A sign-on letter to the Department of Education supporting nursing being classified as a professional degree is currently being circulated by Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chairs, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), along with House Nursing Caucus co-chairs, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), and we need your help securing additional signatures. This comment letter is in response to the Department of Education's Notice of Proposed Rulemaking implementing federal student loan limits for post-baccalaureate students. The deadline for Members of Congress to sign on to this letter has been extended to COB Friday, February 27th.
Here's how you can help:
- Send a message to your legislators asking them to sign on to this letter by the extended deadline of COB Friday, February 27. Our action center has everything you need to send a message, even draft language that you can modify with background on how access to student loans has impacted your career path.
- Sign the nursing community petition urging the Department of Education to include nursing as a professional degree.
- Send your own comment letter to the Department of Education on the proposed rule here by the deadline of Monday, March 2.
Additional resources on the nursing community's advocacy on this issue can be found here.
HPNA’s advocacy team continues to work with our coalition partners on additional opportunities to engage on this issue. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Potter, HPNA Manager of Advocacy and Health Policy.
Thank you for being an advocate for hospice and palliative care nursing!