Below is RAMC’s weekly Washington Wrap Up from Wednesday. Find out more about Wrap Up and other RAMC resources here.

January 22, 2025

CONGRESS

House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) announced the House Education and Workforce subcommittee assignments for Republicans during the 119^th Congress.

House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) announced the House Education and Workforce subcommittee assignments for Democrats during the 119^th Congress.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) announced the House Appropriations Committee subcommittee assignments for Republicans during the 119^th Congress.

House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) announced the House Appropriations Committee subcommittee assignments for Democrats during the 119^th Congress.

The House Education and Workforce Committee held its organization meeting for the 119^th Congress.

The House passed H.R. 28, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act, by a 218-206 margin.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) appointed Rep. Viriginia Foxx (R-NC) as Chair of the Rules Committee.

ADMINISTRATION
The Office of Management and Budget issued the Fall 2024 unified regulatory agenda.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) released additional guidance for Title IV participating institutions of higher education which utilize Online Program Managers (OPM).

On Monday of this week, ED announced additional public service loan forgiveness, discharges of loans for borrowers with disabilities and discharges of loans for which borrower defense to repayment (BDR) claims had been filed against several institutions.

On Wednesday, ED announced the resolution of BDR claims related to Ashford University. On Thursday, ED announced the final forgiveness actions of the Biden Administration, including forgiveness through income-based repayment and BDR claims against DeVry University.

ED released data from the 2021-2022 Civil Rights Data Collection.

ED released a fact sheet regarding compliance with Title IX and Name, Image and Likeness athletic-related payments and benefits to college athletes.

ED published a final rule pertaining to additional Income Driven Repayment options.

COURTS

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the Biden Administration’s appeal to defend its BDR regulations.

TRANSITION
The incoming Trump Administration announced the nomination of Keith Sonderling to be Deputy Secretary of Labor.

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

Bipartisan bill targeting antisemitism, discrimination on campus reintroduced in Senate [The Hill]

Colleges no longer protected from immigration raids [Higher Ed Dive]

The Hidden Utility of the Liberal Arts [The Chronicle of Higher Education\]

A Murky Setback for DACA [Inside Higher Education]

Reading Champion Penny Schwinn Expected to Keep Ed. Dept. Focused on Achievement [The 74]

Trump closes first day with an avalanche of executive orders [POLITICO]

Biden approves final student loan relief, forgiving $600 million in debt [The Washington Post]

Common App data shows 5% jump in first-year college applicants [Higher Ed Dive]

Op-Ed: Biden administration opened ‘new chapter’ on college financing, Kvaal says [Higher Ed Dive]

Biden admin announces last round of student debt relief [The Hill]

HBCU Leaders Prepare for ‘Delicate Dance’ Under Trump [Inside Higher Ed]

Misrepresentations by OPMs could land colleges in trouble, Education Department says [Higher Ed Dive]

California Colleges Confront Loss as L.A. Burns [Inside Higher Ed]

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

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Press Release: Chair Cassidy, Fetterman Reintroduce Bill to Protect Students from Antisemitism, Discrimination on College Campuses

Press Release: Chair Cassidy Delivers Remarks During Executive Session to Organize HELP Committee for the 119th Congress

January 21: Full Committee Executive Session on “Starting the 119th Congress”

562 Dirksen and via webcast

10:00 a.m. ET

House Minority Leader

Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “House Republicans Want To Pass Massive Tax Breaks For Billionaires And Stick The Bill With Working-Class Americans”

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

White House Press Release: Reforming The Federal Hiring Process And Restoring Merit To Government Service

White House Press Release: Ending Illegal Discrimination And Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Protects Civil Rights and Merit-Based Opportunity by Ending Illegal DEI

White House Press Release: President Trump Announces Acting Cabinet and Cabinet-Level Position

White House Press Release: President Trump Designates Chairmen and Acting Chairmen

