> >

Policy Updates

Latest Updates

Student Loan Payments to Resume: What You Need to Know

Jul 06, 2023

Supreme Court Strikes Down Proposed Student Debt Cancellation

In August of 2022, President Biden announced a new student loan debt relief program that would provide eligible student loan borrowers with up to $20,000 in debt cancellation for Pell Grant recipients, and up to $10,000 in cancellation for non-Pell Grant recipients. However, ongoing lawsuits put the program on hold.

Social Work Leaders attend NASW Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill

Jun 28, 2023

Nearly 100 social workers from 44 states and two U.S. territories attended 143 meetings with Congressional offices in the U.S. House and Senate on June 28, 2023, to build bipartisan support for key federal legislation that will assist the social work workforce, our clients, and communities.

Read the story on Social Work Blog

Social Work Month 2023 Resolutions Introduced in Congress on March 27

Mar 27, 2023

Thanks to sponsors Senator Debbie Stabenow and Representative Barbara Lee and cosponsor Senator Kyrsten Sinema the Social Work Month Resolution introductions have been made to both the US Senate and House. The Resolutions recognize with gratitude “the contributions of the millions of social workers who have advanced individual, family, community, and the Nation’s health and well-being since the founding of the social work profession over a century ago and continue to do so today.” Read the full Resolutions at S.Res. 125 and H.Res. 257.

End of Year Federal Spending Bill Includes Support for Mental Health and Other NASW Priorities

Jan 10, 2023

The FY2023 omnibus appropriations package was signed by President Biden on December 29, 2022. This $1.7 trillion-dollar spending bill will keep the government running through September 2023, the end of the current fiscal year, and also served as a year-end legislative vehicle for legislative priorities.

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Student Loan Pause Extension

Nov 23, 2022

In response to advocacy by NASW and our coalition partners, the Department of Education announced an extension of the pause on student loan repayment, interest, and collections that was set to expire on December 31, 2022.

Apply for Federal Student Loan Cancellation: Student Loan Debt Cancellation Website Now Live

Oct 21, 2022

Student Loan Debt Cancellation Website Now Live

Apply by December 31, 2023

Student Loan Cancellation Website Now Live: Apply by December 31, 2023

Oct 18, 2022

NASW continues to work to make student loan debt relief a reality. One step in this is the Biden-Harris Administration’s federal student loan cancellation program.

President Biden announced on October 17, 2022, that millions of working- and middle-class borrowers can apply for federal student debt relief right now.

Read More

The Mental Health Matters Act passes the U.S. House
Oct 05, 2022

On Thursday, September 29, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Mental Health Matters Act (H.R. 7780) with bipartisan support by a vote of 220-205. The bill seeks to address the mental health needs of students, families, and educators that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read More

Student Loan Debt Relief – New Law, Updates from the Department of Education, Requesting Refunds, Executive Action, New Resources, and Days of Action
Sep 26, 2022

NASW continues to work in coalition to promote student loan debt relief for social workers. There have been several developments over the past couple of weeks that we want to highlight.

Read More

Progress on Advancing the Improving Access to Mental Health Act (H.R 2035/ S. 870)
Sep 23, 2022

The Senate Finance Committee (SFC) released its mental health workforce discussion draft component of its mental health legislative package (a summary may be found here). We are pleased to report that 2 of the 3 provisions of the Improving Access to Mental Health Act are included in section 12 of the discussion draft. These provisions include allowing clinical social workers to provide Part B services to residents of skilled nursing facilities and allowing clinical social workers to bill for HBAI services.

Read More

Page 2 of 5 First Previous 1 [2] 3 4 5 Next Last

All Policy Updates | Search Policy Updates

Washington Update Archive > >

News Releases > >

NASW Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill

2024 Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill brought over 200 social workers to Capitol Hill

Read about their advocacy work on behalf of social workers and those they serve

Social Work Pioneers Learn about New Challenges and Community Building

The 2023 NASW Social Work Pioneers program honored members who contributed to the evolution and enrichment of the social work profession.

Learn more about the Pioneer program and the social workers who transformed our profession.

How NASW Advocates for the Profession

Learn how NASW advocates for social work