NASW Advocacy Day 2026

Rachel Boyer, MSW, LMSW, Public Policy Associate

The morning before the 2026 NASW National Conference began, 160 social workers from 37 states attended 186 meetings in both the U.S. House and Senate on Wednesday, June 10, 2026. The purpose of these meetings was to deepen relationships with Members of Congress and build support for key legislation that assists the social work workforce and expands access to care for the clients we serve.

“NASW members offer a unique and crucial point of view as leaders of their community and experts in their field,” Dina Kastner, Public Policy and Advocacy Manager. “NASW’s Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill is one opportunity for social workers to help shape federal policy by sharing their stories directly with decision-makers.”

Dr. Gwen Bouie-Haynes and Board Member Marla Blunt-Carter in Rep. Sarah McBride’s (DE-AL-D) office

Washington Delegation with Rep. Emily Randall (WA-06-D)

Members with Sen. Jon Ossoff (GA-D)

Members with Sen. Chris Coons (DE-D)

The day began bright and early with a briefing to participants on NASW’s priority legislation and instruction on the mobile tool that was used to navigate the Capitol Hill Complex. Following the presentation, members boarded buses in the rain and headed up to the Hill. Once they arrived, the participants assembled to take some quick photos on the Capitol steps before rushing off to join the snaking lines into the office buildings to make their morning meetings.

Some participants were able to meet directly with their elected lawmakers and share the importance of supporting legislation that prioritizes social workers and their clients.

Members with Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01-D)

Members with Rep. Paul Tonko (NY-20-D)

Members with Rep. Tom Barrett (MI-07-R)

Members with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (AK-R)

"Sitting across the table from fellow social workers now serving as congressional staffers during NASW's Advocacy Day was a powerful reminder of where this work can lead,” Leanne Rupp, MSW, LCSW. “Talking through issues like increasing Medicare reimbursement rates for clinical social workers, and the urgent need to reverse the Department of Education's reclassification of social work as a 'non-professional' degree, made clear how much is riding on us showing up and telling our stories.”

Participants were on Capitol Hill throughout the morning and early afternoon for meetings and were able to explore the complex between their appointments.

NASW members taking photos across the Capitol Hill Complex between meetings

NASW policy staff are now following-up with offices, based on feedback from meetings, to secure additional co-sponsors of the key legislation.

“We appreciate everyone who participated in Advocacy Day 2026 and cannot wait to see how social workers take the lessons they learned and apply them at home throughout the year. While the team here in DC will continue fighting for social workers, over 150 members can follow up with their members back home, bring more friends along, and help us achieve the changes we are working to see” says Jeremy Haines, MA, Director, Public Policy and Government Relations, NASW.

Please read below for more information on the bills that participants urged their members to support:

Medicare Access and Reimbursement

The Mental Health Access and Provider Support Act (S. 4202/H.R. 8081)

Lead Sponsors: Sens. John Barrasso (WY-R) and Chris Coons (DE-D), and Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01-R) and Paul Tonko (NY-20-D)

Provisions:

• Aligns Clinical Social Workers (CSWs) Medicare reimbursement rate with other non-physician providers through a 10 percent increase to 85 percent of the clinical psychologist rate.

The Expanding Seniors Access to Mental Health Services Act (S. 1797/ H.R. 3808)

Lead Sponsors: Sens. John Barrasso (WY-R) and Chris Coons (DE-D) and Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01-R) and Paul Tonko (NY-20-D)

• Increase Access to CSW Services for Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) residents by allowing CSWs to bill independently at SNFs.
• Provide Access to CSW Services that Help Medicare Beneficiaries Who are Coping with Physical Health Conditions by reimbursing CSWs for providing Health and Behavior Assessment and Intervention (HBAI) services.

Student Loan Limits

The Professional Student Degree Act (H.R. 6718)

Lead Sponsors: Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17-R)

• Removes outdated regulatory references and established a statutory definition of “professional degree” as preparation for licensed professional practice requiring skills beyond a bachelor’s degree.
• Codifies specific degrees beyond those listed in 34 CFR 668.2 (including social work, nursing, occupational therapy, and more) to be eligible for higher student loan limits while allowing the Secretary of Education to designate additional qualifying programs.

The Professional Degree Access Restoration Act (S. 4039/ H.R. 6677)

Lead Sponsors: Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (MD-D) and Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15-D)

• Rescinds the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) changes, reverting loan limits for graduate and professional programs back to pre-OBBBA (up to the cost of attendance) plus restores Grad PLUS loans.

