The NURSE Act (Nurses for Under-Resourced School Everywhere Act) HR 2606 was introduced by Representative Dina Titus (D-NV) and Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME). The NURSE Act would give grants through from the Department of Education to increase the number of registered school nurses in Title I schools where there does not already exist a school nurse. These would be demonstration grants* that would be awarded on a competitive basis. There is a cost share between Department of Education with it contributing the bulk of the grant (75 percent) and the SEA/LEA contributing the remainder (25 percent) of the grant.
*A demonstration grant is a grant used in connection with programs having the goal of supporting new or innovative projects or ideas to address a particular issue with the hope that the ideas can then serve as a model to others. The concept of a demonstration program is that the government will provide short-term financial help to a grantee who will develop/improve a new approach or idea and then will find other partners or interested parties to expand the scope of the project. So, within the NURSE Act, there is a provision that the Secretary of Education will issue a report to Congress on:
- the effectiveness of the program in increasing the number of school nurses; and
- the impact of any resulting enhanced health of students on learning, such as academic achievement, attendance, and classroom time.
September 06, 2019: The NURSE Act was referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor as well as the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. If you would like to support the NURSE Act and are in contact with members of these committees or the members are YOUR members of Congress, please use the information below to ask that they support and co-sponsor the NURSE Act; committee members lists are included below.
What You Can Do
Call your Representative or email and ask them to co-sponsor the NURSE Act (Nurses for Under-Resourced Schools Everywhere Act) HR 2606. Call the Capitol switchboard and ask to be connected to your Congressman at 202-225-3121.
Talking Points
- As a constituent and a school nurse, I know how important it is that children have their health needs met at school.
- According to national data, only 39 percent of schools employ a full-time school nurse, while 35 percent of schools employ a part-time school nurse. Twenty five percent of schools do not a have a school nurse at all.
- The NURSE Act would give grants to increase the number of school nurses in Title I schools where there is not already a school nurse.
- Between 15 and 20 percent of children in school have a chronic condition, such as asthma, diabetes, food allergy, seizure disorder or other health conditions. Today's children face greater health needs than in past generations.
- Additionally, school nurses spend 32 percent of their time on mental health issues of their students.
- School nurses help keep students safe, healthy and ready to learn. Please co-sponsor the NURSE Act HR 2606.
Sample Email
Dear Congressman,
I am writing to urge you to co-sponsor the Nurses for Under-Resourced Schools Everywhere (NURSE) Act, HR 2606 As a school nurse, I know firsthand how important it is for children to have a registered nurse at school to take care of their health care needs.
The NURSE Act would give grants to increase the number of school nurses in Title I schools where there does not already exist a school nurse.
National data indicates 39 percent of public schools have a school nurse, while another 35 percent of schools have a school nurse who works part-time in one or more schools. This leaves another 25 percent of schools that do not have a school nurse at all. Wide ratio disparities exist from state to state, within states and school districts, and between urban and rural.
Children today face increased social and emotional issues; according to the CDC, 20 percent of children and adolescents experience some sort of mental disorder. School nurses spend one-third of their time providing mental health issues and are critical members of the mental health team.
For many of our nation's children, the school nurse is the sole provider of access to health care. This makes the role of school nurses even more critical. School nurses operate in what some have termed the "Hidden Health Care System." School nurses coordinate with families, schools, and providers to connect children to medical homes, which can help improve health outcomes and reduce costs.
The American Nurses Association has reported that when there is no registered nurse on the school premises, the responsibility to administer the necessary medications and treatments, and to appropriately monitor children's health issues, fall on the shoulders of administrators, educators, and staff, who are ill‐prepared to perform these tasks.
