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

CONGRESS
The House Committee on Education and the Workforce passed H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act and H.R. 734, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2023. Both bills passed on 27-15 votes.

The Congressional Budget Office released an estimate of the cost of President Joe Biden’s Income-Driven Repayment Program.

Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, Ranking Member of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, announced the Jobs to Compete Act.

ADMINISTRATION
The White House hosted an event for Historically Black College and University (HBCU) student veterans and military-connected individuals.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) sent regulatory proposals for Gainful Employment, Financial Responsibility, Standards of Administrative Capability, Certification Procedures and Ability to Benefit to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).

ED released new Title IX resources for students, parents, coaches, athletic directors and school communities. The resources are:

• Supporting Equal Opportunity in School Athletic Programs: A Resource for Students and Families,
• Title IX and Athletic Opportunities in K-12 Schools: A Resource for Students, Parents, Coaches, Athletic Directors, and School Communities, and
• Title IX and Athletic Opportunities in Colleges and Universities: A Resource for Students, Coaches, Athletic Directors, and School Communities.

U.S. Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education Nasser Paydar released a blog post titled “Update on the Free Inquiry Rule.” You can find ED’s request for information on the Free Inquiry Rule here.

President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Julie Su for the position of U.S. Secretary of Labor. Current Secretary Marty Walsh issued a statement on the nomination.

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona issued a statement following the Supreme Court of the United States’ (SCOTUS) hearing of oral arguments on the legality of the Biden Administration’s student loan forgiveness plan.

ED’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) delayed the effective date of its new guidance on third-party servicers to September 1, 2023 and extended the comment period deadline to March 29.

ED issued a proposed information collection request on Prison Education Program applications for public comment.

President Biden released his fiscal year 2024 budget request. You can find the U.S. Department of Education (ED) documents here, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) documents here and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services documents here.

ED released guidance titled “Establishing Personal Liability Requirements for Financial Losses Related to the Title IV Programs.”

President Biden formally sent the nomination of Julie Su to be U.S. Secretary of Labor to the U.S. Senate.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it will begin using “secret shoppers” as a new tool for conducting oversight on postsecondary institutions’ compliance with Higher Education Act requirements and relevant regulations.

ED posted a blog post about the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education’s launch of the “Career Z Challenge.” Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical and Adult Education Amy Loyd also issued a Dear Colleague Letter on the challenges currently impacting career and technical education programs.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released new guidance on “Unlawful Collection of Payments on Discharged Student Loans.”

SUPREME COURT
SCOTUS heard oral arguments in Biden v. Nebraska and U.S. Department of Education v. Brown, two cases involving the Biden Administration’s plan to forgive between $10,000-$20,000 in student loan debt for qualifying borrowers.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

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

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Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]

The Education Department must survey every federally funded college on sexual violence, without money from Congress. What’s next? [Higher Ed Dive]

PROOF POINTS: New higher ed data by race and ethnicity [The Hechinger Report]

How can the Education Department build a list of low-value college programs? [Higher Ed Dive]

Renewables industry should engage community colleges to address labor shortage, development official says [Higher Ed Dive]

Report: Complaining to a higher ed accreditor is burdensome [Inside Higher Ed]

Career-training companies scoop up federal funds with little oversight [The Washington Post]

US has a teacher shortage. HBCUs are helping to change that [The Associated Press]

Op Ed: Let’s pay more attention to colleges that educate the vast majority of Americans [The Hechinger Report]

Texas trade association suing to stop new borrower defense rule because it ‘all but ensures’ claims will be approved [Higher Ed Dive]

Education Dept. forgiving some student loans after $6 billion settlement [The Washington Post]

Student loan case could be another blow to Biden’s racial equity push [The Washington Post]

PROOF POINTS: How much does it cost to produce a community college graduate? [The Hechinger Report]

ChatGPT Is Everywhere [Inside Higher Ed]

Loan repayment changes could make default rates a poor measure of quality [Inside Higher Ed]

ChatGPT Is Already Upending Campus Practices. Colleges Are Rushing to Respond. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

House G.O.P. Prepares to Slash Federal Programs in Coming Budget Showdown [The New York Times]

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Foxx? [Inside Higher Ed]

Op Ed: What Data Do Adult Learners of Color Want? [Inside Higher Ed]

Innovation and technology for gender equality: Echidna Global Scholars taking action [Brookings Institute]

More than half of jobs don’t need 4-year degree requirements, report says [Higher Ed Dive]

Loan servicers charged late fees, interest after on-time payments, federal agency finds [Higher Ed Dive]

Offering academic flexibility after a campus shooting [Inside Higher Ed]

Colleges Have Been a Small-Town Lifeline. What Happens as They Shrink? [The New York Times]

