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

October 4, 2022

CONGRESS
The U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to keep the Federal government funded until December 16.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its cost estimate for the Biden Administration’s plan for one-time Federal student loan forgiveness, predicting that the action will cost approximately $400 billion.

ADMINISTRATION
The Biden Administration released its National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health and a fact sheet on partnerships that the Administration will form in an attempt to address hunger and nutritional issues in the U.S. President Biden also offered remarks at this week’s meeting of the White House Conference on Hunger, Health and Nutrition.
Two lawsuits were filed against the Biden Administration regarding its plan for one-time Federal student loan forgiveness. The first lawsuit was filed on behalf of an individual borrower in the State of Indiana and the second lawsuit was filed by a group of six States: Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina. After holding a hearing on the plaintiff’s request for a preliminary injunction on the first suit, a Federal District Court judge declined to take such action, ruling that the plaintiff would not be irreparably harmed by the loan forgiveness action.
The U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) Federal Student Aid (FSA) office updated its frequently asked questions (FAQ) document on the Biden Administration’s loan forgiveness plan to include more information about borrowers’ ability to opt out of receiving the Administration’s one-time loan forgiveness action and the forgiveness action’s interaction with Federal Family Education Loans (FFEL).
ED announced their own estimate of the cost of the Administration’s plan for one-time Federal student loan forgiveness, predicting that it will cost approximately $30 billion per year or $305 billion over 10 years.
ED held a National Digital Equity Summit and discussed its “vision to advance digital equity for all learners.”

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Penn Hill Group provides a list of grant opportunities and summaries for select grants. Please visit our website for more information.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Education Department estimates Biden student loan forgiveness plan will cost $379B [Higher Ed Dive]

Withholding college transcripts for loan payment is ‘abusive,’ federal agency says [The Hechinger Report]

Can the US learn from student loans Down Under? [Higher Ed Dive]

Biden administration scales back eligibility for student loan forgiveness. Here’s who’s affected [Los Angeles Times]

Republican-Led States Sue to Block Biden’s Plan to Erase Student Loan Debt [The New York Times]

Colleges, Higher Ed Groups Join Biden Campaign Against Hunger [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Majority Leader
Press Release: Hoyer: We Must Do Everything in our Power to Ensure that People With Disabilities Can Participate Fully in our Democracy

Senate Majority Leader
Speech: Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Ahead Of Passage Of The Continuing Resolution

House Education and Labor Committee
Press Release: Foxx, Comer Press Cardona on Cancel Culture at Liberal Universities

Senate Committee on Appropriations:
Press Release: Leahy Statement on Final Passage of the Continuing Resolution

House Committee on Appropriations:
Press Release: House Passes Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
DOL Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Announces $80M Funding Opportunity to Help Train, Expand, Diversify Nursing Workforce; Address Shortage of Nurses

White House Press Release: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, September 28, 2022

White House Press Release: Remarks by First Lady Jill Biden on the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

GAO Report: Higher Education: VA Could Improve Support for Veterans Pursuing STEM Degrees

IES Report: Early postsecondary education and work outcome differences by high school credential type

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.6833 — Making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2023, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Craig, Angie [Rep.-D-MN-2] (Introduced 02/25/2022) Cosponsors: (31)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means; Education and Labor
Latest Action: 10/03/2022 Became Public Law No: 117-180.

H.R.9066 — To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to clarify the fiduciary duties regarding asset classes.
Sponsor: Meijer, Peter [Rep.-R-MI-3] (Introduced 09/29/2022) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 09/29/2022 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.9014 — To provide for supplemental appropriations to increase the number of Americorps members and to increase the living allowances of such members, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Norton, Eleanor Holmes [Del.-D-DC-At Large] (Introduced 09/28/2022) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations; Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 09/28/2022 Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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.5918 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs repays members of the Armed Forces for certain contributions made by such members towards Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Rep.-R-IN-3] (Introduced 11/09/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: House – 09/28/2022 The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Lender’s Request for Payment of Interest and Special Allowance-LaRS. Comments due on or before November 29, 2022. 

ED Comment Request: Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Request for Designation as an Eligible Institution Under Titles III, V, and VII Programs and Waivers of the Non-Federal Cost Share Reimbursement (1894-0001) Comments due on or before October 28.