WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. John Fetterman is urging the U.S. Department of Education to reconsider a proposed rule that would cap federal student loan borrowing for many graduate students, including those pursuing advanced nursing degrees, while also backing legislation to expand food assistance in Puerto Rico.
What This Means for You
- A proposed federal rule would cap most graduate student borrowing at $100,000.
- Fetterman says the change could worsen Pennsylvania’s projected shortage of 20,000 nurses.
- He also co-introduced a bill to allow Puerto Rico to fully participate in SNAP.
Student Loan Proposal and Nursing Workforce
In a March 2 letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Fetterman raised concerns about the Department’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking titled “Reimagining and Improving Student Education” (Docket ID ED–2025–OPE–0944) .
The proposal would narrow the definition of “professional” graduate degree programs and establish new lifetime federal borrowing caps of $100,000 for most graduate programs and $200,000 for designated professional degree programs. It would also set a $65,000 limit per dependent student for Parent PLUS loans .
Fetterman wrote that he is “particularly concerned that the proposed rule would prevent many graduate nursing students from receiving the loans they need to pay for school, make rent, and support their families” .
Pennsylvania is projected to face a shortage of more than 20,000 nurses this year, according to the letter . Fetterman argued that limiting borrowing could discourage enrollment in graduate nursing programs and further strain access to care, particularly in rural and medically underserved areas.
He asked the department to explain what analysis it conducted to assess how the proposed caps would affect nursing workforce capacity and whether it plans to expand Public Service Loan Forgiveness or other relief programs to offset potential impacts .
Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Legislation
On the same day, Fetterman joined Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles E. Schumer in introducing the Puerto Rico Nutrition Assistance Fairness Act.
The bill would amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to allow Puerto Rico to transition from its current capped block grant system, known as the Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP), to full participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) .
Under current law, Puerto Rico receives a fixed block grant for food assistance rather than operating under SNAP’s needs-based structure. The legislation would require Puerto Rico to submit a transition plan to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture within 180 days of designation and outlines a multi-year transition period .
The bill authorizes appropriations as necessary to carry out the transition and includes provisions for technical assistance and federal certification once Puerto Rico meets SNAP state plan requirements .
Supporters say the change would provide more flexible and responsive food assistance, particularly during disasters, while opponents of expanding SNAP have previously raised concerns about long-term federal costs.
Both initiatives remain under federal review, with the Education Department’s public comment period on the proposed loan rule ongoing and the Puerto Rico legislation referred to committee.
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