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

CONGRESS

President Joe Biden offered remarks on, and Vice President Kamala Harris issued a statement on, the Supreme Court of the United States’ (SCOTUS) decision on Affirmative Action. The Biden Administration also announced “Actions to Promote Educational Opportunity and Diversity in Colleges and Universities.”

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona issued a statement on SCOTUS’ ruling on affirmative action programs.

The Biden Administration announced State, territory and District of Columbia Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program allocations.

SUPREME COURT

SCOTUS issued rulings on the constitutionality of admissions policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill. In both cases, the Court ruled that the use of race in both institutions’ policies was unconstitutional. In the Harvard case, the final vote tally was 6-2 (Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson recused herself from the Court’s consideration of this case). In the UNC-Chapel Hill case, the final tally was 6-3. You can read the majority, concurring and dissenting opinions from the Justices here.

SCOTUS denied a petition for it to hear oral arguments and issue a ruling on the Charter Day School, Inc. v. Peltier case.

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

Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Grant Program: Mid-Phase Grant Summary
Application Deadline: July 12, 2023

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]

The time Clarence Thomas said affirmative action was ‘critical’ for society [The Washington Post]

Op-Ed: Academic freedom is a core American value. We must defend it. [Higher Ed Dive]

Supreme Court rejects Biden student loan forgiveness plan [The Washington Post]

Program Launch: College for Adult Learners and Continuing Education [Inside Higher Ed]

Harvard Taps AI to Help Teach Computer Science Course [Inside Higher Ed]

Op-Ed: Are we losing the “public” in public higher ed? [Inside Higher Ed]

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

House Minority Leader

Press Release: Leader Jeffries Statement on Supreme Court Decision in Biden v. Nebraska

House Committee on Education and the Workforce

Press Release: Scott Statement on SCOTUS Striking Down Biden’s Student Loan Program

Press Release: Reports Reveal ED’s Plan to Extend Unlawfully Student Loan Repayment Pause

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Statement on SCOTUS Ruling on Affirmative Action

Senate Majority Leader

Press Release: Majority Leader Schumer Statement On Supreme Court’s Disappointing And Cruel Decision Denying Student Loan Aid To Millions Of Americans

Press Release: Majority Leader Schumer Statement on Supreme Court Decision on Affirmative Action

Senate Minority Leader

Press Release: Racial Discrimination Has No Place in College Admissions

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:

White House Press Release: Statement from President Joe Biden on Supreme Court Decision in 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis

White House Press Release: FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces New Actions to Provide Debt Relief and Support for Student Loan Borrowers

White House Press Release: Statement by Vice President Harris on the Supreme Court’s ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina

ED Press Release: FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces New Actions to Provide Debt Relief and Support for Student Loan Borrowers

ED Press Release: Secretary Cardona Statement on Supreme Court Ruling on College Affirmative Action Programs

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor awards more than $58M to support delivery of services to help homeless veterans reenter workforce

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor welcomes nominations for members of the national Advisory Committee on Apprenticeship

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor awards $49.4M to 17 organizations in 15 states to provide pre-, post-release job training, services for reentry population

IES Press Release: IES Announces New Grant Awards: Using Longitudinal Data to Support State Education Policymaking Grants

Legislative Movement in Congress:

No relevant education or workforce-related activity.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

ED Comment Request: Federal Family Educational Loan Program (FFEL)-Administrative Requirements for States, Not-For-Profit Lenders, and Eligible Lenders Trustees. Comments are due on or before July 11, 2023.

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

ED Comment Request: Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; ED-524 Budget Information Non-Construction Programs Form and Instructions Comments due on or before July 17, 2023

ED Grant: Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (State Grants). Applications due on or before July 31, 2023.

ED Comment Request: Federal Direct Loan Program and Federal Family Education Loan Program Teacher Loan Forgiveness Forms. Comments due on or before August 21.

ED Notice: Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records