The Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act will establish statutory, mandatory, minimum nurse staffing standards with strong enforceable penalties.
I will establish comprehensive mandatory minimum nurse staffing standards in nursing homes, backed by strong enforceable penalties.
Occurrences
Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act ... To amend titles XI, XVIII, and XIX of the Social Security Act with respect to minimum staffing levels in skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
filed brand new legislation to establish comprehensive mandatory minimum nurse staffing standards in nursing homes
Evidence
CMS issued an interim final rule, effective February 2, 2026, repealing provisions of the 2024 minimum staffing rule because Public Law 119-21 bars HHS/CMS from implementing, administering, or enforcing the standards until after September 30, 2034. The repealed standards included 24/7 onsite RN coverage and 0.55 RN, 2.45 nurse aide, and 3.48 total nurse staffing hours per resident day.
GovInfo lists H.R. 8100, the Safe Staffing Saves Lives Act, as introduced by Mr. Doggett for himself and Ms. Schakowsky on March 26, 2026, then referred to the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees. The bill's title states that it would amend the Social Security Act with respect to minimum staffing levels in skilled nursing facilities and nursing facilities under Medicare and Medicaid.
Assessments
Doggett made a concrete legislative attempt by introducing H.R. 8100 to set minimum staffing levels in nursing facilities, but the evidence shows only introduction and committee referral, not enactment or implementation. The underlying federal staffing standards were also repealed and barred from enforcement, so the promised comprehensive mandatory standards with enforceable penalties were not established.
Doggett introduced H.R. 8100 in the 119th Congress to create minimum nurse staffing standards for nursing homes, which is a concrete legislative attempt. However, the bill had only been introduced and referred to committees, with no evidence of passage, enactment, or implementation. Existing federal staffing standards were also repealed or made unenforceable until after September 30, 2034, so the promised comprehensive mandatory standards with enforceable penalties were not established.