White House Press Release: The Inaugural Address

White House Press Release: Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions

White House Press Release: Regulatory Freeze Pending Review

White House Press Release: Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government

White House Press Release: Establishing And Implementing The President’s “Department Of Government Efficiency”

White House Press Release: Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing

White House Press Release: President Biden Signs Executive Order to Facilitate Hiring of Alumni of Full-Time AmeriCorps Programs

White House Press Release: Executive Order on Providing for the Appointment of Alumni of AmeriCorps to the Competitive Service

ED Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Final Student Loan Forgiveness and Borrower Assistance Actions

GAO Report: Cybersecurity Workforce: Departments Need to Fully Implement Key Practices

Legislative Movement in Congress:

H.R.542 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education from receiving gifts from certain countries, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Torres, Ritchie [Rep.-D-NY-15] (Introduced 01/16/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 01/16/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.567 — To expand labor representation on State and local workforce development boards, to provide a definition of labor organization, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Sherrill, Mikie [Rep.-D-NJ-11] (Introduced 01/20/2025) Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 01/20/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Press Release: Sherrill, Fitzpatrick, Hayes Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Labor Unions on Workforce Boards

H.R.581 — To assist States in carrying out projects to expand the child care workforce and child care facilities in the States, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Harder, Josh [Rep.-D-CA-9] (Introduced 01/21/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Education and Workforce

Latest Action: House – 01/21/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

S.163 — A bill to require institutions of higher education participating in Federal student aid programs to share information about title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, including a link to the webpage of the Office for Civil Rights where an individual can submit a complaint regarding discrimination in violation of such title, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Cassidy, Bill [Sen.-R-LA] (Introduced 01/21/2025) Cosponsors: (1)

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

Latest Action: Senate – 01/21/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.169 — A bill to assist States in carrying out projects to expand the child care workforce and child care facilities in the States, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Klobuchar, Amy [Sen.-D-MN] (Introduced 01/21/2025) Cosponsors: (6)

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

Latest Action: Senate – 01/21/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

DOL Comment Request: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Common Performance Reporting. Comments due on or before February 5, 2025.

ED Comment Request: Evaluation of Teacher Residencies: District Perspective. Comments due on or before February 6, 2025.

ED Comment Request: District Survey on Use of Funds Under Title II, Part A. Comments due on or before February 13, 2025.

ED Comment Request: National Evaluation of the Pathways to Partnerships Program. Comments due on or before February 13, 2025.

ED Grant Notice: Research Training Programs in the Education Sciences. Applications due on or before March 7, 2025.

ED Grant: Native American Career and Technical Education Program (NACTEP). Applications due on or before March 10, 2025.

ED Comment Request: Borrower Defense to Loan Repayment Universal Forms. Comments due on or before March 17, 2025.

ED Notice: Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the National Reporting System for Adult Education

ED Grant Notice: Common Instructions for Applicants to Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs

ED Notice: Direct Grant Programs, State-Administered Formula Grant Programs; Withdrawal

ED Notice: Sex-Related Eligibility Criteria for Male and Female Athletic Teams; Withdrawal

ED Notice: Program Integrity and Institutional Quality: State Authorization, Cash Management, Accreditation and Related Issues

ED Notice: Student Debt Relief Based on Hardship for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program (Direct Loans), the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program, the Federal Perkins Loan (Perkins) Program, and the Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) Program; Withdrawal

ED Final Rule: Program Integrity and Institutional Quality: Distance Education and Return of Title IV, HEA Funds

ED Notice: Improving Income Driven Repayment for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program and the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program; Correction

ED Notice: Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment: Earnings Thresholds for Calculation Year 2024

HHS Notice: Final Scientific Integrity Policy; Withdrawal

ED Final Rule: Income-Contingent Repayment Plan Options

HHS Notice: Strengthening Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) as a Safety Net and Work Program; Withdrawal.

NSF Notice: 2025 National Survey of College Graduates