H.R. 8659, titled the 'Nursing is a Professional Degree Act,' aims to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to officially recognize nursing as a professional degree. This change would allow nursing students to qualify for higher federal student loan amounts, aligning their financial aid opportunities with those of students in other recognized professional programs such as medicine and law.
Supporters of H.R. 8659 argue that recognizing nursing as a professional degree is a necessary step to address the ongoing nursing shortage in the United States. By providing nursing students with access to increased federal financial aid, the bill is seen as a means to attract more individuals to the nursing profession, thereby strengthening the healthcare workforce.
Critics of the bill express concern that expanding the definition of professional degrees to include nursing could lead to increased federal spending on student loans. They also worry that this change might set a precedent for other fields to seek similar recognition, potentially complicating the administration of federal student aid programs.
The analysis of H.R. 8659, sponsored by Jennifer Kiggans, reveals no direct industry overlaps between the bill's subject matter and the sponsor's top donor industries. The lobbying activity in the policy area includes several undisclosed amounts from various organizations, with only one known contribution of $100,000 from Dirshu International. Given the lack of direct financial ties to the bill's focus on redefining a professional student in the Higher Education Act, the risk of conflict of interest appears minimal. However, the undisclosed lobbying amounts warrant attention, as they could indicate potential influences not immediately visible in the financial disclosures.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| DIRSHU INTERNATIONAL | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | $100,000 |
| CEO WORKS | SAUNDERS GLOBAL DIPLOMACY | $45,000 |
| KAZI IG | SAUNDERS GLOBAL DIPLOMACY | $15,000 |
| SOUTHERN FOLGER CONTRACTING | BBT STRATEGIES LLC | $10,000 |
| WATERFRONT GLOBAL | BBT STRATEGIES LLC | $5,200 |
| DIGITALEUROPE | VIVID STRATEGIES LLC | undisclosed |
| INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| DR. STEPHEN SOLOWAY | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| ONE ISRAEL FUND | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| HEMOGLOBIN OXYGEN THERAPEUTICS | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| ATAOLLAH AMINPOUR | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| HERSEL NEMAN | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| MORAD BEN NEMAN | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| MARK SCOTT | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
| BORIS MINTS | MERKAVA STRATEGIES CORPORATION | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Jennifer Kiggans, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)
