[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E544-E545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS MADE BY THE NURSING PROFESSION

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                          HON. DAVID LOEBSACK

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 14, 2007

  Mr. LOEBSACK. Madam Speaker, I call attention to the important and 
essential role that nurses play in providing quality heath care across 
our Nation. Nurses are the health professionals involved on the front 
lines of caring for Americans. Our Nation's health care system is 
complex and every day people with all types of needs are served by 
legions of caring, qualified and professional nurses. They are integral 
to our Nation's heath care delivery system.
  I believe every person can remember an experience when someone they 
loved needed heath care and a nurse was the first person by their side 
providing care and comfort. We all know someone who works in the field 
of nursing and the commitment they make to their profession, despite 
extraordinary challenges everyday.
  The Nurse in Washington Internship program has brought more than 100 
representatives of this noble field to our Nation's Capitol this week 
to give voice to their needs and experience. They see more of our 
constituents and care for more of our children then we will ever meet 
and we should listen and respect their views.
  An adequate supply of nurses is essential to ensuring that all people 
receive quality care and that our Nation's public health infrastructure 
has the professionals necessary to respond to natural and manmade 
disasters. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) projects 
that today's 10 percent vacancy rate in registered nurses will grow to 
36 percent by 2020, representing more than one million unfilled jobs.

[[Page E545]]

  Additional Congressional leadership, ongoing support and federal 
funding is necessary to ensure that the nation has an adequate supply 
of nurses to care for the patients of today and tomorrow.

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