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. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) announced that House Republicans would draft fiscal year (FY) 2024 appropriations legislation at final overall FY 2022 spending levels.

U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced the introduction of the “Lowering Education Costs and Debt Act,” which packages the previously introduced College Transparency Act with four other pieces of legislation.

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Rules will meet on Tuesday, June 20 to consider a rule for “H. Res. 461, Condemning the use of elementary and secondary school facilities to provide shelter for aliens who are not admitted to the United States.” The House is expected to consider this legislation during the week of June 19.

ADMINISTRATION
This week, ED added a banner to the top of StudentAid.gov indicating that Federal student loan interest accrual would resume starting on Sept. 1, 2023, and payments on Federal student loans would be due starting in October.

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

Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Grant Program: Expansion Grants Summary
Application Deadline: July 12, 2023

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

The most lucrative majors? Some community college grads can outearn elite university peers [Los Angeles Times]

Where DEI Efforts Are Ambitious, Well Funded, and Taking Fire From All Sides [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

How other countries are luring workers trained in U.S. universities [The Washington Post]

Republican Blitz to ‘Banish’ College DEI Efforts Fizzles in Most States [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Governing State Governing Boards [Inside Higher Ed]

DEI Standoff Derails a State Budget [Inside Higher Ed]

Republicans seek to overhaul federal student loan system [Inside Higher Ed]

Many flagship universities don’t reflect their state’s Black or Latino high school graduates [The Hechinger Report]

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

House Committee on Education and the Workforce

June 22: Full Committee Hearing on Competencies Over Degrees: Transitioning to a Skills-Based Economy

10:15am 2175 Rayburn House Office Building

Press Release: Foxx to Lead Hearing on Supporting the Shift towards Skills-Based Hiring

Press Release: Foxx, Owens Question Cardona about Fraud within Biden’s Student Loan Scam

Press Release: Chairman Owens Leads Hearing on Postsecondary Education Innovation

House Committee on Science, Space and Technology

June 22: Full Committee Hearing on Artificial Intelligence: Advancing Innovation Towards the National Interest

10:00am 2318 Rayburn House Office Building

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Press Release: News: Sanders, Jayapal and Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Make College Tuition- and Debt-Free for Working Families

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:

White House Press Release: Statement from President Joe Biden on the Anniversary of DACA

ED Press Release: President Biden Announces Presidential Delegation to Attend the Opening Ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, Germany

Legislative Movement in Congress:

H.R.4118 — To include financial literacy education as a graduation requirement in high schools operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity.

Sponsor: Larsen, Rick [Rep.-D-WA-2] (Introduced 06/14/2023)

Committees: House – Armed Services; Education and the Workforce

House – 06/14/2023 Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, 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.4144 — To streamline and improve the Federal student loan repayment system to protect borrowers and taxpayers.

Sponsor: Owens, Burgess [Rep.-R-UT-4] (Introduced 06/15/2023) Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: House – Education and the Workforce

Latest Action: House – 06/15/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.4176 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include certain part B institutions to be eligible for certain grants, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: McClellan, Jennifer L. [Rep.-D-VA-4] (Introduced 06/15/2023) Cosponsors: (8)

Committees: House – Education and the Workforce

Latest Action: House – 06/15/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.4186 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish employer-directed skills accounts, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Stefanik, Elise M. [Rep.-R-NY-21] (Introduced 06/15/2023) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Education and the Workforce

Latest Action: House – 06/15/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

S.1970 — A bill to modify requirements relating to financial aid disclosures.

Sponsor: Daines, Steve [Sen.-R-MT] (Introduced 06/14/2023)

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

Latest Action: Senate – 06/14/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1972 — A bill to increase college transparency and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Cassidy, Bill [Sen.-R-LA] (Introduced 06/14/2023)

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

Latest Action: Senate – 06/14/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy, Colleagues Unveil Landmark Package to Lower Education Costs and Student Debt

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

ED Comment Request: Application Forms and Instructions for the Fulbright-Hays Training Grants: Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (CFDA Number 84.022A) and Faculty Research Abroad (CFDA Number 84.019A). Comments due on or before June 26, 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 Comment Request: Application and Employment Certification for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Comments are due on or before July 11, 2023.

ED Comment Request: Federal Work Study (FWS) Wages for Student Aid Index. Comments due on or before July 12, 2023.

ED Notice: Transitioning Gang-Involved Youth to Higher Education Program. Applications due on or before July 17, 2023.

ED Grant: Activities for Underserved Populations. Applications due on or before July 21, 2023.

ED Notice: Applications for New Awards; National Center on School Infrastructure. Comments due on or before August 7, 2023.

ED Comment Request: Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant Program Obligation To Repay Grant Regulations. Comments due on or before August 21.