Legislative Agenda

Nurses Save Main Street

“Providing a single standard of high quality care for all is a priority for registered nurses who have seen their abilities to act as patient advocates made more difficult as for-profit interests control more patient care decisions.”

Jean Ross, R.N. and NNU co-president.

Main Street Contract

NNU is leading the fight for legislation to rebuild Main Street by protecting Social Security, enacting a Financial Transaction Tax, and ensuring Medicare for All.

Learn more about the Main Street Contract here.

Financial Transaction Tax (FTT)

Wall Street's irresponsibility has cost the country billions. Twelve other nations including Great Britain now tax financial speculation via a FInancial Transaction Tax that could raise billions to help repair the damage to Main Street done by Wall Street.

Learn more about the September 1, 2011 Day of Action in support of the FTT.

Read about nurses rallying in support of the FTT here.

Protect Social Security

As Congress and the White House get closer to an agreement to raise the debt ceiling that could include devastating cuts in Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, our lawmakers need to continue to hear your voice.

Call Your Senators Now
1-866-251-4044 (Toll Free)

Tell them:

No increase in the eligibility age for Medicare or Social Security
No cuts to Social Security's COLA
No Social Security payroll tax holiday

Thanks to all of you who have already made calls. Please, keep up the pressure and call your Senator today to demand these essential priorities are protected.

Learn more about about Social Security here.

Medicare for All

Astronomical healthcare costs and lack of access continue to drive individuals, families and businesses past their breaking point while insurance companies continue to soak-up billions of healthcare dollars as millions of children's basic needs go unmet.

NNU supports the American Health Security Act of 2011, that requires each participating state to set up and administer comprehensive healthcare services as an entitlement for all, through a progressively financed, single-payer system, administered by the states.

Safe RN-to-Patient Staffing Ratios

The National Nursing Shortage Reform and Patient Advocacy Act | S. 992 (Boxer) — Establishes requirements for acute-care facilities to provide registered nurse staff based on the acuity of patients provided that minimum nurse-to-patient ratios for each unit are met at all times. Registered nurses shall also have the obligation to act in the exclusive interest of their patients, and the right to be patient advocates. NNU supports this national legislation

Learn more about safe staffing ratios here.

Safe Patient Handling

Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act (Franken/Conyers/Woolsey) — Requires the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue rules that hospitals provide safe patient handling equipment so that nurses and other health care workers can avoid manually lifting patients. It requires hospitals to purchase safe handling equipment and train nurses to use it and prevent injuries. It also provides protection for nurses who refuse an assignment that violates the safe patient handling standard, or who report violations of the law.

Veterans Affairs Bargaining

S. 572/H.R. 807 (Sen. Sherrod Brown/Congressman Filner) — Repeals a prohibition against collective bargaining over matters relating to pay for nurses at Veterans Affairs facilities, which is a right other clinicians at the VA currently have.