Organizational Affiliates: ANA Government Affairs & Policy Updates: 

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LAWSUIT 

Nursing Considered Professional Degree. In new guidance issued by the Department of Education (ED) this week, certain post-baccalaureate nursing degree programs will be considered professional for the purposes of federal graduate student loan borrowing. This updated guidance includes an interim list of degrees considered to meet the professional degree definition and stems from a June 25 court order where a federal judge issued a stay on ED’s definition of a professional degree in the final rule. The updated guidance is in effect from July 1 through the duration of the court order. 

On July 1, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts held a hearing in the American Nurses Association (ANA)-led lawsuit seeking a preliminary injunction against the provisions of the final rule implementing federal graduate loan borrowing limits. Judge Saris expressed agreement with Judge Howell’s decision in the D.C. case that the Final Rule is inconsistent with the statute. Because Judge Howell has stayed the Final Rule, Judge Saris indicated that she expects to issue an opinion and order in this case in the coming weeks but did not see a need to rule from the bench today.

Judge Saris also asked the parties for clarification on several points and instructed the Department to meet and confer with us before July 13 regarding the scope of the existing guidance, with the goal of ensuring that APRN programs are included.

ON THE HILL 

ANA 2026 Hill Day. Thank you to everyone who made last week’s ANA Hill Day such a success! Nurse advocates attended nearly 360 meetings with congressional offices and drove more than 3,800 calls and emails through our virtual day of action. Learn more about the event and issues nurses brought to the Hill here.

Legislation Targets ED Loan Rule. On June 24, Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) were able to force a vote on a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution of disapproval to repeal the Trump Administration’s final rule on federal graduate student loans that limits students attending post-baccalaureate nursing programs to the “graduate” category instead of the “professional” category to determine loan borrowing limits. If passed by both houses and signed into law, the CRA would repeal the entire rule. ANA staff widely expected this measure to fail and were correct when Senate Republicans blocked the move. The legislative fight on this issue is far from over, and ANA is working with congressional champions to advance a CRA along with the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act (H.R. 8691 / S.4568) and Professional Student Degree Act (H.R. 6718), both of which would add post-baccalaureate nursing degree programs to the “professional” category. 

SHARE Act Introduced. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Angus King (I-ME), along with Representatives Tracey Mann (R-KS-01) and Joe Neguse (D-CO-02) introduced the bipartisan and bicameral States Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment (SHARE) Act (S.1101/H.R.2332). The SHARE Act will help ensure the licensure process operates as intended for nurses seeking multi-state licensure under the Nurse Licensure Compact. Most interstate licensure compacts require a fingerprint-based Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) background check before a provider can practice across state lines. However, federal law is unclear about whether the FBI could share that information for compact-based licensing. As a result, some states are unable to access or verify background checks, slowing or halting participation in compacts. The SHARE Act fixes that ambiguity by explicitly allowing the FBI to provide that data.

AT THE AGENCIES 

CMS Launches Loan Repayment for Nursing Home Workforce. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a new program to help address nursing home workforce shortages by offering up to $40,000 in student loan repayment for eligible registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPNs/LVNs), along with an additional $10,000 stipend for living expenses. Nurses committing to work for three years at qualifying facilities, primarily in rural and underserved communities, for at least 30 hours per week are eligible for loan repayment. This program is open to both recent graduates and current nurses nationwide, and the initiative aims to reduce education debt while building experience in long-term care. Applications are expected to open in the coming months; sign up directly for updates from CMS.

New Nursing Workforce Funding Opportunities. The Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) hosted a live Q&A webinar to provide guidance on two new nursing workforce funding opportunities, noting that the application window is shorter than usual. The Nursing Workforce Development (NWD) Program focuses on expanding nursing education opportunities for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, with approximately $20 million in funding available for up to 36 grantees over four years. The second, the Nurse Faculty Loan Program (NFLP), will award $25.6 million to 80 grantees in the form of low-interest loans and loan repayments for nursing students seeking to become nurse faculty. More information and technical assistance webinar recordings are available on the program websites.

ELECTION HUB 

Several incumbent members of the House of Representatives lost their primaries over the last couple weeks, bringing the total for the cycle up to seven. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), and Dan Goldman (D-NY)-who have been in office for 29, nine, and three years, respectively-all lost to candidates belonging to the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).

In Colorado, Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) lost in the gubernatorial primary to state attorney general Phil Weiser, although Bennet is not up for re-election until 2028 for his Senate seat. Weiser will face either Republican state senator Barb Kirkmeyer or minister Victor Marx in the general election in the open gubernatorial race.

A couple of runoffs set the stage for the general election. In Louisiana’s Senate race, Democrat Jamie Davis will challenge Rep. Julia Letlow (R-LA) for the role. Letlow defeated incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) in the first-round primary back in May. South Carolina state attorney general Alan Wilson secured the Republican nomination in the open gubernatorial race.