RAMC Washington Wrap Up-July 3, 2025

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

CONGRESS

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the budget reconciliation bill in a 218-214 final vote on July 3. This follows the Senate’s passage of the bill earlier this week in a 51 to 50 vote, with Vice President Vance casting the deciding tie-break vote. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law on July 4.

By a 12 to 11 vote, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee advanced several nominations for the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and U.S. Department of Labor to the full Senate floor.

The House Committee on Education and Workforce held a markup of H.R. 3453, the Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act, H.R. 2516, the Accreditation for College Excellence (ACE) Act of 2025 and H.R. 4054, the Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act. The former bill was passed by a 20 to 15 vote, and the latter two bills by a 21 to 15 vote.

ADMINISTRATION

ED held negotiated rulemaking sessions on their proposal to modify Public Service Loan Forgiveness regulations.

ED announced it will launch the first round of beta testing for the 2026–27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form in August and committed to officially launching this FAFSA by October 1.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced that ED has collected nearly $200 million in student loan payments since resuming collections on defaulted Federal loans in May according to POLITICO.

Sec. McMahon issued guidance stating that ED will now allow all states to request reimbursements for spending the remainder of COVID-relief funds to schools, returning to the liquidation process in place prior to its issuance of the March 28 letter to State Education Chiefs.

COURTS

In a lawsuit brought by 19 states and the District of Columbia, a Federal judge issued a preliminary injunction preventing layoffs at and restructuring of agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In a 6 to 3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that judges can only grant relief to the parties who brought a particular lawsuit and may not extend those decisions to protect other individuals without going through the process of converting a suit into a class action.

In a 6 to 3 decision, the Supreme Court upheld the Federal Communications Commission’s Universal Service Fund, which funds the E-Rate program and subsidizes telephone and internet service for low-income and rural Americans.

In a 6 to 3 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that school systems are required to provide parents with a notice that allow them to opt-out their children from class when course material conflicts with their religious beliefs.

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

Penn Agrees to Trump’s Demands, Will Strip Trans Athlete’s Awards and Apologize [Inside Higher Ed]

Senate passes big changes to student loans in reconciliation bill [The Hill]

Op-Ed: Jim Ryan’s Resignation Is a Warning [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Indiana Public Universities to ‘Voluntarily’ End 19% of Degrees [Inside Higher Education]

States sue Trump administration over $1B cut to school mental health grants [The Washington Post]

Trump Tells States He’s Holding Back $6.8 Billion for Schools [Education Week]

Teachers Need EL Training, but Federal Grant Funding Is at Risk [Education Week]

Harvard in ‘violent violation’ of Civil Rights Act, Trump administration alleges [The Hill]

Senate Tweaks ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Ahead of Final Vote [Inside Higher Ed]

A Decades-Old Government Program That Supports Hispanic Students Is Under Fresh Scrutiny [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

85% of Evicted Student Parents Don’t Complete a Bachelor’s [Inside Higher Ed]
New America Report “Ousted from Opportunity: Eviction’s Adverse Impact on Parenting College Students”

Millions of students could lose federal aid under a proposal to slash Pell Grants [POLITICO]

Secretly Recorded by Anti-DEI Group, ‘No Longer Employed’ [Inside Higher Ed]

U-Va. president resigns amid Trump administration pressure [Inside Higher Ed]

Key higher ed provisions in reconciliation bill violate Senate rules, official finds [Higher Ed Dive]

Ed Committee Advances Schwinn, Richey Nominations to Full Senate [The 74]

6 public university systems unveil plans to launch new accrediting agency [Higher Ed Dive]

Education Department Outlines Plan to Change Debt-Relief Program for Public Servants [Inside Higher Ed]

Colleges nervously await Trump-Harvard deal [The Hill]

Graduate Programs Face a Federal Reckoning [Inside Higher Ed]

Persistence and retention rates hit some of their highest levels in nearly a decade [Higher Ed Dive]

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

Speaker of the House
Press Release: House Republican Leadership Statement on Senate Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune: Senate Republicans Pass Bill to Make America Safer, Stronger, and More Prosperous

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Chairman Walberg on the Senate-Passed One Big, Beautiful Bill

Press Release: REMINDER: College Presidents to Answer for Sources Inciting Antisemitism — July 9 at 10:15 AM

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Statement on Trump Administration Withholding Nearly $7 Billion in Funding to Schools

July 9: Full Committee Hearing on “Antisemitism in Higher Education: Examining the Role of Faculty, Funding, and Ideology”
Witnesses: Dr. Robert M. Groves, Interim President, Georgetown University; Dr. Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, Chancellor, The City University of New York; and Dr. Rich Lyons, Chancellor, University of California, Berkeley
2175 Rayburn and via webcast.
10:15 a.m. ET

