Political Quotes

“in honor of National Nurses Week, I wish to recognize the more than 3 million nurses who work hard day-in and day-out to give patients the care they deserve. Because my wife Mary is a nurse, I have seen firsthand what an enormous impact nurses have on both patients and families. Their compassion and devotion to their patients give families the peace of mind that their loved ones are in good hands. They also play an irreplaceable role in making sure our hospitals and clinics run smoothly. Unfortunately, many nurses are overworked, underpaid, and our hospitals and clinics have trouble retaining them. Through the Health Care Reform Act Congress passed earlier this year, we made significant strides in addressing many of the challenges nurses face. We expanded the nursing student loan program to help make nursing programs more affordable. We also expanded the nursing loan repayment program and scholarship programs to students who commit to working at an accredited nursing school for 2 years. This will help ensure our nursing schools have the teachers they need to train additional nurses. We invested $1.5 billion over 5 years in the National Health Service Corps scholarship and loan repayment program for primary care providers, including nurses who practice in underserved areas. In addition, we included $50 million in grants for nurse-managed health clinics that offer primary care and wellness services to low-income and uninsured Americans.”