The Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) actively participated in the United States Student Association (USSA) Legislative Conference 2025 from March 21-25, playing a key role in the relaunch of the organization. GPSS successfully wrote and passed a resolution to formally join USSA and cast five votes in favor of ratifying the USSA Charter, establishing itself as a founding member. During the conference, GPSS representatives networked with student organizations from 19 states, attended trainings and workshops on federal administration and higher education policy, and engaged with USSA alumni and federal officials. They also took part in an Education Rally near the Capitol on March 24, advocating for student rights. In addition, GPSS met with the UW Federal Relations Team to strengthen collaboration on federal issues and held meetings with key congressional offices, including Representatives Randall, DelBene, Baumgartner, and Newhouse, as well as Senators Murray and Cantwell, to discuss critical topics such as Pell Grants, federal student loans, and free speech on campus. 

The WA State Government is proposing large cuts to public higher education campuses and financial aid.  

Join The Washington Student Association, The Washington Bus, and the Washington Student Engagement Network at the Capitol in Olympia on April 7th for a rally demanding our legislators to make no cuts to financial aid nor increase tuition for students.  

We will follow up the rally with direct action by lobbying legislators in the hallways of the committee chambers, as well as in schedule meetings in their office, and sitting in on committee meetings.  

Currently, financial aid is at risk, as the state is actively looking at cutting programs that help students go to college, such as the Washington College Grant and Graduate Student Loan Program, as well as increasing tuition for students. We cannot allow this to happen! We need to mobilize students and tell our elected officials the importance of higher education and how investing in our future workforce can help us with the current budget deficit the state is facing. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Edgar Espino at edgar@washingtonbus.org 

If you need assistance with travel costs, please contact Nancy Canales at executive.director@wastudents.org  

Let’s work together to show our state leaders how important our institution’s role is! 

RSVP at Rally and Day of Action for Financial Aid!