{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5209", "Congressman Lawler Expands Definition of Professional Degrees in New Bill", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NY", "Michael Lawler", "L000599", "lawler.house.gov", "lawler", "https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx?DocumentTypeID=27", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. - 12/17/25\u2026 Today, Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the Professional Student Degree Act, a bill that amends the Higher Education Act to define \u201cprofessional degree\u201d and lists the graduate programs which meet the criteria.\n\nThe Working Families Tax Cut legislation modified the annual federal student loan caps for students in graduate programs. The law caps traditional graduate education at $20,500 per year and $100,000 overall. But for graduate students seeking professional degrees, this limit is raised to $50,000 per year and $200,000 overall. It refers to an existing regulatory definition of \u201cprofessional degree\u201d to determine which programs qualify for which cap.\n\nTo further clarify congressional intent, the Professional Student Degree Act, codifies the definition currently in regulation. It then adds to the existing list of examples to enumerate more programs that meet the standards set in the definition. In addition to programs already identified, the bill lists nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, ministry, social work, audiology, physician assistant, public health, business administration and management, accounting, architecture, secondary education, and special education.\n\n\u201cAny degree that fits the specified criteria in the \u2018professional degree\u2019 definition should qualify for higher loan limits. For so many essential workers that need advanced degrees and licenses to simply do their job, it will make all the difference. The Professional Student Degree Act will ensure that students pursuing essential degrees such as nursing, social work, physical therapy, and more are able to access the full range of federal student loan benefits, just as their peers in other professional fields,\u201d said Congressman Lawler.\n\nEndorsing organizations include: American Academy of Audiology, American Academy of Physician Associates, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, American Council on Education, American Institute of Architects, American Indian Higher Education Consortium, American Institute of Architecture Students, American Physical Therapy Association, Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education, Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU), Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Association of Public Land-grant Universities, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities, Columbia University, Commission on Independent Colleges & Universities, Dominican University New York, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education, National Architectural Accrediting Board, National Coalition for Predominantly Black Institutions, National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, National Organization of Minority Architects, New York Medical College, OCA\u2013Asian Pacific American Advocates, Oncology Nursing Society (ONS), Physician Assistant Education Association, Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Yale University, UNCF, and Architecture Organizations Alliance.\n\n\u201cThe American Council on Education is proud to endorse H.R. 6718, the Professional Student Degree Act. This bill would ensure that students in numerous academic programs that prepare them for highly-skilled, in-demand professions have the federal financial aid they need to earn their degrees. Expanding the definition of professional student will ensure that students can enter critical fields such as nursing, education and social work, among others. We thank Rep. Lawler and his colleagues for this bill and encourage Congress to pass it quickly,\u201d said the American Council on Education.\n\n\u201cAAPA applauds Congressman Lawler for stepping up to introduce this legislation and ensure the final rule issued by ED reflects the legislative language and intent of what Congress enacted,\u201d said AAPA President and Chair of the Board of Directors, Todd Pickard, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, FASCO. \u201cPeople who are going into healthcare should be able to have access to the loans they need so they can afford to complete their professional studies and take care of patients. That is the standard we should be working toward. If we fail to protect access to healthcare education today, we will feel the consequences in every clinic and every community tomorrow.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) supports H.R.6718, also known as the \u201cProfessional Student Degree Act.\u201d This legislation amends The Higher Education Act of 1965 by codifying the definition of \u201cprofessional degree\u201d and enumerates a broad set of programs that qualify for this distinction. By embedding the definition in statute, H.R. 6718 eliminates ambiguity and ensures consistent interpretation across administrations. This clarity of the definition is critical for institutions and students planning long-term education and financial decisions. More than half of all students in New York in professional programs study at an independent college or university. Without this safeguard, many students will find their prospects for success sharply diminished, and New York\u2019s higher education ecosystem will suffer significant economic harm. Representing more than 100 independent colleges and universities in New York State who educate almost 500,000 students annually, CICU supports and urges the swift passage of H.R. 6718,\u201d said Lola Brabham, President of The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities in New York.