NOVA is the Voice of VA Nurses on Capitol Hill

The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA) was formed in 1980 by nurses at the
Hines, Illinois VA, in response to PL 96-330 which gave VA Doctors a large pay increase
without any change in nurses’ salaries or any nursing input. In 1982, NOVA was invited to speak
at an oversight hearing, this was the first time a VA Registered Nurse gave testimony to
Congress. Since that remarkable day, NOVA has testified on recruitment and retention, staffing
shortages, and submitted statements and letters to Congress on many other issues that affect how
nurses provide care for Veterans across the country.

Get Involved

We encourage you to get involved (first by reading and understanding the “Hatch Act”) and using the following NOVA Advocacy Toolkit to take action!

• The Hatch Act, 5 U. S. C. 7321-7326
  The Hatch Act Hatch Act Overview is federal legislation which prohibits federal employees from engaging in partisan political activity.
  
• Understand the Issues
  
• Find Your Representative
• Find Your Senators
  
• Meeting with Your Members of Congress Sample Script
• Additional Advocacy Resources
• Expanding Access to Care & Nurse Mobility Across the U.S.
  
• Bills of Interest
  
• Letters 
• Sample Senator Email
• 2025 NOVA Legislative Priority Goals