Policy Watch

Given rapid developments in the legislative, policy, and regulatory environments, 糖心原创 is providing weekly updates on key actions taken by Congress and the Administration. To quickly find relevant updates, use the dropdown menus to search by topic or date.

News by Topic

On September 16, 糖心原创 signed on to a comment letter led by the American Council on Education (ACE) on the Department of Education’s (ED) accreditation proposed rule. This letter raises concerns that many of these requirements go well beyond ED’s authority under the Higher Education Act and urges the ED to focus instead on areas that will enhance the accreditation process. .
糖心原创 submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the , underscoring the need to invest in graduate nursing education and ensure nurses are included in policy conversations.
On June 29, the Department of Education released the rule, which establishes a new accountability framework that measures whether college programs lead to stronger earnings after graduation.
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) from the Department of Education on the definition of "professional degree" programs is now with the Office of Management and Budget, which is the next step in the process before it is released to the public for comment. As we await the NPRM and prepare for robust stakeholder input, we encourage you to click here to sign up for 糖心原创 Action Alerts so you receive the latest information in real time. Visit 糖心原创’s Nursing IS a Professional Degree landing page for the latest news and developments.

On September 25, the Administration notified Congress that it will not be spending $810 million of congressionally appropriated funds for Fiscal Year 2026, through a maneuver called a pocket rescission. This rescission proposal includes a $28 million cut for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. Members of Congress are pushing back on this maneuver, and the Government Accountability Office sent a letter to Congress reiterating that the use of pocket recissions is unlawful. 糖心原创 will continue to monitor this ongoing story.
糖心原创 has been monitoring reports that the Administration was considering an executive order to create a political review committee charged with reviewing all National Institutes of Health grants. Following responses from Members of Congress, , the Administration is reportedly no longer considering this option.
On September 17, 糖心原创 joined nearly 400 research-focused organizations to advocate for increased investments in the National Institutes of Health, including NINR, during the Rally for Medical Research. During the event, 糖心原创 met with congressional staff to discuss the essential role of nurse researchers and scientists as they make groundbreaking and lifesaving healthcare discoveries that inform nursing practice and education.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Nutrition Research recently announced its Challenge to identify, recognize, and promote innovative and evidence-based nutrition curricula that strengthen nutrition education within healthcare, including nursing programs. NIH will award up to $2.1 million in prizes to help accelerate adoption of effective nutrition education approaches across the country. The submission deadline is September 15. To register and enter your submission, .
On May 26, 糖心原创 responded to the National Institutes of Health’s for its Strategic Plan (FY 2027-2031), advocating for expanded investment in nurse-led research and for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR). Based on 糖心原创 member feedback, these comments emphasized the role of nursing science in improving patient outcomes, supporting preventative interventions, and leveraging emerging technologies.
On May 21, 糖心原创 submitted written testimony to the Senate LHHS-ED Appropriations Subcommittee requesting at least $610 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $215 million for NINR for FY 2027. 糖心原创 also signed onto similar testimony from the Nursing Community Coalition.
On April 16, 糖心原创 submitted written testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED) requesting at least $610 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $215 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2027. 糖心原创 also signed onto Nursing Community Coalition written testimony to the House LHHS-ED Subcommittee making the same request.
On April 3, the President released his FY 2027 budget proposal, which called for the elimination of most Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and a reduction in funding for the National Institute of Nursing Research. See 糖心原创’s press release and appropriations chart.
On March 23, 糖心原创 signed onto a thanking Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) for introducing the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act (S.3435/ H.R.6607), which would invest $1 billion into accredited schools and help ensure the next generation of nursing leaders are available to meet healthcare demand.
On March 17, 糖心原创 signed onto a Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) letter thanking Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) for introducing the bipartisan Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act (S.3707/H.R.7279), which would provide much needed grant funding to help recruit and retain nursing faculty and clinical preceptors.
On March 10, 糖心原创 attended , which highlighted the importance of fostering public trust in science through advocacy and communication, as well as the crucial need for further investment in health research. Senators Katie Britt (R-AL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) received the Edwin C. Whitehead Award for Medical Research Advocacy, and Mary Woolley, outgoing President and CEO of Research!America, received the John Edward Porter Legacy Award. See photos below.
On March 3, 糖心原创 was one of 552 organizations that signed onto an Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research statement recommending at least $51.303 billion for the National Institutes of Health in Fiscal Year 2027.

On July 1, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a ruling that struck down a final rule from the Department of Education that would allow the Department to exclude certain employers from participating in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. To learn more about this decision, .
On May 20, 糖心原创 signed onto comments from the American Council on Education in response to the Department of Education’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled, "Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand-Driven Workforce Pell: Student Tuition and Transparency System and Earnings Accountability."
Act Now! Congressional nursing champions have introduced the bipartisan Nursing is a Professional Degree Act (/) in response to the Department of Education’s recent rule reducing federal loan amounts for post-baccalaureate nursing students. to urge your Representative and Senators to cosponsor and pass this critical bill.
On May 19, Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown co-led a coalition of 24 attorneys general and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania in filing a joint lawsuit against the Department of Education over the recent rule imposing new loan limits on post-baccalaureate education. The coalition asserts that this rule could reduce revenue for public institutions of higher education, create barriers for students pursuing advanced training, worsen healthcare workforce shortages, and limit protections for students currently enrolled in affected programs. .
On April 8, 糖心原创 signed onto an American Council on Education (ACE) letter expressing concerns with the Department of Education’s proposed rule that would change how Pell Grant funding is calculated for students.
On March 2, 糖心原创 submitted comments to the Department of Education in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, strongly urging the Department to explicitly include post-baccalaureate nursing programs (MSN, DNP, PhD) in its definition of “professional degree” programs as it implements the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
On March 2, 糖心原创 submitted comments to the Department of Education in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking strongly requesting that the Department explicitly include post-baccalaureate nursing programs in its definition of “professional degree” programs as it implements the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
On January 30, the Department of Education (ED) released a (NPRM) to implement the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OB3A) student loan limits for post-baccalaureate degrees. As expected, nursing programs are not designated as "professional degree" programs under the proposal. As a result, students in MSN, DNP, and PhD nursing programs would face significantly lower student loan borrowing limits ($20,500 annually/$100,000 aggregate).

