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

CONGRESS

The House Appropriations Full Committee passed its fiscal year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill by a 35 to 28 vote. The Committee summary can be found here. The bill text can be found here. The Committee report can be found here.

The House Appropriations Committee passed its FY 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill by a 34 to 28 vote. The bill text can be found here. The Committee report can be found here.

A group of Senate Democrats wrote a letter to the Trump Administration expressing their concern regarding the Administration’s decision to reject 460,000 borrowers’ applications for more affordable monthly student loan payments under income-driven repayment and urging a reversal of this decision.

Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee and Ranking Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) issued a statement expressing concern with the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) efforts to transfer responsibility over career and technical education programs and adult education programs to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

The U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report titled “Department of Education: Gaps in Federal Student Aid Contract Oversight and System Testing Need Immediate Attention.”

ADMINISTRATION

ED announced it will end discretionary funding for several Minority-Serving Institution grant programs.

DOL and ED announced the launch of a new integrated State plan portal for the administration of Federal workforce development programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

ED released scores from the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) for 8th grade science and 12th grade reading and mathematics.

COURTS

Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily allowed the Trump Administration to freeze approximately $4 billion in foreign aid while the Supreme Court considers an emergency appeal from the U.S. Department of Justice challenging a lower court’s order requiring the funds to be spent by September 30.

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

Education Department updates backlog numbers for student loan repayment applications [The Hill]

New Report Warns of Skills Shortages [Inside Higher Ed]
Georgetown University Report: Falling Behind: How Skills Shortages Threaten Future Jobs

The K12-to-college pipeline is rockier for high-poverty students [Higher Ed Dive]
National Student Clearinghouse Research Center Report: High School Benchmarks

Brandeis Pours $25M Into Careers-Focused Liberal Arts [Inside Higher Ed]

Trump Admin. Cancels Dozens More Grants, Hitting Civics, Arts, and Higher Ed. [The Hill]

Education Department Reallocates MSI Funding to HBCUs, Tribal Colleges [Inside Higher Ed]

The Newest Face of Long-Term Unemployment? The College Educated. [The New York Times]

Service academies to accept conservative alternative to SAT and ACT [POLITICO]

The Assassination That Broke Campus Free Speech [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Trump Administration Withholds $660M for College Access Programs [Inside Higher Ed]

Trump’s travel ban keeps international students from coming to the US for college [The Associated Press]

New ETS Tool Answer to ‘Inadequate Bridge From Education to Work’ [Inside Higher Ed]

Spotlight returns to campus security in wake of Charlie Kirk assassination [The Hill]

GAO Raises Concern About Future FAFSAs [Inside Higher Ed]

Perceived importance of college drops to new low: Gallup [The Hill]
Gallup Report: Perceived Importance of College Hits New Low

Several HBCUs lock down following campus threats [Higher Ed Dive]

Caught in a Political Fight, UCLA Professors Grapple With Uncertainties Large and Small [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Education Dept. to End Funding for Minority-Serving Institutions, Affecting Hundreds of Colleges [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Students caught in middle of Trump fight with higher education [The Hill]

New Federal Caps Could Lead Students to Take Out Private Loans, Studies Show [Inside Higher Ed]

Fall 2025’s Unexpected Enrollment Successes [Higher Ed Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Jeffries, Schumer Statement Opposing Partisan Republican Spending Bill

Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “We Will Not Support a Partisan Republican Spending Bill that Continues to Gut the Healthcare of the American People”

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune: Shutdown Schumer Strikes Again

Press Release: Schumer vs. Schumer on “Harmful and Unnecessary” Government Shutdowns

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Schumer Remarks on the Need for Republicans to Work with Democrats to Extend the ACA Premium Tax Credits After Republicans Decimate our Healthcare System

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Sanders Introduces Bill to Expand Early Learning for Working Class Families

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Owens Holds Hearing on Reforming College Pricing for Students and Families

Press Release: Hearing Recap: “No More Surprises: Reforming College Pricing for Students and Families”

Press Release: Ranking Member Adams Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on College Cost Transparency

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Statement on HBCU Funding Announcement

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Subcommittee Hearing on “No More Surprises: Reforming College Pricing for Students and Families”

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Committee Releases Bill to Keep Government Open, Support Return to Regular Order

Press Release: ICYMI: Republican Appropriators Go 12 for 12, Work for Regular Order

