MNA Legislative Platform and Lobbyists Bill Kress and Pete Hammen

The MNA 2025 Legislative Platform

and

Lobbyists Kress Hammen Government Affairs

 

 

MNA's Legislative Platform/Policy Agenda

 

Maryland Nurses Association (MNA) supports an integrative legislative approach focusing on nurses of all backgrounds and training, patients/healthcare consumers, and the healthcare system.

 

MNA supports initiatives that provide and protect:

 

1. Strong nursing leadership in licensure and education to assure quality nursing care; this includes recruitment, retention, the nursing shortage, and MBON issues.

 

1. Nursing licensure reciprocity compacts to allow nurses and nurse practitioners to serve across state lines and provide options for patients/healthcare consumers.

 

1. Safe healthcare workplaces that support both healthy nurses and the health of patients/healthcare consumers.

 

1. Self-determination and access to care for all patients/healthcare consumers that includes full scope of practice and diversity.

 

Approved by the MNA Board of Directors on September 18, 2024

 

Kress Hammen Government Affairs

After an extensive search and interview process, the Maryland Nurses Association (MNA) is pleased to announce that it has retained Kress Hammen Government Affairs (KH) to represent the Association before the Maryland General Assembly, the Moore Administration and the Maryland Board of Nursing.

KH has more than 60 years of experience in Annapolis. They have strong relationships with leadership in Annapolis that will provide the MNA with access to key healthcare policy decision makers.

While MNA will be able to utilize all of KH's resources and lobbyists, the primary lobbyists advancing our agenda will be Pete Hammen and Bill Kress. 

Pete Hammen served in the Maryland House of Delegates for 22 years. In 2005, he was named Chairman of the Health and Government Operations Committee and served in that position for 11 years. In 2016, Pete resigned his seat to become Chief of Operations for the City of Baltimore. He served in that capacity until 2019.

 

Pete is widely known for his inclusive efforts to expand access to affordable, quality healthcare while serving as Chairman of the House Health & Government Operations Committee. Pete also has a very strong commitment to community development and continues to work to strengthen Baltimore City neighborhoods. He serves on the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation Board of Directors and the Schaefer Center for Public Policy Advisory Board.

 

Bill Kress has over twenty years of experience in Annapolis and has built a reputation as a thoughtful, trusted and knowledgeable lobbyist. Bill is known for his ability to understand clients’ complex issues and present them in a simple, straightforward manner that is easily understandable. He is frequently called upon to testify on his clients’ behalf and will do so for MNA.  He has represented The Maryland Association of Nurse Anesthetists since 2008.

 

Bill has successfully represented clients in virtually all public policy areas including manufacturing, budget, energy, gambilling, healthcare, economic development, information technology, insurance, professional associations, real estate, telecommunications, criminal justice, transportation and foreign sovereigns.

 

Additionally, Bill has proudly worked with a diverse group of pro bono clients. He has helped pass legislation to advance the causes of United States Veterans, Holocaust Survivors and the Amputee Coalition of America.

 

Prior to opening his own law firm, Bill served as Counsel with a major Baltimore law firm where his practice focused on government affairs, litigation and regulatory matters. Bill graduated magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

 

You can learn more about the firm by visiting https://kresshammen.com/