2026 Legislative Priority Goals

NOVA Releases 2026 Legislative Priority Goals

Urge Congress to Protect the VA Healthcare System  

Washington D.C., January 16, 2026 – The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA), released its 2026 Legislative Priority Goals and is asking Congress to protect the VA healthcare system for Veterans and its committed workforce.

NOVA’s main goals for Congress are to secure sufficient funding for staffing, addressing rising community care costs, and promoting transparency within the VA reorganization to keep leadership and staff informed and effective in meeting the needs of veterans.

NOVA President, Michelle Salazar-Rodriguez, MSN, noted “It is essential that VA continue to be funded and provided the resources to hire and retain quality healthcare professionals, we must be able to continue to evaluate both clinical and administrative shortages and critical infrastructure to support the development of our future nursing workforce.”

Legislation that sends Veterans into the community and disrupts care coordination will result in fragmented care. Veterans deserve the high standard of care that is delivered at VA facilities across the country.

The VA workforce is facing staff shortages in all areas but continues to meet challenges every day. “We encourage Congress and the Administration to support these priorities so that VA can deliver timely access to the highest level of care our Veterans deserve,” she said.

NOVA continues to advocate for its healthcare professionals and believes that VA has proven it is uniquely qualified to provide care to Veterans in a setting designed to understand those who have served and sacrificed in today’s modern military.