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April 30, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextSENATE RESOLUTION 709—SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF NATIONAL
NURSES WEEK, TO BE OBSERVED FROM MAY 6 THROUGH MAY 12, 2026
Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Barrasso, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Daines, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Hickenlooper, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Justice, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Markey, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Peters, Mr. Risch, Mr. Rounds, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Smith, Mr. Tillis, and Ms. Warren) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:
S. Res. 709
Whereas, beginning in 1991, National Nurses Week has been
celebrated annually from May 6, also known as “National
Recognition Day for Nurses” through May 12, the birthday of
Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing;
Whereas National Nurses Week is a time of year to reflect
on the important contributions that nurses make in providing
safe, high-quality health care;
Whereas nurses serve on the front lines, risking their
lives to treat the injured and sick during wartime, natural
disasters, and public health emergencies;
Whereas nurses are known to be patient advocates, acting to
protect the lives of individuals under their care;
Whereas nurses represent the largest single component of
the health care profession, with an estimated population of
more than 5,000,000 registered nurses in the United States;
Whereas nurses are leading in the delivery of quality care
in a transformed health care system that improves patient
outcomes and safety;
Whereas the Future of Nursing reports of the Institute of
Medicine and National Academy of Medicine have highlighted
the need for the nursing profession to meet the call for
leadership in a team-based delivery model;
Whereas, when nurse staffing levels increase, the risk of
patient complications and lengthy hospital stays decrease,
resulting in cost savings;
Whereas nurses are experienced researchers, and the work of
nurses encompasses a wide scope of scientific inquiry,
including clinical research, health systems and outcomes
research, and nursing education research;
Whereas nurses provide care to all individuals across the
United States;
Whereas nurses are well-positioned to provide leadership,
increase access to nursing care throughout the United States,
and improve health outcomes for all patients;
Whereas nurses are the cornerstone of the public health
infrastructure, promoting healthy lifestyles and educating
communities on disease prevention and health promotion;
Whereas nurses help inform, educate, and work closely with
legislators to improve—
(1) the education, retention, recruitment, and practice of
all nurses; and
(2) the health and safety of the patients for whom the
nurses care;
Whereas there is a need to—
(1) strengthen nursing workforce development programs at
all levels, including the number of doctorally prepared
faculty members;
(2) support nursing education pathways, including for post-
baccalaureate nursing students; and
(3) provide education to the nurse research scientists who
can develop new nursing care models to improve the health
status of all populations of the United States;
Whereas nurses impact the lives of the people of the United
States through every stage of life; and
Whereas nursing has been voted the most honest and ethical
profession in the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate—
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week,
as founded by the American Nurses Association;
(2) recognizes the significant contributions of nurses to
the health care system of the United States; and
(3) encourages the people of the United States to observe
National Nurses Week with appropriate recognition,
ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate the
importance of nurses to the everyday lives of patients.