Please ensure that our children are safe, healthy and ready to learn by Co-Sponsoring the NURSE Act.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Members: House Committee on Education and Labor
Majority
Chairman Bobby Scott - VA
Rep. Susan Davis - CA
Rep. Raul Grijalva - AZ
Rep. Joe Courtney - CT
Rep. Marcia Fudge - OH
Rep. Kilili Sablan – N. Mariana Islands
Rep. Frederica Wilson - FL
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici - OR
Rep. Mark Takano - CA
Rep. Alma Adams - NC
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier - CA
Rep. Donald Norcross - NJ
Rep. Pramila Jaypal - WA
Rep. Joseph Morelle - NY
Rep. Susan Wild - PA
Rep. Josh Harder - CA
Rep. Lucy McBath - GA
Rep. Lim Schrier - WA
Rep. Lauren Underwood - IL
Rep. Jahana Hayes - CT
Rep. Donna Shalala -FL
Rep. Andy Levin - MI
Rep. Ilhan Omar – MN
Rep. David Trone – MD
Rep. Haley Stevens – MI
Rep. Susie Lee – NV
Rep. Lori Trahan – MA
Rep. Joaquin Castro - TX
Minority
Ranking Member Virginia Foxx – NC
Rep. Phil Roe – TN
Rep. Glenn Thompson - PA
Rep. Tim Walberg – MI
Rep. Brett Guthrie – KY
Rep. Bradley Byrne – AL
Rep. Glenn Grothman - WI
Rep. Elise Stefanik – NY
Rep. Rick Allen – GA
Rep. Lloyd Smucker – PA
Rep. Jim Banks – IN
Rep. Mark Walker – NC
Rep. James Comer – KY
Rep. Ben Cline – VA
Rep. Russ Fulcher – IN
Rep. Van Taylor – TX
Rep. Steve Watkins – KS
Rep. Ron Wright – TX
Rep. Dan Meuser – PA
Rep. Williams Timmons – SC
Rep. Dusty Johnson – SD
Rep. Fred Keller - PA
Members: House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Majority
Chairman Frank Pallone – NJ
Rep. Bobby Rush - IL
Rep. Anna Eshoo – CA
Rep. Eliot Engel – NY
Rep. Diana DeGette – CO
Rep. Michael Doyle – PA
Rep. Jan Schakowsky – IL
Rep. G.K. Butterfield – NC
Rep. Doris Matsui – CA
Rep. Kathy Castor – FL
Rep. John Sarbanes – MD
Rep. Jerry McNerney – CA
Rep. Peter Welch – VT
Rep. Ben Ray Lujàn – NM
Rep. Yvette Clarke – NY
Rep. David Loebsack - IA
Rep. Kurt Schrader – OR
Rep. Joseph Kennedy – MA
Rep. Tony Càrdenas – CA
Rep. Paul Ruiz – CA
Rep. Scott Peters – CA
Rep. Debbie Dingell – MI
Rep. Marc Veasay – TX
Rep. Ann Kuster – NH
Rep. Robin Kelly – IL
Rep. Nannette Diaz Barragàn – CA
Rep. Donald McEachin – VA
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester – DE
Rep. Darren Soto – FL
Rep. Tom O'Halleran - AZ
Minority
Ranking Member Greg Walden – OR
Rep. Fred Upton – MI
Rep. John Shimkus – IL
Rep. Michael Burgess – TX
Rep. Steve Scalise – LA
Rep. Rob Latta – OH
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers – WA
Rep. Brett Guthrie – KY
Rep. Pete Olson – TX
Rep. David McKinley – WV
Rep. Adam Kinzinger – IL
Rep. Morgan Griffith – VA
Rep. Gus Bilirakis – FL
Rep. Bill Johnson – OH
Rep. Billy Long – MO
Rep. Larry Bucshon – IN
Rep. Bill Flores – TX
Rep. Susan Brooks – IN
Rep. Markwayne Mullin – OK
Rep. Richard Hudson – NC
Rep. Tim Walberg – MI
Rep. Earl "Buddy" Carter – GA
Rep. Jeff Duncan – SC
Rep. Greg Gianforte - MT