Press Release: DeLauro, Murray Statement on Republican Step Toward a Shutdown

Press Release: DeLauro Op-Ed: Russ Vought’s Scheme Has Been Unmasked

Press Release: DeLauro Statement to House Rules Committee Opposing Republican’s Partisan Funding Bill

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Trump Administration Violated the Impoundment Control Act by Withholding Funding, GAO Reports

House Committee on Ways and Means
Press Release: Five Key Moments: Hearing on Barriers to Work for People with Disabilities

Senate Committee on the Judiciary
Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Subcommittee Hearing on “Examining the Harm of AI Chatbots”

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries Responds To President Trump’s Government Shutdown Rant

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune: Democrats Not Missing a Chance to Politicize Government Funding

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republican Refusal To Engage In Bipartisan Government Funding Negotiations Paving The Way For A Government Shutdown

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
September 18: Full Committee Hearing on “The State of K-12 Education”
Witnesses: Dr. Eric Hanushek, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford, CA; Dr. Martin West, Vice Chair, National Assessment Governing Board, Cambridge, MA; Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education, Madison, IN; Dr. Scott Muri, Superintendent Emeritus, Ector County Independent School District, Orlando, FL; Dr. Rebecca Winthrop, Director of the Center for Universal Education, Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.
430 Dirksen and via webcast.
10:00 a.m. ET

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Owens to Hold Hearing on Reforming College Pricing for Students and Families

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Statement on HBCU Funding Announcement

September 16: Subcommittee Hearing on “No More Surprises: Reforming College Pricing for Students and Families”
Witnesses: Mr. Justin Draeger, Senior Vice President, Affordability, Strada Education Foundation; Mr. Lee S. Wishing III, Vice President for Student Recruitment and Chief Marketing Officer, Grove City College; Ms. Amy Laitinen, Senior Director of Higher Education, New America; Dr. Andrew Gillen, Research Fellow, Cato Institute
2175 Rayburn and via webcast.
10:15 a.m. ET

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Trump Illegally Blocking FEMA Funds, Top Government Watchdog Concludes

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: DeLauro on Latest Nonpartisan Government Watchdog Findings: “The Trump administration has broken the law again.”

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
September 17: Subcommittee Hearing on “Opening Doors to Opportunity: The Promise of Expanded School Choice and Alternatives to Four-Year College Degrees”
Witnesses: Rachel Greszler, Economic Policy Innovation Center, The Heritage Foundation; Rebecca Friedrichs, Founder, For Kids & Country; Nicole (Nicky) Neily, Parents Defending Education; Dr. Cody Hirschi, Superintendent, Reeds Spring School District
2247 Rayburn and via webcast.
10:00 a.m. ET

Senate Committee on the Judiciary
September 16: Subcommittee Hearing on “Examining the Harm of AI Chatbots”
Witnesses: Jane Doe, Mother; Megan Garcia, Mother, Orlando, FL; Matthew Raine, Father, Orange County, CA; Robbie Torney, Senior Director, AI Programs, Common Sense Media, San Francisco, CA; Mitch Prinstein, Chief of Psychology Strategy and Integration, The American Psychological Association, Washington, DC
226 Dirksen and via webcast.
2:30 p.m. ET

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Preview – Week of September 15, 2025

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chair Cassidy, Reed, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Recognizing September 2025 as “National Literacy Month”

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Walberg, Owens Host Roundtable on Working Families Tax Cuts

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Boyle Statement on GAO Reaffirming So-Called “Pocket Rescissions” Are Illegal

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “Under No Circumstance Will We Support a Partisan Republican Spending Bill”

Press Release: Leader Jeffries Statement on Terroristic Threats Against HBCUs

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Urgent Need For Speaker Johnson And Leader Thune To Engage In Bipartisan Talks With Democratic Leadership In Order To Avoid A Government Shutdown

Press Release: Chair Cassidy, Husted, Blunt Rochester Introduce Bill Empowering States to Safely Integrate AI in Classroom, Enhance Student Success

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: In New Report, Walberg and Moolenar Identify More University Partnerships Threatening National Security

Blog: ICYMI: The War on Knowledge

Press Release: Joint Statement from Tri-Caucus Chairs on Trump’s Termination of Grants for Minority-Serving Institutions

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Press Release: Sen. Budd, Commerce Committee Colleagues Highlight Need to Bolster U.S. leadership in AI Innovation

