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 U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5 – “Parents Bill of Rights” on a 213-208 vote.

Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) of the House Committee on Appropriations and Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies received a response letter from U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on the impact of potential budget cuts to the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) budget.

ADMINISTRATION
The White House convened members of State legislatures to discuss child care access and affordability.

ED published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its intent to convene a negotiated rulemaking committee on higher education regulations in Fall 2023 and announced that it will hold listening sessions on potential topics April 11-13.

ED’s Federal Student Aid (FSA) office issued an update on the implementation of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Simplification Act.

ED extended the deadline for borrowers with Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFEL) loans, Perkins Loan Program loans, and Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) Program loans to consolidate their loans for the purposes of accessing the Biden Administration’s previously announced one-time Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) plan account adjustment.

The U.S Department of Agriculture issued a proposed rule expanding the Community Eligibility Provision under child nutrition programs.

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]

Strategies for Career Exploration in Uncertain Times [Inside Higher Ed]

Opinion: Florida’s Universities Can’t Have It Both Ways [Inside Higher Ed]

Higher ed organizations press for firm FAFSA release date [Higher Ed Dive]

What the Education Secretary Said School Leaders Should Prioritize Right Now [Education Week]

Op-Ed: Students Shouldn’t Always Choose Higher-Paying Majors [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

By The Numbers: What potential budget cuts to Ed Dept would look like [Higher Ed Dive]

Public-University President Faces Backlash for Canceling Student Group’s Drag Show [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Pearson to sell online services, including OPM business [Higher Ed Dive]

How Online Teaching Can Promote Empathy [Inside Higher Ed]

New FAFSA will debut in December, Education Department says [Higher Ed Dive]

Emotional Stress Remains a Top Challenge to Keeping Students Enrolled [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

‘It’s Our Responsibility’ [Inside Higher Ed]

House hearing highlights partisan divides over student loans [Inside Higher Ed]

Survey: Faculty teaching style impedes academic success, students say [Inside Higher Ed]

ChatGPT Just Got Better. What Does That Mean for Our Writing Assignments? [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Ensuring Quality Programs for Students With Intellectual Disabilities [Inside Higher Ed]

Op Ed: Government must act fast to protect students and colleges from Silicon Valley’s economic threat [Higher Ed Dive]

If race-conscious admissions end, selective colleges would struggle to create diverse classes [Higher Ed Dive]

As microcredentials boom, employers’ hiring platforms fumble [Inside Higher Ed]

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

Speaker of the House 
Press Release: Speaker McCarthy Calls on Congress to Support the Parents Bill of Rights

House Minority Leader 
Press Release: Video Available – Leader Jefferies: “H.R. 5 Will Put Politics Over Parents”

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republicans’ New Legislation To Deny Student Loan Debt Relief For Millions Of Americans

House Committee on Education and Workforce

Webcast and statements from Subcommittee Hearing: “Breaking the System: Examining the Implications of Biden’s Student Loan Policies for Students and Taxpayers.”

Press Release: Owens: Saddling Future Generations with Others’ Debt is Not the American Way

Press Release: Foxx: PBGC Must Stop Improper Payments

Press Release: Chairwoman Foxx Celebrates House Passage of the Parents Bill of Rights

Press Release: Despite Internal Opposition, Republicans Force Through Anti-Student, Parent, and Educator Legislation

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: House Republican Cuts Increase Costs for Hardworking Families

Press Release: House Republican Cuts Ship Manufacturing Jobs Overseas and Undermine American Workers

House Committee on Small Business:
Press Release: Chairman Williams Introduces Bipartisan Legislation Supporting Career and Technical Education for Small Businesses

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy, Cornyn, Ernst Announce Effort to Overturn Biden’s Reckless Student Loan Scheme Through Congressional Review Act

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy, Cornyn, Ernst Announce Effort to Overturn Biden’s Reckless Student Loan Scheme Through Congressional Review Act

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Remarks by President Biden at the Presentation of the 2021 National Humanities Medals and National Medals of Arts

White House Press Release: What They Are Reading in the States: Biden-⁠Harris Administration is Investing in America; Local Communities Reap Benefits

ED Press Release: The Department of Education Announces Public Hearings on Higher Education Rulemaking

ED Blog: U.S. Department of Education Launches the Your Place in Space Challenge

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor announces $15M funding availability to help youth, young adults prepare for college, career success

Legislative Movement in Congress:
H.R.5 – Parents Bill of Rights Act
Sponsor: Julia Letlow [R-LA-5] (Introduced 03/01/2023) Cosponsors: (122)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 03/22/2023 Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 241 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5 with 2 hours of general debate. Motion to recommit allowed. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
Press Release: Letlow Reintroduces Parents Bill of Rights

