ENA February 2025 Washington Update

Posted about 2 months ago by David Short in Government Affairs

ENA Priority Legislation Promptly Reintroduced for 119th Congress
The Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act was recently reintroduced by Sens. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Todd Young, R-Ind., and Reps. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., and Jen Kiggans, R-Va. This important bill combats the ongoing problem of mental and emotional fatigue, as well as burnout, associated with providing emergency medical care. The Dr. Lorna Breen Healthcare Provider Protection Act was originally enacted in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic to create important programs that provide training, suicide-prevention resources and direct funding to reduce health worker burnout. ENA’s recent Action Alert allows you to send letters of support to your legislators.

ENA Details Workplace Violence Policy Strategy at Leadership Conference
During ENA Leadership Conference 2025, ENA Director of Government Relations Rob Kramer discussed legislative solutions to the ongoing workplace violence crisis. ENA supports laws in every state to allow local prosecutors to file felony charges against those who assault emergency nurses. Most, if not all, states provide these protections for some other professionals who interact directly with the public, including police officers and firefighters.

In addition to imposing stronger criminal penalties, ENA supports state and federal policies to prevent violence and mitigate its impact on emergency nurses through the implementation of workplace violence prevention programs in health care facilities. These plans often require staff training, security measures, worker support and non-retaliation policies. Sixteen states have enacted workplace violence prevention legislation to date.

ENA Responds to Recent Public Health Developments
Amid several developments with a potential impact on public health in recent weeks, ENA released a statement acknowledging several key areas the association continues to monitor. Specifically, ENA mentioned restrictions on the release of information from public health agencies, possible changes to vaccine requirements that protect people from serious disease and illness, and funding cuts for academic institutions that effect research and nursing programs. ENA highlighted these developments, and others, as concerning in the context of access to care for all patients and the ability for emergency nurses to deliver the best possible care to their patients.

ENA State Leaders: Got a State Bill to Track?
Contact ENA Government Relations and let us know the bill number - gov@ena.org

EN411 Grassroots Advocacy

Members of Congress need to hear from their constituents – this means you!
Action Alerts highlight ENA’s priorities before the House and Senate. Through the links below, you can send a letter or X post to your member of Congress.

Support the Reauthorization of Programs to Combat Emergency Nurse Burnout!

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Current Federal Legislative Priorities

Find out about current legislative priorities on the ENA Government Relations page.