In the next few weeks, Rep. Kiggans and Sen. Merkley plan to introduce a bipartisan and bicameral piece of legislation that would officially add post-baccalaureate nurses to the professional degree definition.
Will introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to officially add post-baccalaureate nursing degrees to the federal professional degree definition.
Occurrences
Evidence
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
GovInfo lists H.R. 8691, Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, introduced in the House on May 7, 2026 by Rep. Jennifer A. Kiggans of Virginia and referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce. The full title is to amend the definition of a professional student in the Higher Education Act of 1965.
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The release says Senators Jeff Merkley and Roger Wicker introduced the bipartisan Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, and that the bill classifies post-baccalaureate nursing degrees as professional degrees for federal student loan limits. It also states that a bipartisan companion bill was introduced in the House of Representatives.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
ANA describes bipartisan, bicameral legislation introduced by Representatives Jen Kiggans and others in the House and Senators Jeff Merkley, Roger Wicker, Cynthia Lummis, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins in the Senate. It identifies the bill as the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, H.R. 8691/S. 4568, to add post-baccalaureate nursing programs to the federal definition of professional degree.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
GovInfo lists H.R. 8659, Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, introduced by Mrs. Kiggans of Virginia for herself, Mrs. Beatty, and Mr. Bergman, and referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce. The bill title is to amend the definition of a professional student in the Higher Education Act of 1965.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
GovInfo lists H.R. 8691, Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, as introduced in the House by Rep. Jennifer A. Kiggans of Virginia on May 7, 2026 and referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce. The full title is to amend the definition of a professional student in the Higher Education Act of 1965.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
GovInfo lists S. 4568, Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, as introduced in the Senate by Sen. Jeff Merkley for himself and Republican cosponsors Roger Wicker, Cynthia Lummis, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins on May 19, 2026, then referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Its title is to amend the definition of professional student in the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Assessments
Kiggans fulfilled the specific introduction promise during her federal House term: she introduced H.R. 8691, the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, to amend the federal professional student definition, and the evidence shows bipartisan House participation plus a bipartisan Senate companion, S. 4568. The promise was to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation, not to secure enactment, so introduction of matching House and Senate bills satisfies it.
Kiggans introduced H.R. 8691, the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, in the House during her current federal term, and the cited evidence shows Democratic and Republican House co-sponsors plus a Senate companion introduced by members of both parties. The bill’s stated purpose matches the promise: adding post-baccalaureate nursing programs to the federal professional-degree definition. Because the commitment was to introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation rather than enact it, the promise was fulfilled in the same term.