NEW YORK NURSE: December 2009
The pension protection campaign was a major item of discussion at the inaugural American Nurses Advocacy Institute in Washington, Oct. 25 to 27.
Sponsored by the American Nurses Association, the program was designed to help nurses build their political skills to advance nursing’s legislative and regulatory agenda.
Barbara Crane, president of the National Federation of Nurses and NYSNA board member, participated in the institute and used the experience to develop a federal action plan on amending the Pension Protection Act. She will receive a year-long, ANA-guided mentorship to support execution of the plan.
The institute also featured a workshop by NYSNA Governmental Affairs Director Shaun Flynn called “Politics 101: How a bill doesn’t become a law,” on the inner workings of the legislative and political process and how advocates can overcome them.
NFN and NYSNA members had additional opportunities to speak with Congressional representatives about the pension issue during lobbying visits that were a part of the institute’s program.