In the opinion piece, published in The Hill on Aug. 12, Dr. Knecht emphasized the critical role federal nursing workforce programs play in preparing future nurses, supporting nurse educators, and expanding the capacity of academic nursing programs. She argued that continued investment is pivotal to addressing both current workforce shortages and the growing demand for healthcare services.

"Title VIII is not an experiment or some new initiative searching for a purpose," Dr. Knecht wrote. "These programs have quietly helped keep the pipeline growing by offering financial assistance, supporting continued education, and creating opportunities for experienced nurses to step into faculty roles."

Drawing on her more than 4 decades of experience in nursing and nursing education, Dr. Knecht emphasized that Title VIII initiatives are some of the most effective tools for strengthening the nursing workforce and addressing persistent faculty shortages that limit nursing school enrollment.

Why Title VIII Is Important Right Now

Publication of the op-ed comes as Congress debates the future of Title VIII funding and considers legislation that would reauthorize the programs through 2030. Citing nursing workforce and education data, Dr. Knecht urged federal lawmakers to preserve and strengthen these investments.

Dr. Knecht also emphasized that building a strong nursing workforce requires long-term commitment to students, educators and institutions. To that end, she issued a call for Congress to reauthorize Title VIII and prioritize nursing programs in its fiscal 2027 appropriations package. She urged lawmakers to:

➡️ Approve $346 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs

➡️ Increase Nurse Faculty Loan Program funding to $57 million

➡️ Direct the Health Resources & Services Administration to prioritize nurse faculty retention and clinical training site expansion.

“We often say nurses are the backbone of the healthcare system. I believe that. But we must back up these words with action if we’re serious about it,” Dr. Knecht wrote. “Congress has a chance to preserve and strengthen established and innovative programs that have helped generations of nurses find their way into this profession.”

How ATI Works on Behalf of Nursing Education

Dr. Knecht’s essay in The Hill, as well as multiple other opinion pieces she has written, reflects ATI's commitment to advancing policies that strengthen nursing education, support nurse educators, and help ensure the healthcare system has a well-prepared workforce to meet future patient care needs.

ATI's public affairs team, led by Senior Director of Government Relations Kurt Burkum, PhD, works to elevate the voices of nurse educators and program leaders and to advocate for solutions that expand access to nursing education and improve workforce readiness. Read more about the policy and advocacy efforts of ATI in the Policy and Advocacy section of the ATI Nurse Educator Blog. To learn how you can get involved in advocating for nursing education and nursing practice, connect with Burkum here.