Working and retired AFSCME nurses from across the country traveled to Washington, D.C., to stop a proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Education that would devalue their education, training and expertise.
Set to take effect in July 2026, the rule excludes advanced degrees in nursing, social work, physical therapy and public health, among other subjects, from “professional degree” status.
As a result, students in these critical, life-saving fields will see their federal student loans capped at low levels, putting advanced degrees out of reach for many.
In their congressional meetings, the AFSCME delegation made it clear that this would be catastrophic for their industry, which is already facing a staffing crisis, and leave our communities ill-prepared for future public health crises.
“I want to leave the next generation with the nursing profession better than we received it,” said Lucky Longoria, a Los Angeles-based nurse and member of UNAC/UHCP, an AFSCME affiliate. “My niece in nursing school is walking into an industry that doesn’t have the security I had 15 years ago. And that is a shameful thing.”
The delegation met with New York Rep. Tim Kennedy, California Sen. Alex Padilla, California Rep. Pete Aguilar, aides of other lawmakers from both parties, and the House Education and Workforce and Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committees. They urged Congress to pass Kennedy’s LEAP Act, which would protect federal student loan support for those pursing advanced degrees in nursing and other essential public health professions.
“It’s such a disrespectful thing to tell people who take care of everyone that you’re not professional,” said Tim Craig, a registered nurse and a member of AFSCME Michigan 925. “[Nurses] are professional. We are college educated. We are highly trained.”