U.S. Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-Md.) toured Montgomery College‘s Health Sciences Center at the Takoma Park-Silver Spring campus and spoke with perspective nursing students Thursday.
McClain Delaney expressed concern with federal cuts to Medicaid, stressing that patient care will be affected. She predicted that clinics and some hospital departments will be forced to close, sending patients on long trips for care. “This is a huge issue,” she said.
“I am so upset,” she said, noting that 35,000 of her District 6 constituents are federal employees.
“No matter what your zip code is, no matter what your [political] party is, we all are going to be affected,” said the congresswoman.
“There is a real nursing shortage,” she added, as she asked the students about the challenges they face in becoming nurses. During the visit, the congresswoman stressed, repeatedly, that Maryland and the nation needs more nurses.
There are 450 students in Montgomery College’s nursing program. Between 60 to 80 graduate each semester of the academic year.
“One hundred four new nurses entered the pipeline,” said Timothy Fuss, interim director of the nursing program. They were qualified for nursing jobs this year, as well, said Fuss.
“I’ve been really focusing on health care just because of the ‘Big Bad Bill,’ but there are so many issues, like vaccinations,” McClain Delaney said. She was referring to the recently adopted defense budget that President Donald Trump called the Big Beautiful Bill.
During her tour through the college’s nursing labs and simulation rooms, Delaney marveled at the high quality and realistic equipment which featured “patients” whose chests rose and fell with every breath and a “baby” that cried — realistic manikins that can mimic patient conditions to help nursing student prepare for real-life scenarios.
With ACA tax credits at risk and historic cuts to Medicaid impending, we must meet the needs of our healthcare workers to strengthen our hospitals and uplift their service. Today I toured classrooms, labs, and other facilities at @montgomerycoll Health Sciences Center and met… pic.twitter.com/7RS764pS8E
— Rep. April McClain Delaney (@RepAprilDelaney) October 23, 2025
