Lois Capps: “I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2713, the Title VIII Nursing Workforce…”

“I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2713, the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act, a bill I authored to strengthen our Nation's nursing workforce. Nurses are there for the most intimate times of a person's life. They touch the lives of patients and their families every day, not only ensuring proper care but supporting them through difficult diagnoses and helping them navigate the many complexities of our healthcare system--and they do it well. Time and time again, my colleagues here on the Hill will tell me about the excellent nursing care they or a family member received. In many ways, nurses are the backbone of the healthcare delivery system. We need to keep that backbone strong. That is exactly what Title VIII has done for over 50 years. In fact, Title VIII is the primary program our Nation has to strengthen and grow the nursing workforce. And it does so through targeted investments in the recruitment, retention, and distribution of these highly educated professionals who comprise our Nation's nursing workforce. {time} 1445 It bolsters nursing education at all levels, from entry-level preparation through graduate study. It helps nurses repay student loans in exchange for working in underserved areas.…”