Bill · S. 3757· Senate(119-S-3757)
Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 2/2/2026
- Last activity
- 2/2/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S443)
- Sponsored by
- Richard Durbin
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Foreign Medical School Accountability Fairness Act of 2026 aims to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965. It seeks to establish consistent eligibility requirements for graduate medical schools that operate outside of the United States and Canada. The bill intends to increase accountability and protect both United States students and taxpayer dollars. Specifically, it aims to repeal certain grandfather provisions that currently allow some foreign schools to receive Federal funding. By implementing new requirements regarding enrollment and examination passing rates, the bill seeks to standardize how these schools participate in Title IV loan programs.
Yes· 3 of 8
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?+3
The bill aims to protect taxpayer dollars by standardizing eligibility for federal loan programs used by foreign medical schools.
Does this make the government pay for what it commits to?+3
The bill increases oversight on how federal Title IV loan funds are distributed to foreign medical institutions.
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+3
The bill implements more rigorous and consistent eligibility requirements for institutions receiving federal funds.
The opposite
Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay?-2
The bill limits the duration of loan eligibility for students attending schools that lose their status under the new requirements.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Accountability and Protection: The bill aims to increase accountability and protect United States students and taxpayer dollars (Section 2).
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Standardized Eligibility Requirements: By requiring all foreign graduate medical schools to meet the same eligibility requirements to participate in Federal funding, the bill aligns with recommendations from the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation and the Department of Education (Section 3, Clause 2).
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New Eligibility Criteria for Schools: Under the new rules, a school must ensure that at least 60 percent of those enrolled and 60 percent of the graduates were not described in section 484(a)(5) in the preceding year (Section 4, Clause 1, Subclause I).
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Improved Exam Performance Standards: The bill requires that at least 75 percent of individuals who were students or graduates of the graduate medical school outside the United States or Canada taking examinations administered by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates received a passing score in the preceding year (Section 4, Clause 1, Subclause II).
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Continued Support for Current Students: Students who were already enrolled in a school on or before the date of enactment may continue to receive loans under part D of title IV even if the school loses eligibility, provided they meet academic progress requirements (Section 5).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Loss of Eligibility for Certain Schools: Graduate medical schools may lose their authority to qualify for participation in loan programs under part D of title IV upon the expiration of the new rules (Section 4, Clause 1, Subclause II).
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Limited Duration of Financial Aid for Enrolled Students: For students whose schools lose eligibility due to this Act, the continued ability to receive loans is limited to the earliest of their withdrawal, completion of the program, or the fourth June 30 after the loss of eligibility (Section 5).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Fiscal Responsibility+3Reduces Government Spending+3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Low Income Households+2Good For Students+2
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+2
- Education And Technology
- Improves College Affordability+2Improves Student Loan Relief-2
- 2/2/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S443)
- Introduced in Senate