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

August 16, 2022

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Differing Views on Student Loan Proposals [Inside Higher Ed]

After the rise of BLM, Black students and their families are heading back to HBCUs [NPR]

Colleges raise tuition as inflation increases costs [The Washington Post]

Survey highlights Gen Z’s distrust in higher ed [Inside Higher Ed]
Morning Consult Report: “Americans’ Most Trusted Universities, and the Need to Bridge Gaps in Public Trust”

Education Department often takes months to identify when a college closes, report finds [Higher Ed Dive]
GAO Report: College Closures: Education Should Improve Outreach to Borrowers about Loan Discharges

The real reasons why “alarming” numbers of Americans are rejecting college [The Hechinger Report]

New Research: Summer Learning Boosts Math Performance, College Graduation [The 74]

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

House Ed and Labor Committee
Press Release: Foxx Calls for Hearing Following Reports of NLRB Misconduct

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Schumer Statement on Inflation Reduction Act Heading to President Biden’s Desk

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Murray, Senate Dems Support Proposed Rules on Student Debt Relief Programs, Encourage Biden Admin to Further Strengthen Proposal

House Budget Committee
Press Release: New Report: A Win for the People and our Planet: How the Inflation Reduction Act Lowers Costs and Acts on Climate

House Committee on Small Business
Press Release: Chairwoman Velázquez’s Statement on House Passage of Inflation Reduction Act

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: BY THE NUMBERS: The Inflation Reduction Act

ED Media Advisory: Secretary Cardona Joins Majority Whip Clyburn for Visit to South Carolina State University, Roundtable with Students on Pandemic Recovery and Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds

DOL Press Release: Tuskegee University to Host U.S. Department Of Labor’s HBCU Southeast Hiring Summit to Advance Equity Through HBCU Faculty, Students, Career Service Professionals

ED Press Release: During ‘Raise the B.A.R.’ Summit, Education Department Announces College Completion Fund Competition to Support Postsecondary Student Success

ED Blog: The Importance of Academic Advising in Higher Education

NCES Blog: Timing is Everything: Understanding the IPEDS Data Collection and Release Cycle

White House Press Release: Remarks by President Biden at Signing of H.R. 4346, “The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022”

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.5376 — Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
Sponsor: Yarmuth, John A. [Rep.-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: 08/15/2022 Presented to President. (All Actions).

H.R.8688 — To establish a grant program for certain institutions of higher education to plan and implement projects for economic and community development in economically distressed communities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-16] (Introduced 08/09/2022) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Transportation and Infrastructure; Financial Services
Latest Action: House – 08/09/2022 Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.8700 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish an income-based repayment for new loans on and after July 1, 2023, and for borrowers who enter income-based repayment after June 30, 2023, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7] (Introduced 08/09/2022) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 08/09/2022 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Notice: Annual Notice of Interest Rates for Variable-Rate Federal Student Loans Made Under the Federal Family Education Loan Program Prior to July 1, 2010

ED Comment Request: National Center for Information and Technical Support for Postsecondary Students With Disabilities (NCITSPSD) Program Database. Comments due on or before September 15, 2022.

ED Notice: Annual Notice of Interest Rates for Fixed-Rate Federal Student Loans Made Under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

ED Grant Notice: Postsecondary Success Program. Applications due on or before October 11, 2022.