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Chairman Graham Statement On Senate Passage Of The One Big Beautiful Bill Act

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Chairman Arrington Delivers Opening Remarks to Rules Committee

Press Release: Boyle Slams Senate Republicans for Passing Big Bill for Billionaires

Press Release: Boyle Continues to Lead Fight Against Trump’s Big, Ugly Bill in Rules Committee

House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Press Release: Chairman Guthrie Delivers Opening Statement at Committee on Rules Hearing on the One Big Beautiful Bill

House Committee on Rules
Press Release: Foxx Opening Remarks on the Senate Amendment to H.R. 1

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Hearing on Senate amendment to H.R. 1

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Obstructionist Democrats Try to Distract and Delay Relief for Americans

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Senate Republicans Choosing To Move Forward With Their “Big, Ugly Betrayal,” Gutting Healthcare And Good-Paying Jobs All To Give Tax Breaks To Billionaires

Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Urging His Senate Colleagues To Vote Against Republicans’ Attempt To Obscure The Cost Of The “Big, Ugly Betrayal”

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Chair Walberg on Antisemitism Task Force Finding Harvard Violated Civil Rights Law

Press Release: Senate Strikes AI Moratorium from Budget Reconciliation Bill in Overwhelming 99-1 Vote

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Scalise in The Times-Picayune: One Big Beautiful Bill to Grow Louisiana’s Economy

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune: This is Our Moment to Deliver for the American People

Press Release: Thune: Republicans’ Bill Delivers on Mandate From the Voters

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Calling On Republicans To Stop The Rush Job On Their “Big, Ugly Bill”

Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Beginning Debate On The Republicans’ “Big, Ugly Bill”

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Statement on UVA President Resignation

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Ranking Member DeLauro Statement at the Full Committee Markup of the Revised Subcommittee Allocations

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Chairman Graham Releases Full Senate Text Of President’s One Big Beautiful Bill

Press Release: CBO Tells Merkley that Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill” is Out of Compliance with the Rules of Reconciliation

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Chairman Arrington to the Senate on Fox Business: “Wherever we land, do not increase the deficit”

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Press Release: ICYMI: Conservatives, Little Tech, and Business Leaders Voice Support for Commerce Committee’s AI Provision

House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Press Release: Chairmen Guthrie and Hudson Issue Statement After the Supreme Court Upheld the Constitutionality of the Universal Service Fund

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Senate HELP Committee Votes to Approve President Trump’s Education, Labor Nominees

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Executive Session on the Nominations of Penny Schwinn to be Deputy Secretary of Education, Department of Education; Kimberly Richey to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Department of Education; Daniel Aronowitz to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employee Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor; David Keeling to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration; Jonathan Berry, to be Solicitor for the Department of Labor; Andrew Rogers, to be Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor; Anthony D’Esposito, to be Inspector General, Department of Labor; Andrea Lucas, to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term expiring July 1, 2030; and Jeremiah Workman, to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans’ Employment and Training.

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Chair Walberg Continues Investigation into Antisemitism at DePaul, Haverford, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Following May 7 Hearing

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Committee Approves FY26 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act

Press Release: Democrats Fight Against Government Waste, Fraud, and Abuse; Republicans Allow President Trump to Steal from American Taxpayers

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: More Provisions Violate Byrd Rule in Republicans’ “One Big, Beautiful Bill”

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Updated: Senate HELP Committee to Consider President Trump’s Education, Labor Nominees

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: @EdWorkforceCmte Passes Bills on Education Freedom, Accreditation, and Workers’ Benefits

Press Release: Chair Walberg Delivers Opening Statement at Markup Addressing Education Freedom, Accreditation, and Workers’ Benefits

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Blasts Committee Republicans for Rubberstamping Trump’s Agenda

Press Release: Committee Republicans Rubberstamp Trump’s Project 2025 Agenda by Voting for Bills that Undermine Protections for Students, Workers, and Their Families

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Mark Up of “H.R. 3453, H.R. 2516, H.R. 4054, H.R. 2528, H.R. 2571, H.R. 2988, H.R. 3170”

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Senator Collins’ Opening Statement at Hearing on President’s Rescissions Package Request

Press Release: Senator Murray Opening Remarks at Full Committee Hearing on Trump’s Rescission Package

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Hearing on “A Review of the President’s Special Message of June 3, 2025”

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

White House Press Release: Senate Democrats Just Voted Against Lower Taxes, Higher Pay, National Security, and More

