Texas Nurses Association Recognizes Legislative Champions

For Immediate Release

February 23, 2021

Contact:

Lisa Maxwell
Texas Nurses Association
lmaxwell@texasnurses.org

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Texas Nurses Association Recognizes Legislative Champions

Honoring lawmakers who notably supported nurses during the 87th legislative session.

Austin, TX — Today, the Texas Nurses Association announces four Legislative Champion Awards and one Lifetime Contributor Award to members of the 87th legislative session in recognition of their notable support of Texas nurses.

Chair Stephanie Klick - serving as the first nurse Chair of the House Public Health Committee, Klick carried HB 2029, to grant full practice authority to APRNs, HB 3819, to ensure school nurses could administer prescription asthma medicine to students, and HB 2062, to create a loan repayment program for nurses who work in long-term care. In addition to carrying these bills, Klick provided support for various bills important to the nursing profession.

Representative Donna Howard - Howard carried HB 982, to create an expedited licensure process for APRNs who are licensed out of state, HB 3735, creating procedures to address complaints against healthcare practitioners, and HB 1559, to allow part-time nursing faculty access to the Nursing Faculty Loan Repayment Program. In addition to carrying these bills, Representative Howard serves on the Appropriations Committee and supports key funding issues for the nursing profession.

Chair James Frank - As Chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee, Frank advocated for, and built coalitions for, several nursing priorities in the House of Representatives.

Senator Cesar Blanco - Blanco carried SB 437, creating the personal protective equipment reserve advisory committee, and SB 439, to facilitate nurses’ collection of worker’s compensation benefits after contracting COVID-19 on the job. His support in the Senate was critical to advancing nurses’ priorities in the 87th Legislative Session.

“Each of these members pushed for a more favorable working environment for nurses, who have endured extraordinary challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Cindy Zolnierek, PhD, RN, CAE, CEO of TNA. “TNA is grateful for legislative leaders who recognize the sacrifices nurses make to protect and promote the public’s health.”

The Texas Nurses Association is also honoring Representative Garnet Coleman with a Lifetime Contributor Award. Representative Coleman is retiring after more than three decades of extraordinary service to the people of Texas. Over the course of his service, he stood out as an authority on healthcare policy. His leadership on access to healthcare, improvements to the mental health system, and funding for health programs stimulated major advancements in Texas healthcare. Throughout his career, he has pushed to create better working conditions for nurses and was a trusted leader on numerous nursing priorities. “We cannot adequately summarize his contributions to the public welfare,” said Zolnierek, “but this award signifies our appreciation to his lifetime of service. We know he will continue to have a positive influence on Texas healthcare even as he retires from the House of Representatives.”