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 Education and the Workforce Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and other lawmakers sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office asking for an investigation of the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) launch of the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.

ADMINISTRATION

ED announced that it would adjust the formula used to calculate income protection allowance on the FAFSA to account for recent levels of inflation.

ED issued guidance on assistive technology for children with disabilities.

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]

Colleges won’t receive FAFSA applicant info until March, Education Department says [Higher Ed Dive]

Future Ready Iowa Reaches Workforce Education Goal Two Years Ahead of Schedule [The 74]

3 state policy trends that will shape higher ed in 2024 [Higher Ed Dive]

Harvard students file civil rights complaint claiming harassment for supporting Palestinian rights [The Hill]

Biden Administration Looks to Clamp Down on Inclusive Access [Inside Higher Ed]

PROOF POINTS: Most college kids are taking at least one class online, even long after campuses reopened [The Hechinger Report]

Republican lawmakers call for probe into FAFSA rollout [Higher Ed Dive]

A Hunger Strike, Then a Letdown for Undocumented UC Students [Inside Higher Ed]

New FAFSA will now be adjusted for inflation, Education Department says [Higher Ed Dive]

Penn State plans nearly $100M in cuts for FY26 budget [Higher Ed Dive]

Education Department to fix formula error in financial aid form [Inside Higher Ed]

Enrollment rising for the first time since the pandemic [Inside Higher Ed]

NSCRC Report: “Current Term Enrollment Estimates: Fall 2023”

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

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Press Release: Media Advisory: Cassidy, Colleagues to Hold Press Conference on Biden Admin’s Botched FAFSA Rollout

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy, Chairwoman Foxx, Colleagues Request Investigation into Biden Admin’s Botched FAFSA Rollout, Impact on Students and Schools

House Committee on Education and the Workforce

Press Release: Foxx, Owens Blast Education Department for FAFSA Flop

Press Release:

@EdWorkforceCmte Will Markup Bill to Lower Cost of College

January 31: Full Committee Markup on H.R. 6951, College Cost Reduction Act

2172 Rayburn and via webcast

10:15 a.m. ET

Press Release: @EdWorkforceCmte Questions UPenn’s Failure to Address Antisemitism as Investigation Ramps Up

Press Release: Scott Supports ED Decision to Reverse Course and Adjust FAFSA Form to Ensure Students Get Full Amount of Relief

Press Release: Foxx Slams Harvard for “Woefully Inadequate” Response to Antisemitism Probe

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces Innovation Engines Awards, Catalyzing More Than $530 Million to Boost Economic Growth and Innovation in Communities Across America

White House Press Release: Remarks by President Biden on Investing in America and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law | Superior, WI

White House Press Release: FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Highlights New Commitments Toward Equitable Workforce Development in Advanced Manufacturing

ED Blog: We Want to Hear From You: Supporting Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Needs in Higher Education

Legislative Movement in Congress:

H.R.7024 — Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024

Sponsor: Smith, Jason [Rep.-R-MO-8] (Introduced 01/17/2024) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Ways and Means; Rules

Latest Action: House – 01/23/2024 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 288.

H.R.7097 — To authorize the Secretary of Defense to conduct outreach and provide assistance to institutions of higher education to support training and internships for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sherrill, Mikie [Rep.-D-NJ-11] (Introduced 01/25/2024) Cosponsors: (9)

Committees: House – Armed Services

Latest Action: House – 01/25/2024 Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.

H.Res.978 — Encouraging all schools in the United States to teach students digital literacy and history related to the Holocaust, World War II, and antisemitism.

Sponsor: Khanna, Ro [Rep.-D-CA-17] (Introduced 01/25/2024) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Education and the Workforce

Latest Action: House – 01/25/2024 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Press Release: Khanna, Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Resolution on the Holocaust, World War II, and Antisemitism

H.R.7139 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to change certain eligibility provisions for loan forgiveness for teachers, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Hayes, Jahana [Rep.-D-CT-5] (Introduced 01/30/2024) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Education and the Workforce

Latest Action: House – 01/30/2024 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

S.2853 — Train More Nurses Act

Sponsor: Rosen, Jacky [Sen.-D-NV] (Introduced 09/19/2023) Cosponsors: (2)

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

Latest Action: Senate – 01/25/2024 Message on Senate action sent to the House.

Press Release: Rosen, Collins, Braun Bipartisan Bill to Address Nursing Shortage Passes the Senate

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

ED Comment Request: Request for Information Regarding Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Needs in Higher Education. Comments are due on or before February 25, 2024.

ED Comment Request: Migrant Student Information Exchange User Application Form. Comments are due on or before March 11, 2024.

ED Grant Notice: American Overseas Research Centers Program. Applications due on or before March 26, 2024.

ED Grant Notice: Applications for New Awards; Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities Program-Preservice Program Development Grants at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and Other Minority Serving Institutions To Diversify Personnel Serving Children With Disabilities. Applications due on or before April 4, 2024.

ED Notice: Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowship Program and Faculty Research Abroad Fellowship Program.

ED Notice: Federal Student Aid Programs (Student Assistance General Provisions, Federal Perkins Loan Program, Federal Family Education Loan Program, and the Federal Direct Loan Program).