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

CONGRESS

U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen sent a letter to Congress stating that the U.S. could default on its debt limit obligations as early as June 1, 2023.

POLITICO is reporting that the House Committee on Education and the Workforce will markup H.J. Res. 45 next week. This measure is a resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act that would invalidate the Administration’s initiative to cancel up to $20,000 of student loan debt per borrower and a previous extension of the student loan payment freeze.

ADMINISTRATION

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced a virtual information session on U.S. President Joe Biden’s fiscal year 2024 budget proposal.

ED published a notice in the Federal Register detailing its plans for deadline extensions for institutions of higher education for spending Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF).

ED issued guidance on institutions of higher education’s recruitment of formerly incarcerated students titled “Beyond the Box.” ED also published a blog post titled “Second Chances: Education and Justice Involved Students.”

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Workforce Pathways for Youth Grant Program Summary
Application Deadline: May 19, 2023

Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Program Grant Summary
Application Deadline: July 7, 2023

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

STEM majors still get the most lucrative jobs, data shows [Inside Higher Ed]

Cost is the biggest barrier to college enrollment: survey [Inside Higher Ed]

Trump pledges to fire “radical Left” college accreditors if elected [Inside Higher Ed]

Education Department guidance could harm colleges that rely on OPMs, Moody’s says [Higher Ed Dive]

Texas scales back bill that would have required SAT, ACT in public college admissions [Higher Ed Dive]

Op Ed: Show me your budget, I’ll tell you your values [Higher Ed Dive]

The Political Trials of a Southern Accreditor [Inside Higher Ed]

Virtual One-Stop Connects Students to Success Resources [Inside Higher Ed]

Class of ’23 brings tech chops to the workforce — no matter their degree [Higher Ed Dive]

Handshake Report: “Network Trends”

Rutgers workers approve new contracts following historic strike [Higher Ed Dive]

Transfer applications mostly come from wealthy areas, Common App finds [Higher Ed Dive]

Arizona State’s Big Bet on Virtual Reality Labs [Inside Higher Ed]

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

Speaker of the House

Press Release: Speaker McCarthy’s Response after White House Meeting

House Majority Leader

Press Release: Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Preview – Week of May 8, 2023

House Minority Leader

Press Release: Leader Jeffries Statement on the April Jobs Report

House Committee on Education and the Workforce

Press Release: Foxx: Everything the Biden Administration is Doing is Wrong

Press Release: Foxx, Kiley Call Out Su’s DOL For Unlawfully Ignoring Trump Rule

May 11: Subcommittee Hearing: “Examining America’s Workforce Challenges: Looking For To Improve Skills development”

Witnesses: TBA

10:15 a.m. EST

Press Release: @EdWorkforceCmte to Hold Markup on CRA to Nullify Biden’s Student Loan Debt Scheme

House Committee on Appropriations

May 11: Subcommittee Hearing: A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Funding Request and Budget Justification for the Department of Education

Witnesses: The Honorable Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Education
10:00 a.m. EST

Senate Majority Leader

Press Release: Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republicans’ Default On America Act Pushing Us Closer To Catastrophic Default

Press Release: Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Artificial Intelligence

Press Release: RELEASE UPDATED: Senate Majority Leader Schumer, House Democratic Leader Jeffries, Senators Heinrich And Smith, And Representatives Beyer And Moore Re-Release JEC Report Detailing The Catastrophic Effects Of A Republican Default Crisis, Add CEA Report Details

Senate Minority Leader

Press Release: McConnell: President Biden Needs To Strike a Deal With the Speaker

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy Requests Information on Impact of TikTok on Louisiana Students

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy, Colleagues Request Information to Ensure Proper Use of COVID-19 Education Funds

Press Release: MEDIA ADVISORY: Chairman Bernie Sanders Announces Senate HELP Committee Field Roundtable at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta to Discuss Health Care Workforce Shortage

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:

White House Press Release: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology

White House Press Release: FACT SHEET: Vice President Harris Celebrates Small Business and Manufacturing Boom

White House Press Release: President Biden Announces Key White House Personnel

White House Press Release: Remarks by President Biden on Meeting with Congressional Leaders

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces $42 Billion in Approved Public Service Loan Forgiveness for More Than 615,000 Borrowers Since October 2021

ED Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Calls on Colleges, Universities, and Schools to Partner in Addressing K-12 Learning Loss, Announces Initial Cohort of Committed Partners

ED Media Advisory: Secretary Cardona to Travel to Miami, Florida, with Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson to Discuss Technical Education and After-School Programming

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor announces report finding nearly half of accommodations for disabled workers have no cost

IES Press Release: IES releases new report examining text messaging as a possible means of increasing college enrollment among adults from underserved backgrounds.

Legislative Movement in Congress:

S.1452 – A bill to promote mental wellness and resilience and prevent and heal mental health, behavioral health, and psychosocial conditions through developmentally and culturally appropriate community programs, and award grants for the purpose of establishing, operating, or expanding community-based mental wellness and resilience programs, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Markey, Edward J. [Sen.-D-MA] (Introduced 05/04/2023)

Cosponsors: (3)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 05/04/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1468 — A bill to ensure that Federal work-study funding is available for students enrolled in residency programs for teachers, principals, or school leaders, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Kennedy, John [Sen.-R-LA] (Introduced 05/04/2023)

Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 05/04/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

ED Comment Request: Foreign Gifts and Contracts Disclosures. Comments due on or before June 5, 2023.

ED Notice: Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems. Applications due on or before June 29, 2023.

DOL Comment Request: Enhancing Registered Apprenticeship Initiatives, New Collection. Comments due on or before July 3, 2023.

ED Notice: Accrediting Agencies Currently Undergoing Review for the Purpose of Recognition by the U.S. Secretary of Education