Rep. McBride Joins Bipartisan Effort to Address Nursing Shortage, Support Health Care Workforce

Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Sarah McBride (D-DE) joined Reps. Young Kim (R-CA), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), and Don Bacon (R-NE) to introduce the National Nursing Workforce Center Act, a bipartisan and bicameral bill to address national nursing workforce shortages by supporting state nursing workforce centers across the country. 

The legislation would create a two-year pilot program through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support the development of nursing workforce centers across the country—critical hubs for planning, research, and programs that bolster the nursing pipeline. The bill also authorizes HRSA to establish a national center for nursing workforce research and policy coordination.

“Nurses are the backbone of our health care system—and they’re burned out and stretched thin,” said Rep. Sarah McBride. “I’ve heard directly from nurses in Delaware about the stress they’re facing, the urgent need for mental health support, and the challenges of staffing shortages. This bipartisan bill is a commonsense step to strengthen nursing education, expand access to care, and ensure our health system can meet the needs of patients today and into the future. I’m proud to work across the aisle to deliver these resources—and I’m grateful to Senator Blunt Rochester for leading this in the Senate.”

Rep. McBride has made strengthening Delaware’s health workforce a top priority, working closely with the Delaware Nurses Association to advance policies that empower providers and protect the programs that grow and sustain the nursing workforce.

The legislation comes amid nationwide reports of critical nursing shortages that threaten patient care and strain health systems. Nationally, the U.S. is expected to face a 10% shortage in registered nurses by 2027, with impacts already felt in emergency rooms, long-term care facilities, and primary care settings.

The introduction of this bill follows reports that the Trump administration’s budget would eliminate federal funding for vital nursing programs, including the National Institute of Nursing Research and Title VIII programs — the primary funding sources for nursing education. These cuts would jeopardize communities’ access to care and worsen provider burnout across the country.

The National Nursing Workforce Center Act would:

• Establish a federal nursing-focused health workforce research and technical assistance center under HRSA;  
• Create a pilot program to support state-based nursing workforce centers, which often report underfunding and lack of technical capabilities; and
• Deliver reports assessing the impact of this partnership and if and how it should be expanded nationwide. 

“The Delaware Nurses Association strongly supports the National Nursing Workforce Center Act and thanks Congresswoman McBride for her leadership,” said Delaware Nurses Association Executive Director, Chris Otto, in a statement. “Nurses in Delaware—and across the country—are experiencing unsustainable workloads, insufficient staffing, and mounting mental health strain. This legislation responds directly to what nurses have been telling us for years: we need coordinated, data-driven investments to strengthen the pipeline and retain the workforce we have. Delaware’s nurses are proud to see our congressional delegation leading on this issue, and we are committed to working with our state and federal partners to ensure this bill becomes law. Our patients, providers, and public health depend on it."

The Senate companion legislation was introduced by U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), alongside Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Kevin Cramer (R-ND).

Read the full bill here.

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