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

August 9, 2022

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Republican Release Debt-Relief Alternative [Inside Higher Ed]

$6 Billion Student Loan Settlement Gets Preliminary Approval [The Washington Post]

Corrections Agencies Would Get Broad Power Over Prison Education. Advocates Say That’s a Problem. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

College Affirmative Action Policies Backed by Major Companies [The Wall Street Journal]

Colleges Face a Student Housing Squeeze [Inside Higher Ed]

Federal student loans are costing the government billions, report finds [The Hill]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Pelosi Statement on Senate Passage of Inflation Reduction Act

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader McCarthy’s Statement on Democrats’ Scheme to Increase Taxes and Expand IRS

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: The Inflation Reduction Act Will Lower Costs, Create Jobs, And Help Fight Inflation—AND Even Top Republicans Admit It Won’t Raise Tax Rates on American Families

House Education and Labor Committee
Press Release: Chairman Scott Statement on Republican REAL Reform Act

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Press Release: Sen. Murray on IRA Keeping Health Care Costs Low: “Stress Off Patients’ Shoulders, Money in Their Pockets”

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Chairman Yarmuth on July Jobs Report

Online Events:
August 31: The Hunt Institute Webinar — “Postsecondary Pathways | The Role of Community Colleges in Postsecondary Attainment.” Community colleges are uniquely positioned to support students in lifelong learning. Students have the ability to pursue a variety of programs, credentials, and degrees, from continuing education to re-skilling to an associate degree. In fact, roughly 35 percent of students enrolled in higher education attend a public two-year college. During this webinar, resource experts will discuss the pivotal role community colleges play in the higher education landscape.
2:00 p.m. Eastern
Register here.

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Readout of Vice President Kamala Harris’s Meeting with Higher Education Leaders on Reproductive Rights

White House Press Release: Remarks by Vice President Harris Before Roundtable Discussion with University Presidents

HHS Press Release: HHS Invests Nearly $60 Million to Strengthen Health Care Workforce and Improve Access to Care in Rural Communities

White House Statement: Statement by President Biden on Senate Passage of the Inflation Reduction Act

ED Press Release: Statement from Secretary Miguel Cardona on Confirmation of Nasser Paydar as Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor begins initiative highlighting maternal health, workplace protections for expectant, new mothers in August

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.5376 — Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
Sponsor: Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3] (Introduced 09/27/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Budget
Committee Reports: H. Rept. 117-130,Book 1, H. Rept. 117-130,Book 3, H. Rept. 117-130,Book 2, H. Rept. 117-173
Committee Prints: H.Prt. 117-17, H.Prt. 117-18, H.Prt. 117-19
Latest Action: Senate – 08/08/2022 Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.4772 — A bill to require institutions of higher education participating in Federal financial aid programs to pay a percentage of the cost of attendance for each enrolled full-time student, based on the endowment fund of the institution, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL] (Introduced 08/04/2022)
Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 08/04/2022 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

H.R.5376 — Build Back Better Act
Sponsor: Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3] (Introduced 09/27/2021)
Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Budget
Committee Reports: H. Rept. 117-130,Book 1, H. Rept. 117-130,Book 3, H. Rept. 117-130,Book 2, H. Rept. 117-173
Committee Prints: H.Prt. 117-17, H.Prt. 117-18, H.Prt. 117-19
Latest Action: Senate – 08/02/2022 Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (All Actions)
Notes: Text passed by the House (11/19/2021) is available in the Congressional Record.

H.R.8643 — To establish a grant program for States to fund community-based nonprofit student loan consumer assistance programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8] (Introduced 08/02/2022) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 08/02/2022 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Application To Participate in Federal Student Financial Aid Programs (PEPS). Comments due on or before October 3, 2022.

USDA Grant Notice: The Rural eConnectivity Program. Applications due on or before November