2014 Omnibus Spending Bill Contains ENA Priorities
The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) applauds the U.S. Senate for approving an omnibus spending bill that contains increased funding for programs important to emergency nurses.
The House of Representatives approved the spending package on Jan. 15. The bill now goes to President Obama for his signature. When signed, it will fund the federal government through Sept. 30.
"The increased funding approved by Congress today is not only important to our emergency nurses, it is important to our patients," 2014 ENA President Deena Brecher, MSN, RN, APN, ACNS-BC, CEN, CPEN said. "By supporting programs such as nursing education, research, emergency medical services for children and poison control centers, this bill will help us to provide the quality care our patients need and deserve."
The fiscal year 2014 omnibus spending package funds all non-mandatory federal programs. Funding for programs important to emergency nursing was increased in the legislation after several years of sharp cuts in federal support. The Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs received $223.8 million, which is $6.4 million more than the 2013 level. In addition, the National Institutes of Health received increases, as did the National Institute of Nursing Research, the Emergency Medical Services for Children program, poison control centers, and a program to help rural communities purchase automatic external defibrillators.
The increased funding will help emergency nurses provide critical services. Specifically,
