In the wake of the Department of Education’s (ED) final rule limiting federal student loans for future CRNAs and other advanced practice registered nurses to $20,500 per year and $100,000 in aggregate, AANA has been working with Congressional champions to establish a legislative fix.
The Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, introduced by Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), David Joyce (R-OH), and Jack Bergman (R-MI) in the U.S. House and by Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) in the U.S. Senate, would amend the definition of “professional degree” in the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include all post-baccalaureate nursing degrees (MSN, DNP, DNAP, and PhD).
Now that we are past the July 1 deadline, it’s urgent that members reach out to their legislators. This bill will help to increase student loan caps for future CRNAs, and we need your help to gain support. Urge your Legislator to cosponsor the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act today.
The Professional Student Degree Act introduced in December by Rep. Mike Lawler also would include all advanced level nursing degrees, as well as several other doctoral medical degrees (DPT, DOT, MOT, and several others). The bill has recently received several bipartisan cosponsors and is currently under the review of the Education and Workforce Committee.