The Educating Future Nurses Act () was reintroduced by House Nursing Caucus Vice Co-Chair and nurse, Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14). This bill would establish a permanent national graduate nurse education program to support partnerships between nursing schools, hospitals, and health systems.
On August 8, the Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government through December 11 in a bipartisan 90-6 vote. We now await further congressional action as the House of Representatives reconvenes in Washington, DC at the end of this month. Read the full and .
On August 2, the Senate released its continuing resolution (CR), which would fund the federal government through December 11. This CR would also prevent the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance proposed rule from taking effect until that same date. On August 3, the Senate voted 89-4 to move the legislation forward, clearing its first major procedural hurdle. Senate CR comes shortly after 糖心原创 led and joined a number of comment letters urging OMB to delay and withdraw its proposed rule. As 糖心原创 outlined, this proposed rule would increase uncertainty in the federal grant process, jeopardize long-term research and workforce investments, and create additional administrative burdens for nursing schools and researchers. As we await the final Senate vote on the CR, click here to read the text , .
On July 21, the House of Representatives passed a measure to provide continued government funding between October 1 through December 4. The measure now moves to the Senate for consideration. The current deadline for Congress to pass its full-year Fiscal Year 2027 appropriations bills is September 30. .
On July 22, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee advanced the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.1874) out of Committee as amended. This bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the federal Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs, which support nursing education, recruitment, retention, and practice. During the markup, the Committee adopted two amendments introduced by Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) to establish a nurse faculty demonstration program and to create a pilot program for state nursing workforce centers. See 糖心原创’s full statement here.
On June 24, the Senate voted not to advance , a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution led by Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) that would have overturned the U.S. Department of Education's RISE Committee final rule. During floor debate, Sen. Merkley highlighted 糖心原创 data as he supported nursing as a professional degree (see remarks in beginning at 06:22:20). Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) also spoke on the issue. Read Sen. Merkley’s press release .
On June 24, the Senate voted not to advance , a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution led by Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) that would have overturned the U.S. Department of Education's RISE Committee final rule. During floor debate, Sen. Merkley highlighted 糖心原创 data as he supported nursing as a professional degree (see remarks in beginning at 06:22:20). Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) also spoke on the issue. Read Sen. Merkley’s press release .
On June 17, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) introduced several amendments during a Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee markup, including two proposals aimed at expanding and repealing the Department of Education’s final rule related to . Although both of these amendments were tabled, and are not moving forward at this time, 糖心原创 is encouraged to see continued congressional attention to addressing the nursing faculty shortage and reducing barriers to nursing education. to watch the hearing.
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), along with other members of Congress, introduced a Congressional Review Act (CRA) Joint Resolution (/) to repeal the Department of Education’s final rule on federal student loan limits. to view the full press release.
On May 7, Congressional Nursing Caucus Leadership announced their鈥痓ipartisan, bicameral resolution鈥�( and ) honoring鈥疦ational Nurses Week. for the press release.
Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), along with House Nursing Caucus Leadership, Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH-14), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), reintroduced the bipartisan, bicameral Nurse Faculty Shortage Reduction Act (/). This would help address the pay gap between clinical and faculty positions. 糖心原创 applauds this legislation as an innovative approach to supporting nursing schools and the recruitment and retention of faculty.
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), an independent, nonpartisan agency that advises Congress on issues affecting the Medicare program, is to serve on the Commission. 糖心原创 is proud to lead the Ad Hoc Nomination Consortium to ensure the nursing voice is included on federal task forces, committees, and councils, including MedPAC. We want to continue this effort and need your help! If you know a nurse who has expertise on issues affecting the Medicare program, before Wednesday, January 28, to submit their name for consideration.
To date, Congress has passed the Agriculture, Legislative Branch, and Veterans Affairs funding package. All other federal departments and agencies are currently funded under a continuing resolution (CR) that expires on January 30. On January 8, the House of Representatives passed a conferenced minibus package () for Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment appropriations. Of note, this package funds the Indian Health Service (IHS) at $8.05 billion, including funding for IHS staffing at newly opened health facilities. This minibus is now with the Senate for consideration. Funding for the Department of Health and Human Services, which administers key nursing programs, is expected to be included in one of the final funding packages considered by Congress.

On October 19, President Trump issued an on "Advancing Women's Health to Improve Outcomes in All Phases of Life," calling for the creation of a Women's Health Division within the National Institutes of Health and a Women's Health Task Force within the White House.
糖心原创 signed onto a welcoming Dr. Courtney F. Aklin as the new director of the National Institute of Nursing Research.

On October 26, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a new initiative to recruit and retain nurses to work in qualified long-term care facilities by offering stipends and loan repayments. Registered nurses who have qualifying loans from BSN and accelerated direct entry programs are eligible to receive support from this program. for more information.
糖心原创 led a Friends of Nursing letter that included 167 national and state organizations urging Congress to pass the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act (/) this year.