Dear AACN Advocates,
On May 1, 2026, the Department of Education issued its final rule severely restricting the federal loan amounts available to post-baccalaureate nursing students by excluding nursing from the regulatory definition of professional degrees. We need Congress to take action to correct this harmful decision. If not remedied, this exclusion will have direct financial, workforce, and public health implications as nursing students may be forced to take out high-interest private loans or worse, to abandon advanced practice education altogether.
In response to the release of the Department of Education’s final rule, congressional nursing champions have introduced the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act (S.4568/H.R.8691) in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This bill includes nursing programs in the statutory definition of professional degrees to ensure that our post-baccalaureate nursing students have the resources that they need to serve patients across the country.
Please email your Representative and Senators today to ask them to cosponsor and pass the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act as soon as possible. Of note, the Senate bill is being led by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Susan Collins (R-ME). The House bill is being led by Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Dave Joyce (R-OH), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Don Bacon (R-NE).
We appreciate your immediate action as we advocate for this vital legislation. Please make your voice heard today!
On May 1, 2026, the Department of Education issued its final rule severely restricting the federal loan amounts available to post-baccalaureate nursing students by excluding nursing from the regulatory definition of professional degrees. We need Congress to take action to correct this harmful decision. If not remedied, this exclusion will have direct financial, workforce, and public health implications as nursing students may be forced to take out high-interest private loans or worse, to abandon advanced practice education altogether.
In response to the release of the Department of Education’s final rule, congressional nursing champions have introduced the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act (S.4568/H.R.8691) in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. This bill includes nursing programs in the statutory definition of professional degrees to ensure that our post-baccalaureate nursing students have the resources that they need to serve patients across the country.
Please email your Representative and Senators today to ask them to cosponsor and pass the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act as soon as possible. Of note, the Senate bill is being led by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Susan Collins (R-ME). The House bill is being led by Reps. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Dave Joyce (R-OH), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Don Bacon (R-NE).
We appreciate your immediate action as we advocate for this vital legislation. Please make your voice heard today!