CANA Responds to California Attorney General Bonta and Multistate Coalition for Defending Student Loan Pathways for Nurses
(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Today, Kristen Roman, DNAP, CRNA, President of the California Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (CANA), issued the following statement responding to the lawsuit filed May 19, 2026 by a coalition of 24 attorneys general, including Attorney General Bonta, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania:
“We thank Attorney General Bonta for recognizing the vital contributions of California nurses and advanced practice registered nurses, and working collaboratively to protect access to higher education for essential health care professionals.
“The proposed federal student loan limits will make advanced health care education fiscally out of reach for many qualified students and worsen existing workforce shortages. At a time when demand for health care services continues to grow, particularly in rural and underserved communities, policies that create financial barriers to education risk shrinking the pipeline of highly trained providers.
“For Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), who complete at least 7 years of rigorous graduate and doctoral-level education with overall tuition costs exceeding six figures before living expenses, these loan programs are not optional — they are a matter of graduating or not. By no longer classifying advanced nursing programs as “professional degrees,” the proposed changes would dramatically reduce borrowing limits in these fields and make it significantly harder for students to pursue careers in anesthesia and other high-need specialties.
“As CANA routinely emphasizes, protecting nurses means protecting patients. When fewer students can afford to enter advanced practice roles, patients may ultimately face longer wait times, reduced access to care, and greater disparities across our health system.
“We are grateful to Attorney General Bonta and the coalition of states for defending the future of our health care workforce. We also commend Congressional champions, including Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA), David Joyce (R-OH), and Jack Bergman (R-MI) for introducing the Nursing is a Professional Degree Act, and Senators Jeff Merkley and Angela Alsobrooks, and Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), John Mannion (D-NY), and Lauren Underwood (D-IL) for introducing a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution, which would repeal the final rule in its entirety.
“CANA remains committed to working with policymakers and our advocacy partners to strengthen California’s health care system, expand access to safe, high-quality anesthesia care, and ensure that financial pathways into advanced professions remain stable and accessible.”
About California Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (CANA)
CANA represents CRNAs across the state. Since 1931, CANA has provided leadership, advocacy, and education to advance patient safety and support the nurse anesthesia profession. Learn more at www.canainc.org.
