[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 51 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H2009-H2011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1300
        SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL NURSES WEEK

  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 245) supporting the goals and ideals 
of National Nurses Week, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 245

       Whereas since 2003, National Nurses Week is celebrated 
     annually from May 6, also known as National Nurses Day, 
     through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the 
     founder of modern nursing;
       Whereas National Nurses Week is the time each year when the 
     importance of nursing in health care can be demonstrated;
       Whereas well-trained health professionals are the 
     cornerstone of the Nation's complex health system;
       Whereas registered nurses (``RNs'') represent the largest 
     single component of the health care profession, with an 
     estimated 2.7 million RNs in the United States;
       Whereas nurses historically have provided hands-on patient 
     care at the bedside, and will continue to do so;
       Whereas nurses have a mandate to serve those in need, and 
     to try to ease the suffering of those in pain;
       Whereas nurses also are deeply involved in health 
     education, research, business, and public policy;
       Whereas nurses bear the primary responsibility for the care 
     and well-being of hospital patients;
       Whereas unfortunately, too few nurses are caring for too 
     many patients in our Nation's hospitals;
       Whereas according to a report from the Department of Health 
     and Human Services, the United States currently has a nurse 
     shortage of nearly 150,000 RNs and will have a shortage of 
     more than 800,000 RNs by the year 2020;
       Whereas cutting-edge technologies are useless without a 
     staff of trained professionals to implement them; and
       Whereas nurses are the unsung heroines and heroes of the 
     medical profession: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the important contributions of nurses to the 
     health care system of the United States;
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, 
     as founded by the American Nurses Association; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     National Nurses Week with appropriate recognition, 
     ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate the 
     importance of nurses to the everyday lives of patients.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Deal) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks on this legislation, and to insert extraneous material on 
the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Georgia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 245, a 
resolution

[[Page H2010]]

supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week.
  Nurses are an integral component of the health care system, and it is 
important that we recognize the over 2.7 million registered nurses for 
the significant work that they do. For the last 3 years, we have 
celebrated National Nurses Week. Beginning on May 6, we will once again 
have the opportunity to truly commend the nursing community for their 
contributions to our national health delivery system.
  I thank Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson for introducing this 
resolution, and I encourage my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman 
from California (Mrs. Capps), who is a nurse and also is one of the 
most outstanding members of the Commerce Committee specializing in the 
incredibly good work on public health.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the chairman of the Health 
Subcommittee and Energy and Commerce, Mr. Deal from Georgia, and also 
the ranking member, Mr. Brown, both of you for your advocacy for nurses 
and for health care in general; and I also commend my friend and fellow 
nurse, Eddie Bernice Johnson from Texas, for introducing this 
resolution.
  As we observe National Nurses Week May 6 through 12, our goal is to 
raise awareness about important issues facing the nursing community 
here in the United States. After all, the priorities of this Nation's 
nearly 2.9 million nurses do reflect the priorities of everyone when it 
comes to health care issues.
  Nurses serve their patients in the most important capacities. We know 
that they serve as our first lines of communication when something goes 
wrong or when we are concerned about health. They check their vital 
signs and collect our patient histories. They are critical players in 
the performance of life and death surgery and procedures.
  They attentively care for the most vulnerable patients in the ICU and 
the newborn nurseries and in our senior centers, and they serve as 
essential first responders in times of disaster.
  Beyond that, it is nurses who sit patiently with their patients to 
educate them about important preventive and follow-through health care. 
They are there for patients and their families, giving them the moral 
support needed when faced with an ominous diagnosis. They are the ones 
who advocate on behalf of patients for quality health care.
  Unfortunately, today our Nation is experiencing a crisis, a crisis in 
the nursing shortage. Currently, it is at 6 percent. That means 6 
percent fewer nurses today at work, in hospitals, in public health, in 
clinics, than is needed for the health and safety of this country; and 
that number is surely going to grow unless we make some serious 
investments now.
  For several years in a row, this administration has proposed flat 
funding of nurse education programs. Without enough nursing educators, 
those to train the next generation of nurses, we cannot deal with the 
shortage. At the same time, we are all aware of our budget deficit, 
which is the reason given for not funding nurse educator programs.
  I come back to the fact, educating the next generation of nurses and 
nurse educators is something that cannot be compromised. I know, Mr. 
Speaker, that this message is getting through to my colleagues. This 
year, over 150 Members of Congress in a bipartisan way supported an 
appropriations request to increase nurse education funding.
  To repeat, 150 Members of Congress supported an appropriations 
request to increase nurse education funding.
  But we must build on this momentum now and ensure that funding is 
increased this year and next year. Investments in nurse education now 
will mean a greater ability to provide quality health care to Americans 
in years to come.
  Studies have indicated there is a strong correlation between the 
shortages of nurses and morbidity and mortality rates in our hospitals. 
Other research studies today in America are revealing that Americans on 
average are less healthy than people living in other industrialized 
nations. Just this week, new research specifically revealed the greater 
incidence in which Americans suffer from illness than their 
counterparts in England.
  Now, it is not my attempt to make assumptions about the reason for 
this. But I can tell you beyond a doubt that, by increasing our 
investments in nurses and providing better working conditions for 
nurses, we can improve the health of all Americans. So I urge my 
colleagues to support this resolution, support the goals of National 
Nurses Week.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the sponsor of 
this resolution, the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice 
Johnson), a nurse, also very involved in public health issues in 
Congress.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of 
this resolution supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses 
Week, and I am indebted to my colleague from California for her 
scholarly presentation.
  I started my career as a nurse and worked for more than 15 years as a 
psychiatric nurse, and it helps me here. I was the chief psychiatric 
nurse at the VA Hospital, Day Treatment Center, as well as the Day 
Hospital in Dallas, Texas.
  Next week, May 6-12, is National Nurses Week; and it is fitting for 
this body to honor the millions of nurses in America.
  Nurses are usually very, very dedicated individuals. In my personal 
experience, nurses tend to be intelligent, detail oriented. They tend 
to be ready to act at the spur of the moment, and with knowledge.
  Their work touches all aspects of patient care, whether it is in the 
emergency room, in the operating room, in the doctor's office, at the 
neighborhood clinic, in the schools, and battlefields. Nurses stand at 
the forefront of many lines of our health care system, and they must 
make life and death decisions, often with little advance notice, and 
they have frequent hands-on contact with the patient.
  For these reasons, a caring attitude and compassionate heart are 
required for the hard work nurses do. In my years as a nurse, I have 
seen miracles and I have seen tragedies. At the VA, I worked with 
soldiers fresh from battle, as well as men and women who fought bravely 
years before. It was an honor to serve America's veterans, each one on 
his or her individual path to recovery of good health.
  Nurses Week is really appropriate, because there hardly is anyone 
alive who will be born and finish life without contact with a nurse.
  We have a severe shortage right now; and I would hope that we would 
be more open to attempting to get more nurses, American-educated 
nurses, so that we will not lose the care that the nurses give. They 
work very hard for their patients. The American public needs to know 
that Congress recognizes nurses for the great work they do.
  I thank the leadership for its support of this bill. I would like to 
especially thank the two other Members of Congress who also are nurses 
for their collaboration and united stance in support of issues 
important to nurses. Both of them have been more active since than I 
have in nursing. But it is an old saying, once a nurse, always a nurse.
  I commend this legislation to my colleagues and urge their support.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I will close and yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson and Mrs. Capps for 
their commitment to public health and for bringing this resolution to 
the floor today.
  Our health care system depends on the 2.7 million registered nurses 
who have dedicated themselves to providing the highest quality of care 
in our hospitals, in our clinics, in our long-term care facilities and 
our doctors' offices.
  To recognize the dedication of these women and men, we celebrate 
their accomplishments during National Nurses Week held every year 
during the week leading up to the May 12 birthday of Florence 
Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing.
  This year, National Nurses Week highlights nurses' strength, 
commitment and compassion. These qualities are rare, and they help 
explain why our health care system would falter without the 
contribution of registered nurses.

[[Page H2011]]

  Nurses are the center of our efforts to improve the Nation's health. 
They are at the front lines administering care, educating the public, 
helping patients and the families cope with the challenges of injury 
and illness.
  Unfortunately, as we hear too often, we are facing a serious shortage 
of nurses; and that shortage is growing, so much so that the Department 
of Health and Human Services recently predicted a shortage of more than 
800,000 nurses, keep in mind we have 2.7 million nurses today, a 
shortage of 800,000 nurses by the year 2020.
  With fewer and fewer trained hands and minds at the bedside and in 
the doctor's office, leaving overworked nurses to handle more and more 
patients, we can only expect the availability of quality health care to 
decline.
  We need to invest in attracting and training a new generation of 
nurses and to foster retention for those who are already practicing. 
Resolution 245 honors the goals of National Nurses Week, raises the 
awareness of the vital role that nurses play in our health care system, 
and focuses attention on the unmet challenge that we face as the 
shortage of nurses intensifies.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman and ranking member of the Energy 
and Commerce Committee for bringing this measure to the floor. I thank 
Eddie Bernice Johnson, and I am pleased to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DEAL of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of our 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I, too, would repeat my expression of appreciation for 
our colleague, Ms. Johnson, for bringing this resolution today and 
commend all of those in our society who have chosen the field of 
nursing as their profession and encourage others to do so and follow 
their example.
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate that we honor them by this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Deal) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 245, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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