Published October 19, 2022 
Beta Testing Begins on Federal Student Loan Debt Relief Plan Website
On October 14, the U.S. Department of Education unveiled the Federal Student Loan Debt Relief website as part of its initial beta testing period. Those eligible for this loan relief can submit an application, but these requests may not be processed until the official website launches. The Biden-Harris Administration announced their student loan debt relief plan in August, which calls for forgiving up to $10,000 for college graduates with individual income of less than $125,000 or $250,000 for households annually. For Pell Grant recipients, the Department of Education will forgive up to $20,000 in student loan debt. To learn more about the Federal Student Loan Debt Relief Plan and to see if you qualify, click here.
Congress Introduces Legislation to Address the Nursing Shortage
On October 18, Representatives Haley Stevens (D-MI-11) and David Joyce (R-OH-14), Co-Chair of the House Nursing Caucus, introduced the Stop Nurse Shortages Act (H.R.9200). This bipartisan bill would authorize a $10 million per year grant program to help schools of nursing create, expand, or support an accelerated nursing degree program. Funding could also be used to hire and retain faculty and preceptors, help address the need for more clinical training sites, and offer support for students through financial assistance efforts. AACN endorses this bill and applauds our Congressional champions for supporting this important educational pathway for those who want to become a nurse. To view the press release click here and to read the bill summary, click here.
Funding Opportunity: Apply for the Public Health AmeriCorps Grant Today
Applications are now open for a new Public Health AmeriCorps grant, which aims to increase capacity in public health settings and in careers in public health. This announcement comes as the AmeriCorps recently released its 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. The grant will help local communities respond to, and recover from, the COVID-19 pandemic, while supporting those who are interested in serving in public-health related fields, such as nursing. Priorities also include serving in areas with concentrated poverty, rural communities, and/or in tribal communities, and for those organizations serving historically underrepresented and underserved individuals.
Applications are due no later than 5 pm (ET) on Wednesday, January 4, 2023. To read the funding notice click here.