Press Release: College Sports Revenue Gap Between Power Conference Schools & Everyone Else Increased Nearly 600% Since 2002, Commerce Committee Analysis Finds

House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Press Release: Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member Pallone Applaud FTC Decision to Investigate Safety of AI Chatbots

Press Release: Chairman Guthrie and Ranking Member Pallone Applaud FTC Decision to Investigate Safety of AI Chatbot

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Calling On Republicans To Work On A Bipartisan Deal To Fund The Government And Avoid A Republican Shutdown

Press Release: Chair Walberg on Charlie Kirk’s Death

Press Release: ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici Demands Committee Subpoena Stephen Miller

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Statement on Trump Administration Cutting $350 Million in Funding for Minority Serving Institutions

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Committee Approves FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Boyle Leads Budget Democrats to Fight Back Against Trump’s Power Grab and Protect Essential Programs

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Press Release: Sen. Budd: AI Enables Americans to Make the Best and Most of Themselves on Daily Basis

Press Release: Sen. Cruz Unveils AI Policy Framework to Strengthen American AI Leadership

Press Release: Sen. Cruz: AI Policy Should Harness the Power of American Ingenuity

Press Release: Cantwell Tells OSTP Director Kratsios that White House AI Action Plan Tenets Align with Bipartisan Bills Previously Passed by Commerce Committee

Press Release: Ranking Member Cantwell Opening Statement at Today’s Hearing on the White House AI Action Plan

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s September 10: Subcommittee Hearing on “AI’ve Got a Plan: America’s AI Action Plan”

Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Press Release: Warren Presses Miran on Discrepancies in Financial Disclosures, Relationship with For-Profit University

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
September 17: Oversight Hearing on “Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act Successes and Opportunities at the Department of the Interior and the Indian Health Service”
Witnesses to be announced.
628 Dirksen and via webcast.
2:30 p.m. ET

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

HHS Press Release: HHS’ Civil Rights Office Launches Investigation into Alleged Civil Rights Violations in Legal Scholarship Program Operated Nationwide

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Makes Historic Grant Investments in Programs That Bolster Educational Outcomes

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Ends Funding to Racially Discriminatory Discretionary Grant Programs at Minority-Serving Institutions

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.5351 — To support National Science Foundation education and professional development relating to artificial intelligence, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Fong, Vince [Rep.-R-CA-20] (Introduced 09/15/2025) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action: House – 09/15/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

H.R.5353 — To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a pilot program to support evidence-based mental health peer support activities for students.
Sponsor: Beyer, Donald S. [Rep.-D-VA-8] (Introduced 09/15/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/15/2025 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.

H.R.5357 — To provide limited licensing reciprocity for a college mental health provider to furnish mental health services through telehealth technology to students of the institution of higher education that employs such provider.
Sponsor: Flood, Mike [Rep.-R-NE-1] (Introduced 09/15/2025) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/15/2025 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.
Press Release: Rep. Flood Introduces Bill to Support College Students’ Access to Mental Health Care

H.Res.714 — Expressing support for designation of the week of September 14 through 20, 2025, as “National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week”.
Sponsor: McBath, Lucy [Rep.-D-GA-6] (Introduced 09/15/2025) Cosponsors: (11)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/15/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.Res.718 — Expressing support for increasing the number of Latino students and young professionals entering careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
Sponsor: Rivas, Luz M. [Rep.-D-CA-29] (Introduced 09/15/2025) Cosponsors: (20)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology; Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/15/2025 Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.
Press Release: Congresswoman Luz Rivas Introduces Bipartisan Resolution to Increase the Number of Latino Students in STEM

S.2802 — A bill to require the Secretary of Education to disclose information about career and technical education and funding under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, and require FAFSA applications to include a career and technical education acknowledgement.
Sponsor: Husted, Jon [Sen.-R-OH] (Introduced 09/15/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/15/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Husted introduces bipartisan, bicameral bill to expand career tech awareness

H.R.5342 — Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
Sponsor: Rogers, Harold [Rep.-R-KY-5] (Introduced 09/12/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations
Committee Report: H. Rept. 119-272
Latest Action: House – 09/12/2025 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 228.

H.R.4312 — SCORE Act
Sponsor: Bilirakis, Gus M. [Rep.-R-FL-12] (Introduced 07/10/2025) Cosponsors: (21)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce; Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House – 09/11/2025 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 226.

