# 119-hr-8279: To expand the definition of institution of higher education in the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to certain graduate medical schools located outside of the United States.

119-hr-8279, To expand the definition of institution of higher education in the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to certain graduate medical schools located outside of the United States., is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] (D-NY); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8279
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8279
- Congress: 119
- Title: To expand the definition of institution of higher education in the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to certain graduate medical schools located outside of the United States.
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-14
- Sponsor: Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] (D-NY)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Education
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Changes loan eligibility for students at foreign medical schools.** This bill would redefine which graduate medical schools outside the United States qualify for Title IV Part D student loans by creating two alternative tests a school can meet. - Students: Students at non‑U.S. graduate medical schools would gain or lose access to federal Title IV Part D loans depending on whether their school meets one of two pathways. One pathway requires that at least 60% of enrolled students and 60% of graduates were not persons described in section 484(a)(5) in the year before a loan application. The other pathway requires a clinical training program that was approved by a State with an on‑site visit by January 31, 2021 and that still operates an approved program in at least one State. - Schools: Foreign graduate medical schools would be reclassified for loan consideration based on those two tests, and the bill narrows which outside‑the‑U.S. schools count by excluding a specified subcategory from the broader definition. - States: State clinical approvals matter for the second pathway because the approval must have required on‑site oversight as of January 31, 2021 and remain active in at least one State.

## Provisions PRIA read

- New loan rules for foreign medical students: mixed, high. If enacted, this bill would change which graduate medical schools outside the United States count for federal Part D student loans. You would be able to seek Part D loans if your school meets either of two tests. Test A: at least 60 percent of enrolled students and at least 60 percent of the school…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025
- 119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025
- 119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026

## Sources
- [119-hr-8279 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8279)

## Related
- [119-hr-3151: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3151)
- [119-hr-6900: American Affordability Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6900)
- [119-hr-4669: FEMA Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4669)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-4393: DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4393)
- [119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7481)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8279 (as of 2026-09-21).