August 14, 2026

Yesterday, Laura Groshong, LICSW, CSWA Director of Policy and Practice, met with Jules Sproul, the Education Policy Advisor for Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and David Connolly, the lobbyist for American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Ms. Sproul reiterated Sen. Murray’s support for the language that would put LCSWs, LMFTs, and LPCs back in the “professional” degree category and keep federal loan limits at the higher level for these groups (see below). As you may remember, the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) rule put LCSWs and other mental health groups in the “graduate” degree category, effectively limiting federal loans for LCSWs by half.

Ms. Sproul said it would be very helpful if constituents for Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) would let them know that they want them to support the Manager’s Amendment, which Sen. Murray would include for us:

Manager’s Amendment - None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to administer Title IV federal student aid programs in a manner that does not designate advanced behavioral health programs as professional degree programs. For purposes of this section, the term “advanced behavioral health program” means having completed a Master’s program in social work, marriage and family therapy, or professional counseling; having successfully completed at least two years of supervised experience; and passing a national examination or alternative path to licensure to prepare graduates to provide behavioral health services in independent mental health practice.

Even non-constituents can let them know they support the Manager’s Amendment. Go to http://www.senate.gov/ for contact information. You can also send this message to your own senators, as they talk to each other regularly. Here is the message that needs to be sent to Sens. Murkowski and Collins:

“I am an LCSW constituent and a member of the Clinical Social Work Association, writing to ask you to include a Manager’s Amendment to the RISE Rule which would reinstate social workers as members of the “professional degree” category. Putting MSW students in the “graduate” degree category will cut federal funding in half, significantly impacting the ability of future clinical social workers to get the finances needed to acquire an MSW. As the largest group of behavioral health providers in the country – over 400,000 – it is crucial to maintain the ‘pipeline’ for future clinical social workers. Further, the education of LCSWs meets all the criteria for the professional degree category, i.e., a required degree beyond a Bachelor’s degree; and requires licensure, that are in the RISE Rule. Thank you for your support of this Amendment.”

As always, please let Laura know when you have sent your message(s) by emailing her at lwgroshong@clinicalsocialworkassociation.org.