The American Academy of Nursing and the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science Asks Members of Congress Where They Stand on Health and Research

The American Academy of Nursing (AAN) and the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science have partnered with Research!America and the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation on Your Congress-Your Health, on an important new initiative creating a dialogue between Congress and the public to find out where Members of Congress stand in regards to medical and health research, health care and innovation.

"This is an important and timely initiative as health care costs continue to rise and the system remains deeply fragmented," said American Academy of Nursing president Linda Burnes Bolton, DrPH, RN, FAAN. "Your Congress-Your Health is an important step in determining where our leaders stand in regard to health related issues."

"Since the doubling of the National Institutes of Health’s budget ended in 2003, funding for NIH has failed to keep pace with health care costs," said Marilyn Sommers, PhD, RN, FAAN, Chair of the Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science. "In order to improve the health and quality of life for Americans, our nation must do more for health research. Your Congress-Your Health will help determine which Members of Congress are ready to make health care research a national priority."

PARADE magazine launched the initiative in its March 11 issue, asking readers what they would like to ask Congress about health. The response was overwhelming, and the article received more online comments than any PARADE story to date. This feedback shaped a questionnaire recently sent to all members of Congress to get their positions on record about a range of health related issues.

Other Your Congress-Your Health partners include AARP, the Alzheimer’s Association, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, Association of American Medical Colleges, Association of Schools of Public Health, The Endocrine Society, The Joseph H. Kanter Family Foundation, the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Revolution Health and the Society for Neuroscience.

For more information, please visit www.yourcongressyourhealth.org.