The Loan Equity for Advanced Professionals Act (H.R. 6574)

Lead Sponsors: Rep. Tim Kennedy (NY-26-D)

• Raises the loan limits for “graduate” programs to be equal to that of “professional” programs (erasing the difference), bringing both to the OBBBA professional program level ($50,000 per year, $200,000 over a lifetime).

Social Safety Net

The Hot Food Act of 2025 (S. 1202/ H.R. 2512)

Lead Sponsors: Sen. Michael Bennet (CO-D) and Reps. Grace Meng and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01-R)

• Allows Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to be used at grocery retailers to purchase hot foods.

You can advocate for support for these bills and others, by responding to NASW’s action alerts, here: https://www.socialworkers.org/Advocacy/Legislative-Alerts.

Rachel Boyer, MSW, LMSW, Public Policy Associate

Ahead of the 2024 NASW National Conference, over 200 social workers from 36 states and 1 U.S. Territory attended 172 meetings with Congressional offices in both the U.S. House and Senate on June 18, 2024. The purpose of these meetings was to build bipartisan support for key legislation that will expand access to care and assist the social work workforce.

“NASW members offer a critical and unique perspective of their community to their representatives in Congress,” says Dina Kastner, MSS, MLSP, Public Policy and Advocacy Manager, NASW. “NASW’s Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill is a chance for social workers to play a crucial role in developing policy by sharing their experiences directly with decision-makers.”

Maryland Delegation with Rep. Raskin (D-MD)

The day began with a briefing to participants on NASW’s priority legislation including a state of play of top-level issues facing each branch of government. Following this presentation, participants met up with individuals from their home states and proceeded to the buses to the Capitol Hill Complex. A few members were able to meet for a group photo before hustling off to their first meetings of the day.

"Public policy impacts every aspect of our and our clients' lives,” exclaimed Dr. Allison Berkowitz. “I was grateful to be part of the Alabama constituency who met with five of our members of Congress to share stories, facts, and statistics to demonstrate how passing our legislative priorities would help social workers and our clients."

Some participants were able to meet directly with their elected lawmakers and share the importance of supporting legislation that prioritizes social workers and their clients.

Dr. Gwen Bouie-Haynes with staff in Sen. Hyde Smith’s (R-MS) office

“Given the limited mental health resources in many rural communities, I believe Advocacy Day was a critical moment to promote the needs of social workers in these areas,” said Dr. Gwen Bouie-Haynes, LMSW, Executive Director of NASW’s Alabama and Mississippi Chapters. “Our social work profession thrives when we can make a bigger difference in effective policy changes in all communities."

Participants were on Capitol Hill throughout the full day for meetings and were able to explore the complex between their appointments.

A portion of the Texas delegation in front of the Capitol

“Advocacy Day was a valuable opportunity to connect with our Minnesota congressional staff. They listened well and many whole-heartedly agreed to support our asks, with several of the visits evolving into conversations about additional social justice issues. Connections were made and relationships built,” stated Beth Winterfeldt, MSW, LGSW. “For me, meeting with the congressional staff helped demystify the advocacy process at the federal level, and I now feel more empowered to continue this advocacy year-round.”

“Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill gave social workers the opportunity to meet with policymakers to gain support on several mental health bills. The experience was a reminder of the power of social work, and the importance of getting involved.” Dr. Jaqueline Wade, LCSW.

The Advocacy Day meetings resulted in new cosponsors on each of the targeted bills:

Improving Access to Mental Health Act (H.R. 1638)

• Rep. Grace F. Napolitano (CA-31)
• Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02)
• Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)

Telemental Healthcare Access Act (S.3651/H.R. 3432)

• Sen. Gary Peters (MI)
• Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08)
• Rep. Valarie Foushee (NC-04)

Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act (H.R. 4933)

• Rep. Deborah Ross (NC-02)
• Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02)
• Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03)

Members from Illinois before their meetings

NASW policy staff are now following-up with offices, based on feedback from meetings, to secure additional co-sponsors.

“We appreciate everyone who participated in Advocacy Day 2024 on the Hill and encourage social workers to continue to advocate throughout the year. We must be persistent if we want to advance priority legislation that supports social workers and the clients and communities that we serve” Sarah Butts, Director of Public Policy, NASW

You can advocate for support for these bills and others, by responding to NASW’s action alerts, here: https://www.socialworkers.org/Advocacy/Legislative-Alerts.