H.R.5295 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to raise public awareness for skilled trade programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Bonamici, Suzanne [Rep.-D-OR-1] (Introduced 09/11/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/11/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Bonamici Introduces 3 Bipartisan Bills to Increase Access to Jobs

H.R.5296 — To require the Secretary of Labor to award grants for promoting industry or sector partnerships to encourage industry growth and competitiveness and to improve worker training, retention, and advancement as part of an infrastructure investment.
Sponsor: Bonamici, Suzanne [Rep.-D-OR-1] (Introduced 09/11/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/11/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Bonamici Introduces 3 Bipartisan Bills to Increase Access to Jobs

H.R.5297 — To promote registered apprenticeships and other work-based learning programs for small and medium-sized businesses within in-demand industry sectors, through the establishment and support of industry or sector partnerships.
Sponsor: Bonamici, Suzanne [Rep.-D-OR-1] (Introduced 09/11/2025) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce; Judiciary
Latest Action: House – 09/11/2025 Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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.
Press Release: Bonamici Introduces 3 Bipartisan Bills to Increase Access to Jobs

H.R.5304 — Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026
Sponsor: Aderholt, Robert B. [Rep.-R-AL-4] (Introduced 09/11/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations
Committee Report: H. Rept. 119-271
Latest Action: House – 09/11/2025 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 227.

H.R.5308 — To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out grant programs to encourage student participation in local government and volunteer service, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Conaway, Herbert C. [Rep.-D-NJ-3] (Introduced 09/11/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/11/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.5334 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow early childhood educators to take the educator expense deduction, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Panetta, Jimmy [Rep.-D-CA-19] (Introduced 09/11/2025) Cosponsors: (10)
Committees: House – Ways and Means
Latest Action: House – 09/11/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

S.2782 — A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to carry out grant programs to encourage student participation in local government and volunteer service, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Kim, Andy [Sen.-D-NJ] (Introduced 09/11/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/11/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Answer the Call: Senator Kim Introduces Legislative Agenda to Unlock the Promise and Power of Service

S.2786 — A bill to expand the opportunities of recent graduates for employment in Executive agencies, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Kim, Andy [Sen.-D-NJ] (Introduced 09/11/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Finance
Latest Action: Senate – 09/11/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Press Release: Answer the Call: Senator Kim Introduces Legislative Agenda to Unlock the Promise and Power of Service

S.2791 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow early childhood educators to take the educator expense deduction, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Bennet, Michael F. [Sen.-D-CO] (Introduced 09/11/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Finance
Latest Action: Senate – 09/11/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
H.R.5253 — To provide that no Federal funds may be obligated or expended to award a grant or contract to an institution of higher education for the specific purposes of conducting fundamental research in collaboration with a covered entity.
Sponsor: Barr, Andy [Rep.-R-KY-6] (Introduced 09/10/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action: House – 09/10/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

H.Res.690 — Expressing support for the designation of September 2025 as “National Workforce Development Month”.
Sponsor: Bonamici, Suzanne [Rep.-D-OR-1] (Introduced 09/10/2025) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/10/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

S.2750 — A bill to require the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish a Federal regulatory sandbox program for artificial intelligence, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Cruz, Ted [Sen.-R-TX] (Introduced 09/10/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 09/10/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

S.2755 — A bill to provide that no Federal funds may be obligated or expended to award a grant or contract to an institution of higher education for the specific purposes of conducting fundamental research in collaboration with a covered entity.
Sponsor: Cotton, Tom [Sen.-R-AR] (Introduced 09/10/2025) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Latest Action: Senate – 09/10/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

S.2764 — A bill to require disclosure of the total amount of interest that would be paid over the life of a loan for certain Federal student loans.
Sponsor: Ernst, Joni [Sen.-R-IA] (Introduced 09/10/2025) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/10/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Ernst Leads Bipartisan Effort to Give Students Clear Estimate of College Costs

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Notice: Request for Information on Developing and Implementing a Common Manual for the Federal Direct Loan Program; Correction

OMB Notice: Cumulative Report of Rescissions Proposals Pursuant to the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

ED Comment Request: Federal Student Aid (FSA) Feedback System. Comments are due on or before November 10, 2025.

ED Notice: Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) Information To Be Verified for the 2025-2026 Award Year; Correction