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

August 29, 2022

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
What borrowers think of Biden’s student-loan forgiveness plan [The Washington Post]

Is Biden’s student debt cancellation a moral hazard? [Higher Ed Dive]

8 ways to improve student interactions with campus offices [Inside Higher Ed]

Biden’s Student Loan Forgiveness: How Much Will It Help Teachers? [Education Week]

More than $10B in student loans for public workers canceled ahead of broader Biden announcement [The Hill]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Pelosi Statement on President Biden’s Historic Student Debt Relief

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Joint Statement from leader Schumer and Senator Warren on President Biden’s Student Loan Debt Cancellation Announcement

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: McConnell: Student Loan Socialism a “Slap in the Face” to Working Families

House Committee on Education and Labor
Press Release: Foxx Discusses Biden’s Student Loan Cancellation Fiasco on Fox Business

Senate HELP Committee
Press Release: Murray, Menendez, Kaine, Gillibrand, Sarbanes, Courtney, Hayes, Manning Lead 100+ Colleagues in Calling on Biden Admin to Extend PSLF Waiver Deadline

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: What They Are Saying: Biden’s Student Loan Cancellation is a Giveaway to the Wealthy, Increases Inflation, Adds Hundreds of Billions to the Taxpayers’ Tab

House Committee on Ways and Means
Blog: Fact Check: Biden Draws False Equivalence Between PPP Loans and Student Loan Giveaway

House Small Business Committee
Blog: Luetkemeyer: Biden’s Comparison of PPP Loans and Student Loans is Reckless and Irresponsible

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: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, August 29, 2022

ED Press Release: Education Department Approves $1.5 billion in Debt Relief for 79,000 Borrowers Who Attended Westwood College

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor Awards $8M to Support Policy Development Center for Equal, Inclusive Employment of People with Disabilities

IES Blog: Understanding NCER and NCSER’s Investments in Research Training
White House Press Release: Executive Order on the Implementation of the CHIPS Act of 2022

ED Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Final Student Loan Pause Extension Through December 31 and Targeted Debt Cancellation to Smooth Transition to Repayment

White House Press Briefing: Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on Student Loan Relief

White House Speech: Remarks by President Biden Announcing Student Loan Debt Relief Plan

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Announces $3.4M in Grants to Expand Job Opportunities for Women in Apprenticeships, Nontraditional Occupations

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
S.4458 – Ensuring the Best Schools for Veterans Act of 2022
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] (Introduced 06/23/2022) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: 08/23/2022 Presented to President.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Notice: Notice of Debt Cancellation Legal Memorandum.

DOL Comment Request: Pell Grants and the Payment of Unemployment Benefits to Individuals in Approved Training. Comments due by or before September 28, 2022.

ED Comment Request: FAFSA Form Demographic Survey