ASAHP joined the Advanced Professional Workforce Alliance (APWA), of which ASAHP is a member, in a submitting written outside witness testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor-HHS, urging the Departments of Education and Labor to report on the impacts of federal student loan limits on programs not classified as “professional.” APWA has also submitted suggested report language to Congress.

The testimony and request is in response to implementation efforts regarding student loan provisions under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and the Department of Education’s proposed Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) regulation on student loan caps, which would narrow the definition of “professional degrees.”

APWA calls for reports to be included in FY 2028 Congressional Justifications and future updates to examine its effects on enrollment, completion, and workforce outcomes across affected programs and institutions. The testimony also addresses the potential impacts on existing workforce shortages and on low-income and first-generation students. The proposal stands to have impacts particularly in high-need fields such as public health and allied health professions.

APWA and its partners urge the Subcommittee to consider the downstream effects of a reduced access to federal student aid on workforce pipelines. Additionally, the coalition recommends preserving the Secretary of Education’s authority to designate programs as “professional” based on workforce demand and training requirements.

ASAHP and APWA will continue to monitor implementation of student loan caps and advocate for policies that support access to education and workforce development in critical health professions.

Find the full testimony here. The guidelines for submitting outside witness testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Labor-HHS is here. The deadline is close of business on Friday, May 20.