The Professional Degree Access Restoration Act seeks to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reverse previous reductions in federal loan availability for graduate and professional students. This legislation specifically targets changes made by Public Law 119-21, aiming to restore the level of financial assistance accessible to those pursuing advanced degrees. The bill achieves this by modifying Section 455(a) of the Higher Education Act, which governs annual and aggregate loan limits. Key provisions include striking specific language related to "federal direct plus loans" and removing certain subparagraphs and paragraphs that imposed limitations or specific end dates on loan availability. By eliminating these restrictions, the Act intends to ensure that graduate and professional students have unimpeded access to federal student loans as they did prior to the enactment of Public Law 119-21.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Education
Professional Degree Access Restoration Act
USA119th CongressS-4039| Senate
| Updated: 3/10/2026
The Professional Degree Access Restoration Act seeks to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reverse previous reductions in federal loan availability for graduate and professional students. This legislation specifically targets changes made by Public Law 119-21, aiming to restore the level of financial assistance accessible to those pursuing advanced degrees. The bill achieves this by modifying Section 455(a) of the Higher Education Act, which governs annual and aggregate loan limits. Key provisions include striking specific language related to "federal direct plus loans" and removing certain subparagraphs and paragraphs that imposed limitations or specific end dates on loan availability. By eliminating these restrictions, the Act intends to ensure that graduate and professional students have unimpeded access to federal student loans as they did prior to the enactment of Public Law 119-21.