Workforce was one of 3 priorities that 250 members talked about on 220 visits to U.S. House and Senate offices during the March 2019 Leadership Summit Lobby Day.  

• Members shared stories about worker shortages at their communities—particularly the dire impact it is having in rural areas.

• In face to face meetings, members told how losing the ability to train Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA) for 2 years after being fined during a survey—despite the cause of the penalty—has a severe impact on their ability to recruit and keep staff. They asked members of Congress to cosponsor H.R. 1265 and end the requirement to stop training CNAs after a fine above $10,000.

• Members also floated the idea of Congress developing unique ways to manage our workforce shortage, such as developing a Temporary Foreign Worker Program for staff who could care for older adults.