S. 4039

119 S4039 IS: Professional Degree Access Restoration Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-03-10
 text/xml
 EN
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 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 4039  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   March 10, 2026   Ms. Alsobrooks  (for herself,  Mr. Van Hollen ,  Mr. Kaine ,  Ms. Duckworth ,  Mr. Wyden ,  Mr. Kim ,  Ms. Cantwell ,  Ms. Smith ,  Ms. Klobuchar ,  Mr. Blumenthal ,  Mr. Markey ,  Mr. Merkley , and  Mr. Luján ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions    A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reverse the reductions in Federal loan availability for graduate and professional students enacted under  Public Law 119–21 .
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Professional Degree Access Restoration Act  .
2.
Annual and aggregate loan limits for graduate and professional students
(a)
In General
Section 455(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087e(a) ) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (3)—
(A)
in the paragraph heading, by striking
and federal direct plus loans  ;
(B)
in subparagraph (A)—
(i)
by striking the heading for subparagraph (A), and inserting the following:
In general  ;
(ii)
in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting before the dash at the end the following:  , for any period of instruction beginning on or after July 1, 2012 ;
(iii)
in clause (i), by striking  for any period of instruction beginning on or after July 1, 2012, ; and
(iv)
in clause (ii), by striking  for any period of instruction beginning on July 1, 2012, and ending on June 30, 2026, ; and
(C)
by striking subparagraph (C); and
(2)
by striking paragraph (4), and redesignating paragraphs (5) through (8) as paragraphs (4) through (7), respectively.
(b)
Technical and conforming amendments
Section 455(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1087e(a) ), as amended by subsection (a), is further amended—
(1)
in paragraph (4), as redesignated by subsection (a)(2), by striking  paragraph (8)  and inserting  paragraph (7)  both places the term appears;
(2)
in paragraph (5), as redesignated by subsection (a)(2), by striking  paragraph (8)  and inserting  paragraph (7) ; and
(3)
in paragraph (7), as redesignated by subsection (a)(2), by striking  Paragraphs (3)(C), (4), (5), and (6) shall not apply, and paragraph (3)(A)(ii) shall apply as such paragraph was in effect for periods of instruction ending before June 30, 2026,  and inserting  (4), and (5)  and inserting  Paragraphs (4) and (5) shall not apply .