[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 79 (Monday, May 12, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S2864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Markey, and Ms. 
        Warren):
  S. 1709. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish 
direct care registered nurse-to-patient staffing ratio requirements in 
hospitals, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the bipartisan Nurse 
Staffing Standards for Hospital Patient Safety and Quality Care Act. 
This legislation would improve patient care and increase nurse 
retention by setting mandatory minimum registered nurse-to-patient 
staffing ratios.
  The bill would require hospitals to annually develop safe staffing 
plans that meet the bill's mandated minimum registered nurse staffing 
ratios and provide for additional staffing based on individual patient 
care needs. Further, the bill requires hospitals to post notices on 
minimum ratios and maintain records on registered nurse and other 
staffing.
  The bill would also provide whistleblower protections, including 
administrative complaint process and cause of action, for nurses who 
speak out against assignments that are unsafe for the patient or nurse.
  For each additional surgical patient in registered nurse's workload 
above the baseline nurse-to-patient ratio of 1 to 4, the likelihood of 
patient death within 30 days increases by 7 percent. Studies have also 
found that registered nurse staffing levels in hospitals that serve 
communities of color are often lower, contributing to disparities in 
care. Setting a single standard of nursing care across hospitals will 
improve outcomes for patients of color, including reduced readmission 
rates, increased satisfaction, and better obstetrical outcomes.
  There are no Federal regulations on the number of patients a 
registered nurse can care for at one time in U.S. hospitals. As a 
result, registered nurses are consistently required to care for more 
patients than is safe, compromising patient care and negatively 
impacting patient outcomes.
  This legislation would improve patient care and increase nurse 
retention by setting mandatory minimum registered nurse-to-patient 
staffing ratios.
  I would like to thank Senator Merkley for coleading this legislation, 
and I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this bill as 
soon as possible.

                          ____________________