CGS Looks Forward to Working with New Congress to Advance Graduate Education Priorities
CGS Contact: Kelley Karnes
602-791-8278 / kkarnes@cgs.nche.edu
PDF version of press release
Washington, DC — Following the 2026 midterm election, the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) congratulates all newly elected and re-elected members of Congress and calls on leaders of both parties to work together on behalf of the American people. CGS, an association dedicated to advancing graduate education and research, looks forward to working with the 120th Congress to represent and advance the interests of the graduate education community.
Affordability, healthcare costs and the opportunity to build a better future are concerns shared by Americans across the political spectrum, including millions of graduate students and their families.
Next year, CGS will work with members of both parties to advance policies that address these concerns for graduate students and expand access to graduate education. CGS will work with policymakers to create pathways for all students by strengthening federal student financial aid and loan programs, sustaining federal investment in scientific research, and ensuring the nation continues to attract and educate talented students from across the United States and around the world. These policy priorities will strengthen a pipeline of skilled professionals that our communities, industries, and nation depend on.
“U.S. graduate education is the national infrastructure that supports the success of the nation’s economic growth, the strength of our workforce, and the dynamism of our scientific research enterprise,” said CGS President Chevelle Newsome. “We welcome the opportunity to work with policymakers of all parties to recognize and support the contributions of master’s and doctoral degree holders in our state and national workforces.”
Federal investment in graduate education and research, sustained by bipartisan support over decades, has helped make U.S. graduate schools and research institutions among the best in the world. This global standing has been a cornerstone of America’s leadership in innovation, research, and economic competitiveness. Preserving and building on this legacy requires the incoming 120th Congress to work in a bipartisan and bicameral manner to advance policies and programs that support graduate education and sustain the nation’s research enterprise.
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About CGS
The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) is an organization of approximately 400 institutions of higher education in the United States and Canada engaged in graduate education, research, and the preparation of candidates for advanced degrees. The organization’s mission is to improve and advance graduate education, which it accomplishes through federal advocacy, research, and the development of innovative programs.