S. 4039: Professional Degree Access Restoration Act
Sponsor
Angela Alsobrooks
Democrat · MD
Bill revives grad federal loan access
Why it matters
S. 4039 would reverse loan-limit changes tied to periods of instruction ending on June 30, 2026, putting federal borrowing options for graduate and professional students back on the table now.
The bill also makes technical fixes so the law still reads correctly after the repeal. References to "paragraph (8)" are changed to "paragraph (7)" in multiple places, and old fallback language in the redesignated paragraph (7) is replaced with the narrower sentence, "Paragraphs (4) and (5) shall not apply." S. 4039 was introduced in the 119th Congress and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, with 17 cosponsors listed in the background materials.
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Mar 10, 2026
Read twice and Referred to Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. for review
S. 4039 Bill Summary
What S. 4039 actually does.
Restores loan rules after June 30, 2026
The bill deletes language in 20 U.S.C. 1087e(a)(3)(A)(ii) that applied to periods of instruction beginning on July 1, 2012 and ending on June 30, 2026, signaling that those time-limited restrictions should no longer govern graduate and professional borrowing after that date.
Keeps July 1, 2012 instruction language
S. 4039 inserts the phrase "for any period of instruction beginning on or after July 1, 2012" into the lead-in before clause (i) of paragraph (3), while striking the same phrase from clause (i). That rewrite consolidates the date rule instead of repeating it.
Repeals subparagraph (C) entirely
The bill explicitly strikes subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) in the Higher Education Act amendment at 20 U.S.C. 1087e(a). Removing an entire subparagraph is one of the bill's clearest substantive steps to restore federal loan availability.
Eliminates paragraph (4), renumbers 5 through 8
S. 4039 repeals paragraph (4) in full and redesignates paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (8) as paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7). That renumbering is paired with conforming edits so cross-references still work after the repeal.
Updates legal cross-references from 8 to 7
In the technical amendments, the bill replaces references to "paragraph (8)" with "paragraph (7)" in two places in redesignated paragraph (4) and once in redesignated paragraph (5). Those exact reference changes are needed because the old paragraph (4) is removed.
Narrows exception language in new paragraph (7)
The bill strikes the longer existing text in redesignated paragraph (7) that referenced paragraphs (3)(C), (4), (5), and (6), plus paragraph (3)(A)(ii) as it existed before June 30, 2026, and replaces it with the shorter rule: "Paragraphs (4) and (5) shall not apply."
Who benefits from S. 4039?
Graduate students
Graduate students benefit because S. 4039 is specifically aimed at restoring federal loan availability under the Higher Education Act of 1965, reversing limits linked to periods of instruction ending on June 30, 2026.
Professional students
Students in professional degree programs benefit from the bill's repeal of paragraph (4) and subparagraph (C), along with the removal of time-limited language tied to July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2026.
Future borrowers enrolling after the 2026 cutoff
People starting or continuing instruction after the June 30, 2026 transition point could avoid losing access because the bill removes older statutory text that was written around that exact end date.
Institutions serving graduate and professional programs
Graduate schools, medical schools, law schools, and similar institutions could benefit if restored federal borrowing makes it easier for students to finance enrollment under 20 U.S.C. 1087e(a).
Who is affected by S. 4039?
Current graduate and professional borrowers
Borrowers already in graduate or professional programs are directly affected because the bill changes the federal loan rules in 20 U.S.C. 1087e(a) that determine access to borrowing for instruction periods tied to July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2026.
U.S. Department of Education
The Department of Education would need to administer the amended loan provisions in the Higher Education Act of 1965, including implementing the repeal of paragraph (4), removal of subparagraph (C), and updated paragraph numbering.
Congress and the Senate HELP Committee
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions has jurisdiction over the bill and will shape whether the restoration moves forward in the 119th Congress after its March 10, 2026 introduction.
Students affected by Public Law 119-21
Students whose federal loan options were reduced under Public Law 119-21 are affected because S. 4039 is expressly framed as restoring the availability that law cut back.
S4039 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Mar 10, 2026
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
About the Sponsor
Angela Alsobrooks
Democrat, MD · 1 years in Congress
Committees: Senate Special Committee on Aging, Environment and Public Works, Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
View full profile →
Cosponsors (17)
All 17 cosponsors are Democrats. Cosponsors represent 13 states: California, Connecticut, Delaware, and 10 more.
Chris Van Hollen
Democrat · MD
Timothy Kaine
Democrat · VA
Tammy Duckworth
Democrat · IL
Ron Wyden
Democrat · OR
Andy Kim
Democrat · NJ
Maria Cantwell
Democrat · WA
Tina Smith
Democrat · MN
Amy Klobuchar
Democrat · MN
Richard Blumenthal
Democrat · CT
Edward Markey
Democrat · MA
Jeff Merkley
Democrat · OR
Ben Luján
Democrat · NM
Committee Sponsors
7 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
S. 4039 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Chamber
- Senate
- Policy
- Education
- Introduced
- Mar 10, 2026
Read twice and Referred to Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. for review
Mar 10, 2026
S. 4039 Common Questions
Can graduate students get federal direct loans again after June 30, 2026?
Yes. The bill removes language limiting certain graduate and professional loan rules to periods ending June 30, 2026, restoring access after that date under the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act (SEC. 2).
Does S. 4039 restore federal student loan access for professional students?
Yes. According to S. 4039 SEC. 2, the bill repeals restrictions in 20 U.S.C. 1087e(a) and is aimed at restoring federal borrowing options for graduate and professional students.
What date does the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act use for instruction periods?
It keeps the rule for instruction periods beginning on or after July 1, 2012, by moving that phrase into the lead-in of paragraph (3) under the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act (SEC. 2).
Does the bill remove the June 30, 2026 end date from graduate loan rules?
Yes. Under the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act (SEC. 2), clause (ii) is amended to strike the phrase covering periods beginning July 1, 2012 and ending June 30, 2026.
Which part of the Higher Education Act does S. 4039 repeal for graduate loans?
S. 4039 repeals subparagraph (C) of paragraph (3) in 20 U.S.C. 1087e(a), according to SEC. 2 of the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act.
Does S. 4039 eliminate paragraph 4 of 20 U.S.C. 1087e(a)?
Yes. The Professional Degree Access Restoration Act (SEC. 2) strikes paragraph (4) entirely and then redesignates paragraphs (5) through (8) as (4) through (7).
What paragraphs are renumbered under the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act?
Paragraphs (5), (6), (7), and (8) are redesignated as paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) under the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act (SEC. 2).
Does the bill change legal references from paragraph 8 to paragraph 7?
Yes. According to S. 4039 SEC. 2, references to paragraph (8) are changed to paragraph (7) in redesignated paragraphs (4) and (5) as conforming amendments.
What exceptions still apply in the new paragraph 7 under S. 4039?
The new rule says only that paragraphs (4) and (5) shall not apply, replacing broader prior exception language under the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act (SEC. 2).
Does the bill remove federal direct plus loans from the paragraph heading?
Yes. Under the Professional Degree Access Restoration Act (SEC. 2), the heading of paragraph (3) is amended to remove the words "and federal direct plus loans."
Based on S. 4039 bill text
Full Bill Text
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