White House Press Release: WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: Senate Approves Landmark One Big Beautiful Bill

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces the University of Pennsylvania Has Entered into a Resolution Agreement to Resolve its Title IX Violations

ED Press Release: Secretary McMahon Remarks on UPenn Resolution Agreement

White House Press Release: The One Big Beautiful Bill Slashes Deficits, National Debt While Unleashing Economic Growth

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor awards nearly $84M in grants to expand Registered Apprenticeships

White House Press Release: “A BIG WIN”: Supreme Court Ends Excessive Nationwide Injunctions

White House Press Release: 60+ Organizations Sign White House Pledge to Support America’s Youth and Invest in AI Education

ED Press Release: Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism Letter to Harvard University

HHS Press Release: HHS’ Civil Rights Office Finds Harvard University in Violation of Federal Civil Rights Law

HHS Press Release: HHS’ Civil Rights Office Acts to Promote Fairness in Girls’ SportsED Blog: What’s New for the 2026–27 FAFSA® Form? Beta Launch, Smarter Virtual Assistant, and More

Legislative Movement in Congress:

H.R.1 — One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Sponsor: Arrington, Jodey C. [Rep.-R-TX-19] (Introduced 05/20/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Budget
Committee Reports: H. Rept. 119-106,Book 1, H. Rept. 119-106, Book 2
Latest Action: Senate – 07/01/2025 Message on Senate action sent to the House.

H.R.4253 — To support States and high-need local educational agencies in increasing the number of mental health services providers in schools.
Sponsor: DeLauro, Rosa L. [Rep.-D-CT-3] (Introduced 06/30/2025) Cosponsors: (27)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 06/30/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: DeLauro, Fitzpatrick, Hayes Reintroduce Bipartisan Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act

H.R.4260 —To ensure the appropriate administration of the Impact Aid program.
Sponsor: Ryan, Patrick [Rep.-D-NY-18] (Introduced 06/30/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 06/30/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce

H.R.1 — One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Sponsor: Arrington, Jodey C. [Rep.-R-TX-19] (Introduced 05/20/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Budget
Committee Reports: H. Rept. 119-106,Book 1, H. Rept. 119-106,Book 2
Latest Action: Senate – 06/29/2025 S.Amdt.2360 Motion by Senator Schumer to appeal the ruling of the Chair that amendment SA2360 is in order made in Senate.

S.98 — Rural Broadband Protection Act of 2025
Sponsor: Capito, Shelley Moore [Sen.-R-WV] (Introduced 01/15/2025) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Committee Report: S. Rept. 119-14
Latest Action: Senate – 06/27/2025 Message on Senate action sent to the House.

H.R.4186 — To authorize the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to award grants to eligible entities to support the mental and behavioral health of elementary and secondary school students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Krishnamoorthi, Raja [Rep.-D-IL-8] (Introduced 06/26/2025) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce; Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House – 06/26/2025 Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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…
Press Release: Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Access to Mental Health Services for Children in Schools

H.R.4120 — To address behavioral health and well-being among education professionals and other school staff.
Sponsor: Bonamici, Suzanne [Rep.-D-OR-1] (Introduced 06/25/2025) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 06/25/2025 Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction

S.836 — Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act
Sponsor: Markey, Edward J. [Sen.-D-MA] (Introduced 03/04/2025) Cosponsors: (18)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 06/25/2025 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
Press Release: Senators Markey and Cassidy Celebrate Committee Passage of Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Legislation

S.2166 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include child development and early learning as community services under the Federal work-study program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [Sen.-D-NY] (Introduced 06/25/2025) Cosponsors: (9)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 06/25/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

DOL Comment Request: Prohibiting Illegal Discrimination in Registered Apprenticeship Programs. Comments due on or before September 2, 2025

DOL Notice: Rescission of Affirmative Outreach Requirements for Recipients of WIOA Title I Financial Assistance. Comment due on or before July 31, 2025.

ED Comment Request: Income Driven Repayment Plan Request for the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loans and Federal Family Education Loan Programs. Comments due on or before July 30, 2025.

NIH Notice: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development Meeting

VA Notice: Changes to Policies and Guidance Affecting the Educational Assistance Programs

HHS Grant Notice: National Technical Assistance Center for Child, Youth and Family Mental Health. Applications due on or before July 22, 2025.

HHS Grant Notice: Treatment and Recovery Services for Youth, Young Adults, and Families. Applications due on or before July 15, 2025.

ED Grant Notice: Rehabilitation Training: Innovative Rehabilitation Training Program. Applications due on or before July 28, 2025.