ENA Washington Update - June 2025

News You Can Use

House Passes Bill to Continue Successful Substance Abuse Programs
On June 4, the House of Representatives, with bipartisan support, voted overwhelmingly to continue the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act first approved in 2018. The bill is designed to tackle the substance misuse and opioid overdose epidemic in the United States. Key provisions include expanded access to treatments, including naloxone; enhanced prevention and education efforts; and expanded law enforcement efforts to combat illicit drug trafficking.

ENA supports efforts to reduce the number of substance abuse-related visits to the emergency department and has worked to advance programs and policies related to the SUPPORT Act for several years. The legislation is expected to be taken up in the Senate soon before it can be signed into law by the president.

ENA Priorities in Limbo as Congress Considers Funding Pathways
Senate Republican leadership has signaled a desire to wrap up its consideration of the House-passed budget reconciliation bill by July 4. According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the program changes, if enacted, would reduce Medicaid spending by $625 billion over 10 years while resulting in nearly eight million people losing their health insurance coverage.

ENA issued a statement on May 20 objecting to the cut and also issued action alerts encouraging advocates to inform their members of Congress about how these cuts would devastate emergency departments and the populations they serve. Senators on both sides of the aisle have expressed concern about many aspects of the reconciliation package, which would only need 50 votes in the Senate to pass.

Additional information about the Fiscal Year 2026 budget has been released, signaling massive changes to ENA priorities such as the National Institute of Nursing Research, Title VIII nursing workforce development programs and the Emergency Medical Services for Children Program. The budget includes plans to overhaul the National Institutes of Health with not only topline reductions in funding, but also a reorganization of the agency that would result in the elimination of NINR which would be rolled into a new consolidated institute. This would result in cuts to research dedicated to the nursing profession. In 2025, NINR received more than $197 million to fund its work.

It is also expected that much of the current Title VIII funding would be eliminated, as the Health Resources and Services Administration would be reduced by $1.7 billion under the current proposal. Title VIII provides crucial loan repayment programs, scholarships and other nursing workforce programs that encourage the training and education of nurses.

Vermont Enacts New Workplace Violence Prevention Law
Vermont Governor Phil Scott recently signed into law H. 259 – legislation strongly supported by Vermont ENA – that will require hospitals around the state to develop and implement a comprehensive security plan aimed at reducing workplace violence. The security plans, developed by teams that include health care providers, would create an environment where emergency nurses are better trained and equipped to de-escalate and potentially prevent violence; are fully supported when violence occurs; and receive the proper resources to ensure the impact of violence is mitigated to the greatest extent possible.

Vermont ENA members testified multiple times in favor of the bill, wrote letters of support, worked with coalitions to advance the bill and met with members of the legislature to ensure the voices of emergency nurses were heard.

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

Medicaid Cuts Would Be Devastating for EDs. Tell the Senate to Stop Them.

Workplace Violence Has No Cure. Tell Congress to Do More to Fight It!

Support Tyler’s Law to Effectively Implement Fentanyl Testing in EDs!

Support the Reauthorization of Programs to Combat Emergency Nurse Burnout!

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