AOTA and Rep. Kennedy lead Congressional effort to protect student loan access for OT students

Occupational therapy is at the forefront of advocacy efforts as Rep. Tim Kennedy leads a Congressional push to stop Federal loan caps.

Representative Tim Kennedy, the only occupational therapist serving in Congress, authored a letter urging the Department of Education (ED) to reconsider its proposed definition of “professional programs.” Seventy Members of Congress signed his letter, reflecting widespread concern that ED’s proposal would restrict access to federal loans not only for OT students but also for students across many healthcare professions.

The letter makes the case clear: limiting borrowing for fields such as occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, and other health professions would worsen nationwide workforce shortages and reduce access to care. Many Members of Congress understand that the nation cannot strengthen its healthcare workforce while simultaneously limiting students’ ability to enter those professions.

Rep. Kennedy and his staff also collaborated with AOTA to draft a legislative fix. We provided policy proposals, workforce data, and outreach to support the Congressman’s efforts. This work led Rep. Kennedy to introduce the Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals (LEAP) Act. The LEAP Act would set the same student loan caps for all graduate students regardless of their program.

As programs across the country begin receiving applications from prospective OT students, Rep. Kennedy and AOTA are committed to acting quickly to prevent the proposed loan limits from creating significant barriers for students. Because ED’s authority to add new professions is limited and requires a lengthy, time-consuming process, Congress can move more quickly by changing the underlying law.

Beyond our work on the LEAP Act, AOTA continues to engage directly with ED and other Congressional offices. AOTA’s President of the Board of Directors, Dr. Arameh Anvarizadeh, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA, joined leaders across healthcare professions to speak at a press conference held by Rep. Laura Friedman (CA-30).

Building collective strength: AOTA leads the Alliance for Healthcare Access & Workforce Development

The progress in Congress has been strengthened by a coordinated advocacy strategy, anchored by the coalition AOTA recently founded and leads, the Alliance for Healthcare Access & Workforce Development (AHAWD).

AHAWD now brings together more than 50 organizations representing national healthcare associations, higher education programs, health systems, and advocacy groups. The coalition ensures that policymakers hear a unified, sector-wide message about the consequences of ED’s proposed rule. It provides a structured platform to share data, elevate student and educator voices, and demonstrate that this issue affects the entire healthcare workforce, not just one profession.

By demonstrating that OT is part of a broader, systemic concern, AHAWD has strengthened our advocacy and made it harder for policymakers to ignore.

Alongside leading this coalition, AOTA continues to:

• Engage directly with ED to reinforce the real-world impact of the proposed rule
• Provide congressional offices with clear, accessible explanations of the policy and its implications
• Mobilize students, faculty, and practitioners to contact their elected officials
• Publish policy analyses outlining the projected effects on the healthcare workforce

These efforts work together to build sustained momentum and ensure the voices of OT students and practitioners remain central to the conversation.

How We Got Here: Background on HR 1 and ED’s Proposed Rule

Our advocacy on this issue began long before the current rulemaking. During congressional debate over Public Law 119-21, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), AOTA consistently advocated for policies to strengthen the occupational therapy workforce. When OBBA became law, we urged ED to develop regulatory language that reflected Congress’s broad, inclusive definition of “professional programs.” We cautioned that adopting a narrow definition would limit access to education for many health professions and worsen existing workforce shortages.

Unfortunately, ED’s current proposal does precisely that. By excluding occupational therapy and other healthcare fields from the professional programs category, the rule would significantly restrict the federal loans available to students pursuing these careers. Rising educational costs, combined with nationwide workforce shortages, make these restrictions especially concerning.

OT is not alone in facing these challenges — many healthcare professions would be affected, underscoring the need for coordinated action.

The Path Forward: Sustaining Pressure and Driving Solutions

The Kennedy letter and legislation represent meaningful progress and Congressional interest in this issue, but it is only the beginning. AOTA will continue working with ED as the agency reviews public feedback and considers revisions to the proposed rule. At the same time, we are exploring legislative solutions to address loan caps more directly, recognizing that multiple avenues may ultimately be needed.

AHAWD will continue expanding its membership and strengthening coordinated outreach so that policymakers hear consistent, unified messages from across the healthcare community.

AOTA remains fully committed to ensuring that future occupational therapy practitioners have access to the federal loans they need to enter the profession. Your voice continues to matter. We encourage you to contact your Members of Congress and urge them to help protect the OT workforce and the communities we serve.