U.S. Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (KY-05) announced that the House of Representatives recently approved federal funding for Union College’s new nursing and health program facility. Through Rogers’ efforts, the FY 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill includes $500,000 for Union College to convert the old Knox County Hospital into an academic facility in order to develop a full-fledge nursing program and other allied health programs.

“Providing new opportunities for our students is critical in these challenging economic times,” said Rogers. “This funding will allow Union College to offer new health and nursing programs which will greatly increase the educational opportunities readily available for our students and expand the source of trained nurses in our region. Our region needs well qualified health care professionals to help us fight the challenges that we face and I’m glad to see that Union College will help to move our region forward.”

The funding will go towards renovating and reconstruction at the old Knox County Hospital so that Union College can turn it into a new nursing, science, and allied health program facility. Union College hopes to use this expansion of academic facilities to establish a Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) training program. This program will help to alleviate the critical shortage of trained nurses throughout Appalachia and the nation.

This legislation favorably passed out of the House of Representatives on July 24, 2009 and awaits Senate consideration this summer. Rogers works to obtain federal funding for projects across southern and eastern Kentucky in his role as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee.