After GOP Spending Bill Slashes Student Loan Limits for Nurses, PTs, OTs, and More, Kennedy and Colleagues Introduce LEAP Act to Level Playing Field for Healthcare Professionals

H.R. 1 Cut Loan Limits in Half for Graduate Student Professions, Maxing Out at $100,000

LEAP Act Will Ensure that Graduate Students and Professional Students Receive the Same Amount of Borrowing Capacity, Opening Careers up to More Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26), alongside Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-2) and Rep. Shomari Figures (AL-2), introduced the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals (LEAP) Act. This legislation corrects a disparity made in H.R. 1, the Republican-led reconciliation bill, which drastically reduced borrowing power for advanced degree essential health students such as nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and public health workers, while leaving limits for other professionals untouched.

(Full press conference video available here)

Prior to H.R. 1, post-baccalaureate students were able to borrow up to the cost of attendance for federal lending through the Grad PLUS program. However, H.R. 1 eliminated this program and established a two-tiered system for direct unsubsidized loans: a higher $50,000 annual limit for "professional" degrees (such as MDs, JDs, and PharmDs) and a slashed $20,500 annual limit for "graduate" degrees (such as nursing, PT, OT, and Public Health). The LEAP Act creates parity by raising the cap for graduate students, ensuring these vital professionals have the same borrowing capacity as their peers.

"When I went to grad school to become an OT, I had to take out loans," said Congressman Kennedy. "I remember filling out those forms, hoping I'd have enough to cover tuition, books, and rent. I took on that debt because I wanted to build a better future for my family, and because I wanted to help people. Without the LEAP Act, we face a future of fewer nurses at the bedside, fewer therapists helping patients recover, fewer specialists serving rural communities, and fewer mental health providers at a time when this nation is desperate for them. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill into law and to provide equity for these vital healthcare providers."

"Regardless of whatever misguided label the Department of Education wants to slap on these programs, nursing, physical therapy, and other advanced health training are health care professions. To say otherwise is offensive, and the people who step up to serve our communities in these fields are professionals," said Rep. Tokuda (D-HI-02). "The Big, Ugly Bill once again failed Americans by refusing to recognize the urgent need for these health care workers in every state, and by making it harder for students to enter these critical fields. That's why I'm proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Loan Equity for Advanced Professional Act. This bill ensures equal access to federal student loans so graduate and professional students can finish their degrees, get to work, and help shore up the health workforce our communities depend on."

"The recent category change of student loan programs is yet another attempt by the administration to devalue higher education, and it is hurting students in Alabama and across the country," said Rep. Shomari Figures (D-AL-02). "That kind of policy is just wrong. This bill says clearly that we're not going to let Trump dismantle opportunities for the next generation. The Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act restores fairness, raises loan limits, and ensures students won't be forced to walk away from their dreams."

"Social workers are professionals, and they should have the same level of federal financial aid options as their professional colleagues," said Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, CEO of National Association of Social Workers (NASW). "NASW is proud to endorse the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals (LEAP) Act, which would allow all graduate programs to have the same student loan limits. This common sense legislation would mitigate actions by the Department of Education to differentiate student loan limits between graduate and professional programs."

"The LEAP Act is a critical step toward protecting access to education for the next generation of healthcare professionals," said American Occupational Therapy Association Chief Executive Officer Katie Jordan, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA. "At a time of severe nationwide workforce shortages, it's essential that future students can pursue careers in occupational therapy and other essential health professions. Strengthening our healthcare workforce starts with equitable access to graduate education, and AOTA is proud to collaborate with Congressman Kennedy on this commonsense solution."

"The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) supports the LEAP Act's commitment to restoring federal loan access for occupational therapy students," said Angela Macauley, President & CEO of NBCOT. "The financial demands of OT graduate education are significant, and those entering the profession deserve the same support as their peers in other professional healthcare programs. With many states already below recommended workforce levels, preserving access to these loans is essential to maintaining the pipeline and protecting public access to care.

"The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) supports maintaining appropriate federal loan access for MSW students and expanding federal funding opportunities that make social work education attainable," said Matt Hopper, Vice President of CSWE. "This is essential to upholding a strong and effective workforce that supports individuals, families, and communities nationwide."

"We applaud Congressman Tim Kennedy for calling for the reversal of the Department of Education's decision to impose stricter federal loan limits on certain advanced degree programs," said Dr. Elena Rios, president of the National Hispanic Health Foundation. "Students in high-demand healthcare fields would be able to borrow adequate levels of loans."

The changes implemented in H.R. 1 are slated to go into effect on July 1, 2026. Kennedy's legislation, co-led by Reps. Jill Tokuda (HI-2) and Shomari Figures (AL-2) would have the same effective date, ensuring equal access for medical professional students moving forward.

This legislation is endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers; American Occupational Therapy Association; American Physical Therapy Association; Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health; Council on Social Work Education; National Association of Social Workers; National Board of Certification of Occupational Therapy; National Hispanic Health Foundation; Hispanic Health Professionals Network; National Board for Certified Counselors and Affiliates; Association of Schools Advancing Health Professions.

This legislation is cosponsored by Representatives Angie Craig, Suzan DelBene, Debbie Dingell, Dwight Evans, Cleo Fields, Dan Goldman, Pablo Hernandez, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Greg Landsman, George Latimer, LaMonica McIver, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Grace Meng, Chellie Pingree, Stacey Plaskett, Lateefah Simon, Suhas Subramanyam, Shri Thanedar, Dina Titus, Rashida Tlaib, and Nydia Velazquez.

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