In response to the Department of Education’s (ED) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) which would reduce student loan opportunities for allied health professions education as well as nursing and public health programs, the Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions (ASAHP) submitted comments to ED urging the Department to classify allied health programs as qualifying professional degree programs eligible for the higher student loan cap.
Department of Education Issues Interpretive Rule on Accreditation
Health Care Groups Form Coalition to Fight Loan Caps
Inside Higher Ed covered the work of a newly formed coalition, of which ASAHP is a member, which is spearheading advocacy in response to proposed Department of Education rulemaking on Higher Education Act provisions stemming from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, including the new student loan caps which would exclude most allied health graduate and doctoral programs from higher student loan caps.
The article by Inside Higher Ed may be accessed here.
House Education & Workforce Committee Hearing on "Runaway College Spending Meets the Working Families Tax Cuts"
The House Education and Workforce Committee held a Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development hearing titled “Runaway College Spending Meets the Working Families Tax Cuts,” to examine the rising costs of higher education and potential strategies to increase access for working families.
ACE to Host Capitol Hill Briefing on Professional Degree Students and Their Lack of Access to Federal Student Aid
On Tuesday, February 10, at 3pm Eastern, the American Council on Education (ACE), of which ASAHP is a member, will host a Capitol Hill briefing for congressional staff and interested parties titled, “Professional Degree Students and Their Lack of Access to Federal Student Aid”. Jessica Blake of Inside Higher Ed will moderate a panel featuring Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) and others.
More details are here. ACE put out a two-page document here with background and talking points on the issue.
House Passes and President Trump Signs FY 26 Labor-HHS Bill Package, Ending Partial Government Shutdown
This afternoon, the House, in a 217-214 vote, passed the five-bill spending package funding the FY 26 Labor-HHS, Defense, Transportation-HUD, Financial Services, and National Security-State bills through the remainder of the current fiscal year, along with a Continuing Resolution (CR) funding the Homeland Security bill through February 13. 21 Democrats joined most Republicans in support, while 21 Republicans joined most Democrats in opposition. Prior to final passage, the House voted 217-215 to adopt the rule to consider the legislation, with Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) joining all Democrats in opposition. The Senate passed the package on Friday, and President Trump signed this package this afternoon, ending the partial government shutdown which began at midnight on Friday.
A statement from the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC), of which ASAHP is a member, is here.
Senate Passes Funding Package Including the Labor-HHS Bill
On Friday evening, in a bipartisan 71-29 vote, and after Senators and the White House forged a compromise deal yesterday, the Senate passed a FY 26 funding package comprised of the Labor-HHS, Defense, Transportation-HUD, Financial Services, and National Security-State appropriations bills. Those bills would be funded through September, the remainder of the fiscal year.
The Senate also passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) for the Department of Homeland Security through February 13, allowing more time for Congress and the White House to negotiate that bill.
The five-bill funding package and Homeland Security CR now need to be passed in the House. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said he hopes to bring up the bills under suspension of the rules, a fast-track process which requires a two-thirds vote in the House. A vote is expected as early as Monday. The likelihood of quick House passage remains uncertain.
The current CR for the six FY 26 bills, including the Labor-HHS bill, expired at midnight on Friday, triggering a partial government shutdown lasting until the House passes the funding package and President Trump signs the bills.
Department of Education Issues Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, Public Comment Period on Higher Education Loan Caps
Yesterday the Department of Education issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) addressing changes to the Higher Education Act (HEA) included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, following the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) negotiated rulemaking committee reaching consensus on the package of proposed regulations in November.
The proposed regulation sets new student loan caps for graduate students, with a higher cap for those pursuing a professional degree. Graduate students would be limited to $20,500 in student loans per year (an up to $100,000 aggregate cap), while professional students would be limited to $50,000 in federal student loans per year (an up to $200,000 lifetime cap). The regulation narrows the programs that qualify as professional degrees, meaning students pursuing an array of advanced degrees in high-demand professions—such as allied health, nursing, and public health—would not be able to borrow as much as those in unaffected fields. The regulations would also eliminate the Grad PLUS program and multiple loan repayment options, limit Parent PLUS, and introduces streamlined repayment options for borrowers.
Since this issue arose, ASAHP has joined other organizations in outreach to the Department of Education (here, here, and here), urging that health professions programs qualify for the professional degree caps and expressing concern that a new, narrow definition of what constitutes a professional degree will deepen the health workforce shortage by creating uncertainty and limiting access to vital support for students entering critical health fields.