H.R.1622 — To prohibit the mass cancellation of student loans.
Sponsor: Ferguson, A. Drew, IV [Rep.-R-GA-3] (Introduced 03/17/2023) Cosponsors: (6)
Committees: House – Ways and Means; Education and the Workforce; Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House – 03/17/2023 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, 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.1630 — To establish competitive Federal grants that will empower community colleges and minority-serving institutions to become incubators for infant and toddler child care talent, training, and access on their campuses and in their communities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Hayes, Jahana [Rep.-D-CT-5] (Introduced 03/17/2023) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce; Ways and Means
Latest Action: House – 03/17/2023 Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
Press Release: Hayes Leads Bill To Invest In Child Care At Community Colleges And Minority-Serving Institutions

H.R.1655 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend Federal Pell Grant eligibility to certain short-term workforce programs.
Sponsor: Scott, Robert C. “Bobby” [Rep.-D-VA-3] (Introduced 03/17/2023) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: House – 03/17/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce

H.R.1682 — To provide consumer protections for students.
Sponsor: Krishnamoorthi, Raja [Rep.-D-IL-8] (Introduced 03/21/2023)
Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce; Armed Services; Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: House – 03/21/2023 Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Armed Services, and Veterans’ Affairs, 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.
Press Release: Merkley, Durbin, Krishnamoorthi Team Up To Protect Students From Worthless Degrees

H.R.1701 – To prohibit discrimination in higher education against certain noncitizen students on the basis of immigration status, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Ruben Gallego [D-AZ-3] (Introduced 03/22/2023) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce; Judiciary
Latest Action: 03/22/2023 Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
Press Release: Reps. Gallego and Williams Introduce Legislation to Increase Higher Education Access for Dreamers

H.R.1733 – A bill to establish an alternative use of certain Federal education funds when in-person instruction is not available
Sponsor: Burgess Owens [R-UT-4] (Introduced 03/23/2023) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 03/23/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
Press Release: Amid LA Teacher Strike, Owens Pushes for Legislation to Expand School Choice to Low-Income Students Affected by School Closures

H.R.1742 – A bill to index the maximum value of Federal Pell Grants to inflation.
Sponsor: Sean Casten [D-IL-6] (Introduced 03/23/2023) Cosponsors: (20)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 03/23/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Casten, Lee Introduce Pell Grant Sustainability Act to Ensure Federal Aid Keeps Up with Inflation

H.R.1811 – A bill to expand the use of open textbooks in order to achieve savings for students and improve textbook price information.
Sponsor: Joe Neguse [D-CO-2] (Introduced 03/27/2023) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 03/27/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.1816 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure campus access at public institutions of higher education for religious groups.
Sponsor: Tim Walberg [R-MI-5] (Introduced 03/27/2023) Cosponsors: (10)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 03/27/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: The Federalist: GOP To Combat Biden’s War On Religious Student Orgs With Protections Bill

S.889 — A bill to provide consumer protections for students.
Sponsor: Merkley, Jeff [Sen.-D-OR] (Introduced 03/21/2023)
Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 03/21/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Merkley, Durbin, Krishnamoorthi Team Up to Protect Students from Worthless Degrees

S.936 – A bill to amend the Small Business Act to include requirements relating to graduates of career and technical education programs or programs of study for small business development centers and women’s business centers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Roger Marshall [R-KS] (Introduced 03/22/2023) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Latest Action: 03/22/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Press Release: Sens. Marshall, Coons Reintroduce Bill Connecting Trade School Graduates with Small Businesses

S.952 – A bill to establish an alternative use of certain Federal education funds when in-person instruction is not available.
Sponsor: Tim Scott [R-SC] (Introduced 03/23/2023) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Latest Action: 03/23/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Amid LA Teacher Strike, Scott Pushes for Legislation to Expand School Choice to Low-Income Students Affected by School Closures

S.963 – A bill to provide enhanced student loan relief to educators.
Sponsor: Ben Ray Lujan [D-NM] (Introduced 03/23/2023) Cosponsors: (17)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Latest Action: 03/23/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Luján, Leger Fernández, Hayes Reintroduce Legislation to Expand Federal Loan Forgiveness for Educators

S.978 – A bill to expand the use of open textbooks in order to achieve savings for students and improve textbook price information.
Sponsor: Richard Durbin [D-IL] (Introduced 03/27/2023) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 03/27/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.985 – A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure campus access at public institutions of higher education for religious groups.
Sponsor: James Lankford [R-OK] (Introduced 03/27/2023) Cosponsors: (15)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 03/27/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Lankford Challenges Biden’s Unconstitutional Attack Against Religious Student Groups

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

ED Comment Request: Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program and Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship Program. Comments due on or before April 20, 2023

ED Comment Request: 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Comments due on or before May 23, 2023.

ED Correction Notice: Pell Grants for Prison Education Programs; Determining the Amount of Federal Education Assistance Funds Received by Institutions of Higher Education. Correction effective July 1, 2023.

ED Notice: Applications for New Awards; Undergraduate International Studies and Foreign Language Program. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications is May 22, 2023.

ED Notice: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery. Comments due on or before April 19, 2023.

ED Notice: Applications for New Awards; Strengthening Institutions Program. Applications available March 23, 2023. Deadline for Transmittal of Applications May 22, 2023. Deadline for Intergovernmental Review July 21, 2023.