The Government Relations (GR) program demystifies the political process and empowers members. Whether it is writing a letter to the editor or converging in Springfield to address a hot issue, INA nurses are equipped with insight and knowledge of the issues.
Many more resources are available through this organization that all contribute to building nurse power and influence.
• Actively promote involvement in the governmental process at all levels
• Inform and educate members on governmental affairs
• Research and analyze legislation and legislative and regulatory trends
• Monitor proposed legislation and legislative and regulatory trends
• Develop legislative and public policy agenda
• Develop procedures to support INA's legislative position and goals
• Monitor and provide nursing input to regulatory agencies
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS COMMITTEE
The Government Relations Committee actively promotes involvement in governmental process at all levels. It informs and educates members on governmental affairs and researches and analyzes existing, and monitors proposed, legislation and legislative regulatory trends. GR Committee develops long range goals for the government relations program consistent with the strategic plan and develops legislative and public policy agenda for INA House of Delegate approval. In addition, the GR Committee monitors and provides nursing input to regulatory agencies. It coordinates legislative concerns identified by INA structural units and maintains communication with each district and bargaining unit
LOBBYING
Sue Clark, RN
Sue Clark is a nurse by education and practiced for over 25 years before changing careers to become a lobbyist in 1994. Sue began her career as a lobbyist when employed by the Illinois Nurses Association, during which time she advocated for all nurses, both RNs and APNs. She has a long history with knowledge of nursing in both the practice setting and in lobbying. She joined Consulting4Biz in 2002 and has been instrumental in the passage of many laws that pertain to advanced practice nursing, nursing, and workplace safety issues. Some of Sue’s proudest moments in lobbying are the licensure of APNs, both the initial licensure in 1999 and the Sunset advances in 2007.
Sue Clark is respected as a healthcare lobbyist, and specifically for her advocacy for nursing under the dome. Sue has been successful in bringing nursing together to speak as one voice; a critical success for advancing all of nursing, and specifically APNs. She is often referred to as the ‘voice of nursing’ for legislators and staff.