The purpose of NIWI is to provide nurses the opportunity to learn how to influence health care through the legislative and regulatory processes. Participants learn from health policy experts and government officials, network with other nurses, and visit members of Congress. This paper reflects this educational process by providing an overview of the current nursing shortage and the presentation of a new bipartisan Bill (S.1604) introduced to Congress on June 13, 2007 to increase efforts to help control the current and continuing nursing shortage in the United States.