Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – 2/27/26… Today, Congressman Mike Lawler left a public comment on the Department of Education’s proposed rule titled “Reimagining and Improving Student Education,” urging the Department to revise its interpretation of “professional degree” to align with existing federal regulations. 

How “professional degree” is defined will directly impact students pursuing careers that require advanced education and licensure. In the Working Families Tax Cuts bill, students in qualifying professional programs would have access to higher loan caps. If the Department narrows that definition beyond existing law and regulation, it could exclude students in critical fields like nursing, physical therapy, and social work. 

“The truth is that many of these professions need advanced degrees and licenses to begin and continue practice. Additionally, scope of practice varies from state to state for many of the covered professions as well. Further, there is nothing in current statute or prior regulation that supports the idea that professional degrees are only programs where those who obtain them, after licensure, can practice without supervision,” wrote the lawmaker.

The full letter can be found HERE. 

Congressman Lawler is one of the most bipartisan members of Congress and represents New York's 17th Congressional District, which is just north of New York City and contains all or parts of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, and Westchester Counties. He was rated the most effective freshman lawmaker in the 118th Congress, 8th overall, surpassing dozens of committee chairs.

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