000 individual and 1,200 institutional members who represent all types of nursing education programs.

###