Will introduce bipartisan, bicameral legislation to officially add post-baccalaureate nursing degrees to the federal professional degree definition.

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.

Kiggans commits to introducing legislation to change the federal student loan/professional degree classification for advanced nursing programs.

Kiggans and Merkley Continue to Support our Nursing Workforce in Light of the Recent Department of Education RISE Committee Final Rule  - Jen Kiggans
primary · press_release · model gpt-5.4-mini

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.

Kiggans introduced the House bill during the lookback window, satisfying the core introduction component of the commitment.

delivered same_term A for effort

H.R. 8691 (IH) - Nursing is a Professional Degree Act - GovInfo Content Details
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 95%

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.

The Senate companion bill was introduced in the lookback window by members of both parties, making the legislative effort bicameral and bipartisan.

delivered same_term A for effort

Merkley, Wicker Launch Bipartisan Effort to Overturn New Limits on Student Loans for Nurses - Merkley
primary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 93%

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.

A major nursing association confirms the Kiggans-led House bill and Senate bill numbers, the bipartisan and bicameral structure, and the specific post-baccalaureate nursing-degree purpose.

delivered same_term A for effort

American Nurses Association Endorses Legislation to Ensure Adequate Loan Access for Post-Baccalaureate Nursing Students
secondary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 92%

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.

Just before the lookback window, Kiggans introduced an earlier House version with both Democratic and Republican participation, reinforcing that she took concrete bipartisan legislative action on this commitment.

delivered same_term A for effort

H.R. 8659 (IH) - Nursing is a Professional Degree Act - BILLS-119hr8659ih | Content Details | GovInfo
primary · model gpt-5.5 · confidence 88%