Texas Republicans Want to Reform Higher Ed. What Are Their Plans? [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Income-driven repayment regulatory proposal would cost at least $230B, Congressional Budget Office says [Higher Ed Dive]

New book argues education shouldn’t be the key to a job [Inside Higher Ed]

Education Department will use ‘secret shoppers’ to monitor colleges [Higher Ed Dive]

Higher education accountability: Measuring costs, benefits, and financial value [Brookings Institute]

Charting D.C. schools’ road to recovery, from enrollment to retention [The Washington Post]

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Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:

Speaker of the House 
Press Release: House Republican Leadership Statement on Biden’s Budget

House Committee on Education and the Workforce 
Press Release: Foxx, Committee Republicans Demand Transparency from Education Department on UPenn Classified Documents Scandal

Press Release: Scott, Casey, McMorris Rodgers, Daines to Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Help Workers with Disabilities Find Good-Paying Jobs

Press Release: Bipartisan Labor Leaders Introduce Bill to Protect Workers’ Right to Organize

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott: President Biden’s Student Debt Relief Plan Would “Deliver Life-Changing Support for the Borrowers Who Need It Most”

Press Release: Chair Foxx Leads North Carolina Lawmakers in Defending Freedom of Thought at Oldest Public University

Press Release: What People Are *Actually* Saying About Transgender Athletes’ Right To Participate In Sports

Press Release: ICYMI: Rep. Bobby Scott pushes bill that would include workforce training in federal education grants

House Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Granger: America Simply cannot Afford this Misguided Plan

Press Release: DeLauro Statement on President Biden’s 2024 Budget

Press Release: Appropriations Committee Democrats Praise President Biden’s 2024 Budget

House Committee on Ways & Means  
Press Release: Biden’s Inflation Crisis Continues to Hammer Working Families, Small Businesses

Press Release: Neal Opening Statement on President Biden’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2024 Budget with Treasury Secretary Yellen

Press Release: Neal Statement on February 2023 Jobs Report

House Committee on the Budget 
Press Release: Biden Budget Top Ten

Press Release: NEW REPORT: Budget Committee Democrats Release Report on Biden Budget for FY24

Press Release: Boyle Statement on Biden Budget for FY24

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Ahead of the Commerce Department Launching the First Application for CHIPS And Science Bill Funding Tomorrow

Press Release: Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks on The Release Of President Biden’s 2024 Budget

Press Release: Majority Leader Schumer Remarks At Press Conference Celebrating The Introduction Of The Richard L. Trumka Protecting The Right To Organize Act

Press Releases: Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Supreme Court Hearing Oral Arguments On Student Loan Debt Relief

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Biden Administration Says Painful, Persistent Inflation is Economic Success

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy on Nomination of Julie Su to be DOL Secretary

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy Calls Out Weaponization of National Labor Relations Board

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy Delivers Remarks During Hearing on Labor Relations

Senate Committee on the Budget 
Press Release: Whitehouse: Previews President’s Budget Request

Senate Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Senators Murray and Collins Respond to President’s Budget: Full Steam Ahead on Appropriations Process

Press Release: Senators Murray and Collins Release Tentative Appropriations Subcommittee Hearings Calendar

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U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Readout of Forum with HBCU Student Veterans and Cadets

White House Press Release: FACT SHEET: The President’s Budget Reduces Deficits by Nearly $3 Trillion Over 10 Years

White House Press Release: Readout of White House State Legislative Convening on Equal Pay

ED Press Release: Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget

ED Press Release: Secretary Cardona Statement Following Supreme Court Oral Arguments

ED Press Release: U.S. Education Secretary Issues Statement on Passing of Disability Rights Leader Judy Heumann

ED Blog: 2022 Presidential Scholars Weigh in on the Importance of CTE

DOL Press Release: Statement from Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh on nomination of Deputy Secretary Julie Su to be next secretary of labor

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor Awards $50M to Help 15 Colleges in 14 States Improve Equitable Access to Training for Good-Paying Jobs

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor Selects Nine Communities, Partners To Expand, Improve Workforce Opportunities for All Young People

HHS Press Release: HHS Releases President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Proposed Budget

IES Blog: From Protégé to mentor: The Roles of HBCUs and Mentoring in Developing Future Education Researchers

IES Report: Local Providers’ Practices and Challenges Linking Adult Education to Workforce Development in 2018-19

GAO Press Release: Subminimum Wage Program: DOL Could Do More to Ensure Timely Oversight

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Legislative Movement in Congress:
H.R.1200 — To preserve and protect the free choice of individual employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, or to refrain from such activities.
Sponsor: Wilson, Joe [Rep.-R-SC-2] (Introduced 02/27/2023)
Cosponsors: (32)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: House – 02/27/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Congressman Wilson Reintroduces National Right to Work Act