\n\n\u201cThe contributions and societal value of these graduates to their local communities are often overlooked or forgotten by policymakers, who focus on comparing debt-to-earnings ratios or amortization schedules. For these reasons, AASCU is proud to endorse H.R. 6718 and greatly appreciates your leadership on behalf of our nation\u2019s postsecondary institutions and students. Thank you for your advocacy and recognition of the important role professional degree attainment plays in strengthening our national economy and local communities,\u201d said Dr. Charles L. Welch, President and CEO of American Association of State Colleges and Universities.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the 100,000+ registered nurses dedicated to excellence in patient care, education, research, and administration in oncology nursing, the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) thanks you for your introduction of the Professional Student Degree Act. This important legislation would codify the definition of \u201cprofessional degree\u201d and clarify which graduate programs meet the criteria. ONS thanks you for your leadership and stands ready to work with you and your staff to ensure equitable access to federal loans for nursing students,\u201d said The Oncology Nursing Society.\n\n\u201cOn behalf of the American Academy of Audiology, the largest organization of, by, and for audiologists, dedicated to advancing quality hearing and balance care through professional development, education, research, and public awareness, I am writing to express our strong support for the HR. 6718, the Professional Student Degree Act, and to thank you for your leadership in introducing this important legislation,\u201d said Patrick Gallagher, Executive Director of American Academy of Audiology.\n\n\u201cWithout the relief offered by your legislation, students already facing the loss of Grad PLUS loans and the imposition of newly implemented loan limits could be forced to abandon plans to attain a professional degree or switch areas of study entirely. This concern is especially prevalent among students seeking continued education in the health care and education fields. Originally charged by their state legislatures and communities with the education of vital nurses and teachers, RPUs continue to graduate most of the nation\u2019s nurses, educators, social workers, and public health professionals. The contributions and societal value of these graduates to their local communities are often overlooked or forgotten by policymakers, who focus on comparing debt-to-earnings ratios or amortization schedules,\u201d said Dr. Charles L. Welch, President and CEO of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.\n\n\u201cH.R. 6718 is a critical and constructive step toward mitigating these impacts and preserving access to professional education that supports the nation\u2019s workforce needs. We appreciate your leadership on this issue and look forward to working with you to advance this bill and on future e\ufb00orts to and strengthen graduate and professional education pathways,\u201d said Kristen F. Soares President, Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities.\n\n\u201cMany of these professions, in health and teaching fields, to name just a few, also happen to be in fields that bring value to communities, but are also facing shortages. In the new proposed regulatory language from the U.S. Department of Education, which defines a narrow list of professional degree programs, many professional career pathways would exclude students with economic need. Your legislation provides a reasonable, balanced solution to this problem by expanding the list of professional programs so that students pursuing service-oriented career paths have access to federal student loans. We are grateful for your leadership and look forward to working closely with your office to advance this important legislation,\u201d said Jenny Smulson, Interim Executive Director and Vice President for Government Relations of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.\n\n\"America\u2019s economy depends on skilled professionals who turn private investment and community development goals into real projects that create jobs, housing, and stronger local economies. By restoring access to reasonable federal loan options for students in accredited professional programs, your bill helps ensure a steady pipeline of licensed architects who can keep projects moving without costly delays,\" said Architecture Organizations Alliance.\n\nFull text of the bill can be found HERE.\n\nFull letters of support from various endorsing organizations can be found below:\n\nAAPA Letter of Support\n\nAmerican Academy of Audiology Letter of Support\n\nCommission on Independent Colleges & Universities Letter of Support\n\nAmerican Association of State Colleges and Universities Letter of Support\n\nThe Oncology Nursing Society Letter of Support\n\nThe AICCU Letter of Support\n\nAJCU Letter of Support\n\nCoalition of Architectural Organizations Letter of Support\n\nCongressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://lawler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5209"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2152050621807575, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}