LeadingAge led a coalition letter to Congress on October 24 signed by 11 faith-based, mission-driven organizations urging House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to prioritize the Ensuring Seniors’ Access to Quality Care Act (H.R. 8244) for inclusion in a year-end legislative package.

This bipartisan bill, introduced by Representatives Ron Estes (R-KS) and Gerry Connolly (D-VA), would address an outdated provision in federal law that is hindering nursing homes from training the Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) they desperately need. Collectively, the letter signatories represent thousands of health care and aging services providers, who serve older adults in nursing homes and other care settings.

This bill would allow nursing homes that have resolved their compliance issues to continue their CNA training programs as long as their penalties are not related to the quality of care provided to residents. H.R. 8244 was considered and passed by the House Ways and Means Committee on May 8, and an identical companion measure (H.R. 3227) was considered and passed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee on September 18.

This coalition letter builds on that momentum with the goal of addressing the CNA lockout before Congress adjourns for the year.