Introduced in House — H.R. 6862

119th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 6862

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

December 18, 2025

Mr. Harder of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

A BILL

To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to delay, until July 1, 2030, the termination of authority to award certain Federal Direct PLUS loans and the implementation of limits on certain loans for graduate and professional students enrolled at institutions with certain public health designations, and for other purposes.

Section 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protecting Health Care Workforce Pipelines Act.

Sec. 2. Terms and conditions of loans

Section 455(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1087e(a)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (3)(C)—

(A)

by striking Subject to and inserting (i) In general.—Subject to; and

(B)

by adding at the end the following:

(ii) Delay of termination for graduate and professional students at covered institutions
(I) In general
In the case of a graduate or professional student enrolled in a program of study at a covered institution, clause (i) shall be applied by substituting July 1, 2030 for July 1, 2026.
(II) Covered institution
For purposes of this clause, the term covered institution means an institution—
(aa)
that—
(AA)
is a health professions school (as defined in section 799B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p));
(BB)
offers a health professions program (as defined in section 799B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p)); or
(CC)
offers a nursing program described in section 811 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 296j); and
(bb)
that is located within 100 miles of an area—
(AA)
that is designated as a health professional shortage area under section 332(a)(1) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254e(a)(1)); or
(BB)
that serves a medically underserved community (as defined in section 799B of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 295p)).; and

(2)

in paragraph (4), by adding at the end the following:

(D) Delay of loan limits for graduate and professional students at covered institutions
In the case of a graduate or professional student enrolled in a program of study at a covered institution (as such term is defined in paragraph (3)(C)(ii)(II))—
(i)
subparagraph (A) shall be applied by substituting July 1, 2030 for July 1, 2026; and
(ii)
subparagraph (B) shall be applied by substituting July 1, 2030 for July 1, 2026.