EDWARDSVILLE: Budzinski Meets With Southern Illinois University Nursing Students

EDWARDSVILLE, IL — On Monday, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) met with current nursing students and recent graduates at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE). Their conversation focused on the cost of nursing education and the burden of student debt, as well as how the Republican budget reconciliation law will impact the nursing field, particularly in rural healthcare facilities reliant on Medicaid funding. 

“Our conversation underscored that nursing students and recent graduates face far too many barriers trying to start their careers. From the high cost of education to chronic underfunding of our rural healthcare system, we need to take action to address these challenges that contribute to America’s nursing shortage,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I’m grateful to the SIUE students, graduates, and faculty for sitting down with me to have this important discussion. I’m going to keep fighting in Washington for commonsense solutions to reduce the burden of student debt and help us recruit and retain nurses in our rural communities.”

Budzinski is the co-lead of the Rural America Health Corps Act. This bipartisan bill would establish a student loan repayment demonstration program for healthcare providers who commit to working for five years in rural areas with a shortage of providers. 

Budzinski also co-leads the bipartisan Save America’s Rural Hospitals Act which would permanently increase Medicare payments for rural hospitals, federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and rural ground ambulance services. 

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