Public comment on the proposed regulations is now open through March 2. The Department of Education press release is here. The NPRM is here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here.
House Passes FY 26 House Labor-HHS Bill, Senate Consideration Next Week
Yesterday, the House passed a spending package, closing out its work on FY 26 appropriations. After passing the Homeland Security bill, the House passed a three-bill “minibus” package including the Labor-HHS, Defense, and Transportation-HUD bills in a bipartisan 341-88 vote. The Senate is expected to take up its remaining bills, including the House pass Labor-HHS bill, in a six-bill minibus package to expedite their passage in advance of the January 30 funding deadline. Once passed by the Senate, these appropriations are expected to be signed by the President.
The Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) has produced a chart on Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VII and VIII Health Workforce Programs funding, which may be accessed here.
Congressional Appropriators Release Remaining FY 26 Bipartisan Funding bills, Including Labor-HHS Bill
House and Senate Appropriators released the texts of four bipartisan FY 26 appropriations bills this morning -- Defense, Homeland Security, Transportation-HUD, and Labor-HHS. These are the last of the twelve appropriations bills needed to move forward to meet appropriators’ overall goals of enacting every appropriations bill before the Continuing Resolution expires on January 30th. The House is expected to take up these bills as soon as Thursday, while the Senate will address these bills, along with two other outstanding bills, when it returns from recess next week.
ACE Issues Talking Points on Graduate and Professional Student Loan Limits
The American Council on Education (ACE), of which ASAHP is a member, has released talking points on graduate and professional student loan limits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA).
ASAHP is deeply concerned ED’s recent narrowing of programs that qualify as ‘professional’ degrees excludes health professions education. In November, ED launched the first phase of its regulatory process for the student financial aid provisions of the OBBBA, restricting the professions that qualify as ‘professional’ degrees. Unfortunately, ED's proposal leaves out essential health professions, including allied health, nursing, and public health, from the category of ‘professional’ degrees—ignoring decades of precedent affirming these fields as professional programs. Several bills on the issue have been introduced in Congress, and the Department of Education will be issuing a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which will have a public comment period before a final rule is issued.
The talking points are available here.
Department of Education Announces Negotiated Rulemaking on Accreditation
This week the Department of Education announced its intent to establish the Accreditation, Innovation, and Modernization (AIM) negotiated rulemaking committee. The committee will address the following topics: deregulation, student outcomes, merit, and integrity. The deadline to submit nominations for negotiators is February 26. The committee will convene for two five-day sessions in April and May. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed is here.
Rep. Lawler Introduces the Professional Student Degree Act
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced the Professional Student Degree Act in the House yesterday. The legislation defines what constitutes a professional degree program, and adds to a list of examples of such programs, including “nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, ministry, social work, audiology, physician assistant, public health, business administration and management, accounting, architecture, secondary education, and special education.” ASAHP supports the Professional Student Degree Act.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) set higher loan caps for professional students, and Department of Education negotiated rulemaking reached consensus on a narrow definition of professional students which excludes most allied health programs.
A press release from Rep. Lawler is available here. The bill text is available here.
Rep. Debbie Dingell Introduces the Clarity in Professional Degree Act
On Tuesday, Rep. Debbie Dingell introduced the Clarity in Professional Degree Act, “legislation aimed at restoring and protecting access for federal student aid after the Department of Education narrowed the definition of ‘professional degree,’ threatening access to loans for students in critical health and education fields.”
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) set higher loan caps for professional students, and Department of Education negotiated rulemaking reached consensus on a narrow definition of professional students which excludes most allied health programs.
Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-NY) and Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy (D-NY) each introduced bills on the issue last week, and Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) introduced a bill on the issue earlier this week.
More details on Rep. Dingell’s bill are here.
Rep. Ritchie Torres Introduces the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act
On Thursday, Rep. Ritchie Torres Introduced the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act, “legislation to reverse recent reductions in federal loan availability for graduate and professional students. The bill would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to restore the full loan limits that were narrowed” in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA). ASAHP supports the legislation.
The OBBA set higher loan caps for professional students, and Department of Education negotiated rulemaking reached consensus on a narrow definition of professional students which excludes most allied health programs.
More details are here.
Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy Introduces the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals (LEAP) Act
On Wednesday, Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy (D-NY) introduced the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals (LEAP) Act. The bill ensures graduate students, as defined by the Department, have access to $50,000 annually and $200,000 aggregately and thus the same limits as professional students. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBA) set higher loan caps for professional students, and Department of Education negotiated rulemaking reached consensus on a narrow definition of professional students which excludes most allied health programs. ASAHP supports the LEAP Act.
A press release from Rep. Kennedy is available here [updated to include the December 17 press release].
Also, Rep. Kennedy led 69 of his colleagues in a letter to the Department of Education regarding the Department’s negotiated rulemaking.
The LEAP Act is available here.
Department of Education Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education Reaches Consensus
This week the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee concluded its negotiated rulemaking session to address changes to the Higher Education Act included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, reaching consensus on the entire package of 17 proposals by the Department of Education.
The OBBBA set new student loan caps for graduate students, with a higher cap for those pursuing a professional degree. Graduate students would be limited to an up to $100,000 lifetime cap while professional students would be limited to an up to $200,000 lifetime cap. Significant time was spent on ED’s proposal regarding the definition of what constitutes a professional degree. Ultimately, consensus was reached on a list of professional programs that was significantly less expansive than a proposal put forward by Alex Holt, the committee member representing taxpayers and the public interest, which would have included more health professions programs. Holt’s proposal appeared to gain support from all committee members except the Department of Education. Ultimately, negotiators felt reaching consensus was best in order to lock in other concessions they had won from the Department, as without consensus the Department would be free to write its own proposal to be released for public comment.
ASAHP and other organizations called for the Department of Education to classify all professions under CIP Code 51 — Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, and related codes as “professional degrees”, though the committee agreed to a narrower definition. In a letter to the Department and RISE Committee members, ASAHP and other organizations expressed how excluding programs within CIP Code 51 would fragment financial aid eligibility, exacerbate existing shortages, limit access to education for students seeking to serve in critical health roles, and undermine the interprofessional foundation.
Coverage from Inside Higher Ed may be accessed here.
ASAHP Joins Letter to the Department of Education Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on Student Loan Caps
ASAHP was one of 28 organizations which joined a letter to the Department of Education’s Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee as it continues its work in Session 2 of negotiated rulemaking to implement the student financial aid provisions of Public Law 119–21, commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The OBBBA set new student loan caps for graduate students, with a higher cap for those pursuing a professional degree. ASAHP and the organizations recommend that the Department:
1. Classify all professions under CIP Code 51 — Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, and related codes as “professional degrees.”
2. Define “professional degree” as any degree leading to a professional credential required for entry into practice in that field.
3. Define “professional degree” based on accreditation, curriculum, and alignment with recognized health profession standards, not program length or credit hours.
4. Recognize the critical workforce impact of any exclusion of health professions degrees, which would disproportionately harm communities in rural and underserved areas.
The letter may be accessed here.
Department of Education Negotiated Rulemaking for Higher Education
The Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) Committee will hold its second session November 3-7 from 9am to noon Eastern and 1pm to 4pm Eastern. The committee’s first session was held September 29-October 3. The five-day in person negotiated rulemaking session will address changes to the Higher Education Act included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. These include the phase out of graduate and professional PLUS loans, the establishment of new annual loan limits for graduate and professional students and parent borrowers, the simplification of student loan repayment plans, institutional flexibility to apply lower annual limits for borrowers for selected programs of study, modifications to loan rehabilitation, and more. More details may be accessed here. Registration for the session is here.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act set new student loan caps for graduate students, with a higher cap for those pursuing a professional degree. ASAHP and other organizations has reccommended that the Department:
1. Classify all professions under CIP Code 51 — Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, and related codes as “professional degrees.”
2. Define “professional degree” as any degree leading to a professional credential required for entry into practice in that field.
3. Define “professional degree” based on accreditation, curriculum, and alignment with recognized health profession standards, not program length or credit hours.
4. Recognize the critical workforce impact of any exclusion of health professions degrees, which would disproportionately harm communities in rural and underserved areas.
ASAHP Joins Joint Letter to the Department of Education Regarding Student Loan Repayment
ASAHP joined other organizations in a letter to the Department of Education expressing concern that that the regulatory framework for loan repayment programs under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) may not adequately reflect the realities of the health professions workforce. The organizations urge the Department to ensure that the health professions workforce is considered a single, integrated workforce when determining loan eligibility criteria. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act set new student loan caps for graduate students, with a higher cap for those pursuing a professional degree.
The letter may be accessed here.