New York ENA Government Affairs Committee

Council-Chapter Government Affairs Award

The Council/Chapter Government Affairs Award recognizes ENA councils and chapters for outstanding efforts to increase member involvement in government affairs and advance public policy supporting nursing, safety, health care or injury prevention issues.

The New York State ENA Government Affairs Committee is comprised of 30 members who meet monthly. The committee has allied with the New York American College of Emergency Physicians chapter and the state’s American Nurses Association chapter to advance their work advocating for safe work environments in emergency departments.

Recognizing the urgent need to protect health care workers, NYSENA launched a coordinated statewide advocacy campaign to support passage of the New York State Workplace Violence Prevention Bill (S.5294B/A.203B). This effort reflected the strength of collective action: emergency nurses uniting across institutions, health systems and regions to demand safer workplaces. Through grassroots mobilization, NYSENA secured more than 500 nurse signatures endorsing the legislation, demonstrating overwhelming front-line support. Emergency nurses traveled to Albany, met directly with legislators, provided testimony and shared real-world experiences that underscored the daily risks faced in emergency departments. NYSENA also established a strong and visible ENA presence at the state capitol, reinforcing that workplace safety is not a local issue, it is a statewide imperative.