In the wake of the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) final rule capping federal unsubsidized loans for post-baccalaureate nurses at $20,500 per year and $100,000 in aggregate, AANA is working with our congressional partners to garner support for legislative solutions.
Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), David Joyce (R-OH), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Don Bacon (R-NE), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), have introduced the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, which amends the definition of “professional degree” in the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include all post-baccalaureate nursing degrees (MSN, DNP, DNAP, and PhD). Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Sen. Cynthis Lummis (R-WY), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) have also introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate.
Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), John Mannion (D-NY), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL) and Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to repeal ED’s final rule in its entirety. The CRA cannot be formally filed until the final rule goes into effect. AANA will provide updates on additional cosponsors and next steps as the situation develops in the coming months.
While AANA works to advance these bills in Washington, DC, it’s critical that your legislators hear that you – as a voter and a constituent – support these bills. Please urge them to cosponsor them today by clicking here.
AANA has also formally endorsed Rep. Mike Lawler’s (R-NY) Professional Student Degree Act, which would list advanced nursing degrees as “professional degrees.” This bipartisan legislation includes other non-MD medical doctoral degrees under the “Professional” designation. The bill does not have a Senate companion bill, but AANA will provide updates as they become available.