H.R.1234 — To prohibit Members of Congress from receiving a financial benefit from certain student loan cancellation programs.
Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 02/28/2023)
Cosponsors: (15)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: House – 02/28/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Cole Reintroduces Can’t Cancel Your Own Debt Act

H.R.1250 — To restore the exemption of family farms and small businesses from the definition of assets under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Sponsor: Mann, Tracey [Rep.-R-KS-1] (Introduced 02/28/2023)
Cosponsors: (28)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: House – 02/28/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Reps. Mann and Panetta Move to Restore FAFSA Exemptions for Family Farms and Small Businesses

H.R.1371 — To improve Federal student loan disclosures, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Spanberger, Abigail Davis [Rep.-D-VA-7] (Introduced 03/03/2023) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: House – 03/03/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Several Virginia Colleges & Universities Back Spanberger’s Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Transparency in Federal Student Loan Disclosures, Support Borrowers.

H.R.1374 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit the imposition of COVID-19 vaccine mandates by institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Tenney, Claudia [Rep.-R-NY-24] (Introduced 03/03/2023) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: House – 03/03/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Congresswoman Tenney Leads Charge to End COVID Vaccine Mandates for Colleges and Universities.

H.R.1403 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to create a new national program to support mid-career workers, including workers from underrepresented populations, in reentering the STEM workforce, by providing funding to small- and medium-sized STEM businesses so the businesses can offer paid internships or other returnships that lead to positionabove entry level.
Sponsor: Houlahan, Chrissy [Rep.-D-PA-6] (Introduced 03/07/2023)
Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: House – 03/07/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Releases: Reps. Houlahan, Baird and Senators Rosen, Hyde-Smith, Kelly Reintroduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Support Workers Entering or Returning to STEM Careers

H.R.1541 – To amend the Small Business Act to include requirements relating to apprenticeship program assistance for small business development centers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Jason Crow [D-CO-6] (Introduced 03/10/2023) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Small Business
Latest Action: 03/10/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
Press Release: Reps. Crow, Thanedar, Molinaro, and Salazar Reintroduce Small Business Workforce Pipeline Act

S.528 — A bill to require a standard financial aid offer form, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Grassley, Chuck [Sen.-R-IA] (Introduced 02/27/2023)
Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 02/27/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Ahead Of SCOTUS Student Loan Arguments, Grassley, Smith Introduce Bipartisan Bills to Help Students Navigate College Costs

S.530 — A bill to revise counseling requirements for certain borrowers of student loans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Grassley, Chuck [Sen.-R-IA] (Introduced 02/27/2023)
Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 02/27/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Ahead Of SCOTUS Student Loan Arguments, Grassley, Smith Introduce Bipartisan Bills to Help Students Navigate College Costs

S.531 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make technical improvements to the Net Price Calculator system so that prospective students may have a more accurate understanding of the true cost of college.
Sponsor: Grassley, Chuck [Sen.-R-IA] (Introduced 02/27/2023)
Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 02/27/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Ahead Of SCOTUS Student Loan Arguments, Grassley, Smith Introduce Bipartisan Bills to Help Students Navigate College Costs

S.533 — A bill to assist employers providing employment under special certificates issued under section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 in transforming their business and program models to models that support people with disabilities through competitive integrated employment, to phase out the use of such special certificates, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Casey, Robert P., Jr. [Sen.-D-PA] (Introduced 02/27/2023) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 02/27/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Casey, Daines, Scott, McMorris Rodgers Announce Bipartisan Bill to Phase Out Subminimum Wage for People with Disabilities

S.728 – A bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Patty Murray [D-WA] (Introduced 03/09/2023) Cosponsors: (50)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 03/09/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Murray, DeLauro Introduce the Paycheck Fairness Act

S.768 – A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to disclose certain ties to organizations affiliated with the Government of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, and the People’s Liberation Army, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: John Kennedy [R-LA] (Introduced 03/09/2023) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 03/09/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Kennedy introduces bill to expose Communist China’s funneling money to American schools

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Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

ED Comment Request: Direct Grant Programs, State-Administered Formula Grant Programs. Comments due on or before March 24, 2023.

ED Comment Request: Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Prison Education Program Application. Comments due on or before April 28, 2023. 

ED Comment Request: Federal Work Study (FWS) Wages for Student Aid Index. Comments due on or before May 15, 2023.

ED Comment Request: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program Repayment Plan Selection Form. Comments due on or before April 17, 2023.

USDA Grant: Distance Education Grants Program for Institutions of Higher Education in Insular Areas Applications due on or before May 5, 2023.