American Nurses Association Political Action Committee Endorses Additional Congressional Candidates

CONTACT:
Shannon McClendon, 301-628-5391
shannon.mcclendon@ana.org

Joan Hurwitz, 301-628-5020
joan.hurwitz@ana.org

SILVER SPRING, MD – Today, the American Nurses Association Political Action Committee (ANA-PAC) announces the endorsement of ten additional candidates running for Congress. Each election cycle, ANA-PAC endorses candidates who display a commitment to advancing the nursing profession and advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public, both on Capitol Hill and in their congressional districts. These candidates include:

• Madeleine Dean (PA-4) Dean has worked closely with the Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) during her time in the state legislature, advancing legislation to allow Advanced Practice Registered Nurses full practice authority and empower them to deliver high-quality care in underserved areas.

• Josh Harder (CA-10) Harder will work to defend the health care gains made under the Affordable Care Act and make common-sense fixes to strengthen our current health care system while reducing costs.

• Steven Horsford (NV-4) Horsford will once again advocate for universal health care coverage, as well as the removal of undue burdens on nurses that keep them from providing care to their patients and the importance of nurse-driven safe staffing legislation.

• Susie Lee (NV-3) Lee comes from a family with a strong nursing tradition and has supported legislation during her time in the state legislature to increase access to medical care, especially for children. She will fiercely defend patients’ right to coverage regardless of pre-existing conditions.

• Mike Levin (CA-49) Levin has seen first-hand the demands placed on nurses everyday and will work to ensure they are given a voice as debate over health care reform moves forward. He supports stronger federal standards to protect nurses from workplace violence and abuse, as well as unfair and potentially harmful physical demands.

• Joe Morelle (NY-25) Morelle has collaborated with the American Nurses Association-New York during his time in the state assembly and consistently helped secure legislative victories to advance the nursing profession, including passage of a bill that strengthens education requirements for future nurses and establishing a commission to evaluate and report on barriers to entry into the nursing profession in New York.

• Joe Neguse (CO-2) Neguse’s tenure as executive director of Colorado’s Department of Regulatory Agencies included efforts to strengthen the state’s workforce of well-qualified nurses and remove barriers that keep them from providing care to patients that need it most.

• Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) Sherrill’s experience with the health care system as a veteran and mother were a key factor in her decision to run for Congress. She has spoken repeatedly and forcibly about the need for access to affordable care.

• Haley Stevens (MI-11) Stevens will work to lower the cost of care while supporting efforts that help meet the demand for nurses nationwide. She supports the prioritization of the health care workers’ and patients’ safety through financially responsible safe patient handling legislation.

• Xochitl Torres Small (NM-2) Torres Small keenly understands the critical role that nurses play in patient care and the rigorous training they receive to safely and effectively provide that care. She supports additional investment in nursing workforce development and training programs that will help reduce the shortages in our health care system.