HCR 49 — HIGHER EDUCATION: Memorializes congress to include physical therapy as a professional degree program for purposes of borrowing limits for students seeking federal aid for postsecondary education

HLSENROLLED 26RS-1086 ENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO.

49 BY REPRESENTATIVEREPRESENTATIVES FISHER HIGHERAND EDUCATION:CHASSION A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION To memorialize the United States Congress to take such actions as are necessaryto include the doctor of physical therapy degree, the master of physician assistant studies degree, and post-baccalaureate nursing degree, including advanced practice registered nursing degree and doctoral nursing degree within the definition of professional degree programs eligible for enhanced federal student loan access.

MemorializesWHEREAS, congressthe legislature affirms that such designation is essential to includeenable physicalequitable therapyaccess asto aadvanced health professional degreeeducation, programparticularly for purposesstudents from rural communities in Louisiana, to support the development and retention of borrowinga limitsrobust forworkforce studentsof seekingphysical federaltherapists, aidphysician forassistants, postsecondaryeducationand Anurses CONCURRENTnecessary RESOLUTIONto Toaddress memorializestatewide theand Unitedrural Stateshealthcare Congressneeds, to takemitigate suchescalating actionshealthcare ascosts, areand necessarytoto includestrengthenstatewidepublichealthinfrastructureandlongtermworkforcesustainability;and theWHEREAS, doctorresearch ofshows physicalthat therapyhealthcare degreeprofessionals withineducated thelocally definitionare ofsignificantly professionalmore degreelikely programsto eligiblepractice forin enhancedthe federalcommunities studentwhere loantheyare access.trained;

and WHEREAS, therestricting legislature affirms that such designation is essential to enable equitable access to advancedfederal healthstudent professionalloan education,funding particularly for students fromenrolled rural communities in Louisiana,doctor toof supportphysical thetherapy, developmentmaster and retention of aphysician robustassistant physicalstudies, therapyand workforcepost-baccalaureate necessarynursing todegree addressprograms statewidewould anddisproportionately ruralaffect healthcareLouisiana needs,residents to mitigateescalatinghealthcarecosts,andtostrengthenstatewidepublichealthinfrastructure and longfurther termexacerbate workforcerural sustainability;healthcare shortages.

andTHEREFORE, WHEREAS,BE researchIT showsRESOLVED that healthcarethe professionalsLegislature educatedof locallyLouisiana aredoes significantlyhereby morememorialize likelythe United States Congress to take such actions as are necessaryto include the doctorofphysicaltherapydegree,themasterofphysicianassistantstudiesdegree,andpost- baccalaureate nursing degree, including advanced practice inregistered nursing degree and doctoral nursing degree within the communitiesdefinition whereof theyareprofessional trained;degree programs eligible for enhanced federal student loan access.

andPage WHEREAS,1 restrictingaccesstoof federalstudent2 loanfundingfordoctorofphysicalHCR therapystudentsNO. would disproportionatelyaffectLouisiana residentsandfurtherexacerbate rural healthcare shortages.

THEREFORE,49 ENROLLED BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that thea Legislaturecopy of Louisianathis doesResolution herebybe memorializetransmitted the United States Congress to takethe suchpresiding actionsofficers asof arethe necessarytoSenate includeand the doctorHouse of physicalRepresentatives therapyof degreethe withinCongress of the definitionUnited States of professionalAmerica degreeand programsto eligibleeach formember enhancedof federalthe studentLouisiana loancongressional access.delegation.

PageSPEAKER 1OF ofTHE 2HOUSE HLSOF 26RS-1086REPRESENTATIVES ENGROSSEDPRESIDENT HCROF NO.THE SENATE Page 2 of 2

49 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States of America and to each member of the Louisiana congressional delegation.

DIGEST ThedigestprintedbelowwaspreparedbyHouseLegislative Services.

It constitutes nopart of the legislative instrument.

The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent.

[R.S.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HCR 49 Engrossed 2026 Regular Session Fisher MemorializestheU.S.

Congressto includethedoctorofphysicaltherapydegreewithin the definitionofprofessionaldegreeprogramseligibleforenhancedfederalstudentloanaccess.

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