Contact: Carol Feuss
Executive Director
517/349-5640, ext. 39
carol.feuss@minurses.org

March 22, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MICHIGAN NURSES FOUNDATION PRAISES INTRODUCTION OF LICENSE PLATE LEGISLATION HONORING NURSES

(Okemos, Michigan) -- The Michigan Nurses Foundation (MNF), a charitable organization created to promote educational scholarship and research in the nursing profession, today praised the introduction of legislation offered by State Representative Barbara Vander Veen (R-Allendale) which calls for a state-sponsored license plate honoring Michigan nurses.

“Representative Vander Veen deserves applause and the support of nurses statewide for her ongoing efforts on behalf of Michigan nurses,” said Carol Feuss, Executive Director of the MNF. “This new license plate will both honor all nurses and help fund programs to strengthen our important profession.”

Representative Vander Veen’s Nurses’ License Plate legislation, House Bill 4533 amends the Michigan Vehicle Code to allow the Secretary of State to develop a state-sponsored fund-raising license plate honoring Michigan nurses and a matching Michigan nurses’ collector plate. The legislation also calls for the creation of a Michigan Nurses Fund within the Michigan Department of Treasury.

All funds collected from the sale of the nurse’s license plates will be directed to the Michigan Nurses Foundation to help retain nurses in the workforce.

The funds are to be used to recruit and advance the next generation of licensed nurses in the workforce through educational scholarships, financial aid and research grants.

Representative Vander Veen is a member of the House committee on Health Policy, and also Chairs the committee of Senior Health, Security and Retirement services. Representative Vander Veen additionally serves on House committees on Education, and Family and Children Services.

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The Michigan Nurses Foundation, a 501 (c) 3 charitable organization, advances the nursing profession by awarding educational scholarships, providing financial assistance for recovering nurses, and funding nursing research.