Below is an abridged version of RAMC’s weekly Washington Wrap Up. Find out more about Wrap Up and other RAMC resources here.

July 18, 2022

CONGRESS
The U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Appropriations sent its first fiscal year (FY) 2023 appropriations minibus package to the House Committee on Rules. The minibus includes funding bills for: Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; Interior, Environment and Related Agencies; and Military Construction, Veteran Affairs and Related Agencies.
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ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) published for public comment its regulatory proposals on the following higher education regulatory areas: Title IX; Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF); Borrower Defense to Repayment (BDR); Interest Capitalization; Total and Permanent Disability Discharge; False Certification Discharge; and Closed School Discharge. The Title IX publication can be found here and the publication for the remaining regulations can be found here.

ED awarded all remaining Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) grants to institutions of higher education.

ED announced its “Engage Every Student Initiative,” which is designed to support out-of-school-time programming.

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona issued a statement on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) will hold a virtual meeting from July 19-July 22.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued a press release on, and released unofficial copies of its forthcoming proposed regulations on Borrower Defense to Repayment, Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), Interest Capitalization, Total and Permanent Disability Discharge, Closed School Discharge and False Certification Discharge.

The Biden Administration launched the National Partnership for Student Success (NPSS).

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Federal judge blocks Education Department’s Title IX guidance that protects transgender students [POLITICO]

Campus mental health bills passed in House [Inside Higher Ed]

Narrowing the Gap [Inside Higher Education]

Borrower-Defense Claims Could Be Paid by Colleges [Inside Higher Ed]

Education Department proposes rule changes on student loans [Inside Higher Ed]

Biden Administration Proposes Easing Student Loan Forgiveness Process for Defrauded Students [The Wall Street Journal]

Canceling student debt for everyone is bad policy and bad economics [The Hill]

Higher Ed Funding Package Advanced by House Committee [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Transcript of Speaker Pelosi’s Remarks at Weekly Press Conference

House Ed & Labor Committee
July 19: Subcommittee Hearing: The History and Continued Contributions of Tribal Colleges and Universities
Witnesses: TBA
10:15 AM in 2175 Rayburn and Via Zoom (Hybrid)

Press Release: Biden Buries the Lede on Student Loan Forgiveness

Press Release: Empowering Employers is the Key to a Strong Workforce

Senate HELP Committee
Press Release: Burr Criticizes Department of Education for Subverting Congress on Proposed Changes to Student Loan Relief Programs

House Appropriations Committee
Press Release: House to Consider Appropriations Bills Next Week

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
ED Blog: Career and College Pathways in Action: Top Takeaways from Experts in the Field

White House Press Release: Remarks by Vice President Harris at the American Rescue Plan Workforce Development Summit

White House Press Release: FACT SHEET: White House Announces over $40 Billion in American Rescue Plan Investments in Our Workforce – With More Coming

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Awards Final $198 Million of American Rescue Plan Higher Education Funds to Support Students at Community Colleges, Rural, and Minority-Serving Institutions

White House Press Release: Nominations and Withdrawals Sent to the Senate

White House Press Release: Remarks by Vice President Harris at an Event Commemorating the Passage of the Safer Communities Act

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.4374 — Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13] (Introduced 07/09/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Agriculture; Energy and Commerce
Committee Report: H. Rept. 117-113
Latest Action: House – 07/15/2022 House Committee on Energy and Commerce Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than July 29, 2022.

H.R.8330 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to amend the public service loan forgiveness program.
Sponsor: Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2] (Introduced 07/12/2022)
Cosponsors: (6)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 07/12/2022 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.5407 — Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Through Campus Planning Act
Sponsor: Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7] (Introduced 09/28/2021)
Cosponsors: (23)
Committees: House – Education and Labor | Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Committee Report: H. Rept. 117-383
Latest Action: Senate – 07/11/2022 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: 2023-24 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:24) Field Test-Institution Contacting and List Collection

ED Comment Request: Application for Approval To Participate in Federal Student Aid Programs

ED Proposed Rule: Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance. Comments due on or before September 12, 2022.