ANA Political Action Committee Endorses Final Round of Congressional Candidates

CONTACT:
Shannon McClendon, 301-628-5391
shannon.mcclendon@ana.org

Joan Hurwitz, 301-628-5020
joan.hurwitz@ana.org

SILVER SPRING, MD – Today, the American Nurses Association Political Action Committee (ANA-PAC) announces its final round of endorsements for 11 additional candidates running for Congress. Each election cycle, ANA-PAC endorses candidates who display a commitment to advancing the nursing profession and advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public, both on Capitol Hill and in their congressional districts. These candidates include:

• Kelly Armstrong (ND-AL) As a member of the North Dakota state legislature, Armstrong has collaborated with the North Dakota Nurses Association to craft legislation that will help fight the opioid epidemic and reduce incidents of workplace violence toward nurses.  

• Jason Crow (CO-6) A veteran, Crow has seen firsthand the importance of health care access and adequate nurse staffing in all medical facilities. He supports a federal approach to staffing that actively involves nurses in making determinations about the nurse-to-patient ratios that will work best in each individual facility.

• Dan Feehan (MN-1) Feehan’s experience with the Department of Veteran Affairs has shown him the importance of addressing larger health care questions around affordability and access. He is also committed to implementing a safe patient-handling culture and ensuring that Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, and others, are better positioned to provide much-needed care in underserved communities.

• Abby Finkenauer (IA-1) Finkenauer has worked with registered nurses during her time in Iowa state legislature and understands their commitment to providing quality care. As a federal representative, she has pledged to address the nursing shortage and promote proper utilization of nurses in their workplaces.

• Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) Garcia has demonstrated a lifelong commitment to helping patients get access to high-quality health care, and as county commissioner partnered with clinics to enhance access for her constituents. She supports legislation that would implement both safe staffing and safe patient handling and mobility guidelines, both critical to protecting nurse and they patients for whom they care.

• Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-5) As a child advocate, Scanlon has worked closely with nurses caring for children in the abuse and neglect system. She understands that expanding nurse utilization will increase efficiency and reduce costs of care for patients across the board.

• Michael Guest (MS-3) Once elected, Guest has pledged to work with health care professionals and his fellow Members of Congress to find solutions that will ensure rural patients receive the care they need, including initiatives related to tele-health.  

• Elaine Luria (VA-2) A veteran and small business owner, Luria is intimately familiar with the challenges facing our health care system. She is an advocate for implementing workplace protections for health care employees and allowing nurses at all levels to practice to the full extent of their education and training.

• Chris Pappas (NH-1) As a small business owner, Pappas has made it a priority to provide his employees with high-quality health care coverage. As an elected official, he has worked to ensure New Hampshire residents have increased access to care and secured funds to combat the ongoing opioid crisis.

• Kim Schrier (WA-8) As a pediatrician, Schrier has worked closely with nurses and knows that they can and do serve a critical role in reducing health care costs. She is also committed to stabilizing the federal health care exchange and reinstating the individual mandate to ensure more patients have the coverage they need.

• Donna Shalala (FL-27) A former Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, Shalala has a keen understanding of the health care challenges facing nurses and patients alike. She has consistently advocated for nurses to practice to the full extent of their education and training, and to serve as full partners with physicians and other health care professionals.

Additionally, ANA-PAC has endorsed the following incumbents for their continued commitment to advancing the policy priorities of ANA members and registered nurses nationwide:

ANA-PAC has also previously endorsed the following congressional candidates: