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

CONGRESS

The Congressional Budget Office projected that the Federal Pell Grant Program will face a $5.450 billion shortfall in fiscal year 2026.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) released data from 2025 foreign funding disclosures submitted by U.S. colleges and universities.

ED released, in pre-published form, a proposed interpretive rule regarding the use of the descriptive terms “regional” and “national” to describe Department-recognized accreditation agencies.

The U.S. Department of Labor released a framework for Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy, intended to guide AI-related education and workforce efforts.

COURTS

An appellate court lifted the preliminary injunction that prohibited Federal agencies from carrying out certain provisions of the White House’s executive orders pertaining to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

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

Labor Dept. Dedicates $65M to Community Colleges Preparing for Workforce Pell [Inside Higher Ed]

Hegseth launches culture war against elite universities [The Hill]

International enrollment is under pressure. How can colleges respond? [Higher Ed Dive]

Kansas May Withhold Millions From Universities With ‘DEI-CRT’ in Gen Ed [Inside Higher Ed]

The Apprentice: Why Higher Ed Is Leaning Into Earn-and-Learn [Inside Higher Ed]

The 10 college majors with the lowest unemployment [The Hill]

Pell Grant Facing $11.5B Shortfall, CBO Says [Inside Higher Ed]

Faculty Moving Away From Outright Bans on AI, Study Finds [Inside Higher Ed]

After affirmative action: Four takeaways — and puzzles — from college admissions data [The Hechinger Report]

Iowa lawmakers mull anti-DEI bills for private and public colleges [Higher Ed Dive]

State Higher Ed Officials Do Away With the Term ‘Noncredit’ [Inside Higher Ed]

Down 9.2%: Colleges see drop in new gifts to endowments [Higher Ed Dive]

How Congress’s Budget Could Hamper Trump ED Agenda [Inside Higher Ed]

A Small University Bet Big on Enrolling Athletes. Now It Will Close. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Endowment Returns Held Stable in Fiscal ’25 [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Mackenzie Announces Hearing on Paid Leave

Press Release: Kiley Announces Hearing on Teaching in the AI Age

February 24: Subcommittee Hearing on “Balancing Careers and Care: Examining Innovative Approaches to Paid Leave”
Witnesses to be announced.
2175 Rayburn and via webcast.
10:15 a.m. EST

February 24: Subcommittee Hearing on “Building an AI-Ready America: Teaching in the AI Age”
Witnesses to be announced.
2175 Rayburn and via webcast.
2:00 p.m. EST

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chair Cassidy, Budd, Colleagues Introduce Bills Strengthening America’s Workforce

Press Release: Chairman Cassidy Blasts Tim Walz for Withholding Documents Exposing Child Care Fraud from Congress, Vows Committee Action

Press Release: NEWS: Sanders, DeLauro, 168 Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Guarantee Paid Sick Leave to American Workers

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Statements and Webcast from Friday’s Field Hearing on “Work, Dignity, and Choice in Disability Employment”

House Committee on Rules
Press Release: RANKING MEMBER MCGOVERN: Republicans are completely out of step with what Americans actually want.

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chair Cassidy Delivers Remarks During Hearing on Child Care Fraud, Protecting American Taxpayers

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Hearing on “Restoring Integrity: Preventing Fraud in Child Care Assistance Programs”

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: @EdWorkforceCmte to Hold Field Hearing on Disability Employment in Wisconsin

February 13: Field Hearing on “Work, Dignity, and Choice in Disability Employment”
Witnesses to be announced.
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin and via webcast.
10:15 a.m. EST

House Committee on Small Business
February 24: Full Committee Hearing on “Career and Technical Education: Developing the Future of Main Street Success”
Witnesses to be announced.
2360 Rayburn and via webcast.
10:00 a.m. EST

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
February 12: Full Committee Hearing on “Restoring Integrity: Preventing Fraud in Child Care Assistance Programs”
Witnesses: Henry Wilde, Co-Founder and CEO, Acelero, Inc.; Paula Polito, Ph.D., Owner, Beary Cherry Tree Child Care Center; and Liz Denson, President and CEO, Early Connections Learning Centers.
430 Dirksen and via webcast.
10:00 a.m. ET

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Chairman Walberg Statement on January Jobs Report

Press Release: Workforce Protections Subcommittee Holds Hearing on Building Safer Workplaces Through Smarter Technology

Press Release: Hearing Recap: “Building an AI-Ready America: Safer Workplaces Through Smarter Technology”

Press Release: Workforce Protections Ranking Member Omar Opening Remarks at Hearing on AI Role in Workplace Safety

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Statement on January Jobs Report

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Subcommittee Hearing on Building an AI-Ready America: Safer Workplaces Through Smarter Technology.

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: DeLauro Introduces Government Funding Bill

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Chairman Arrington on January Jobs Report: ‘Republican policies are working’

Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Press Release: Senator Warren Statement on January 2026 Jobs Report

House Committee on Ways and Means
Press Release: Trump Economy: Private Sector Job Growth, Higher Wages

Press Release: Neal Statement on January 2026 Jobs Report

Department of Education and the Administration

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor announces availability of $65M in grants to help community colleges increase access to in-demand, high-quality training

White House Press Release: Presidential Message on Career and Technical Education Month

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Issues Proposed Interpretive Rule to Eliminate the Use of “Regional” by Accrediting Agencies

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Probes Louisiana Board of Regents Over Alleged Race-Based Priority in Executive Budget

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Takes First Step to Develop the 2027–28 FAFSA Form

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor announces $145M in funds supporting performance-based Registered Apprenticeship expansion across key industry sectors

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor releases AI literacy framework providing foundational content areas, delivery principles to guide nationwide efforts

White House Press Release: This Is the Trump Economy: Job Growth Crushes Expectations as More Americans Work for Higher Wages

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Releases Latest Foreign Funding Disclosures from Federally-Funded American Universities

ED Press Release: U.S. Departments of Education, Interior, and Labor Host Tribal Consultation on Indian Education Partnership

DOL Press Release: Secretary Chavez-DeRemer Statement on January Jobs Report

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.7590 — To promote minimum State requirements for the prevention and treatment of concussions caused by participation in school sports, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: DeSaulnier, Mark [Rep.-D-CA-10] (Introduced 02/17/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 02/17/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.7591 — To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require certain local educational agencies to distribute guidance to students, parents, and other local community members regarding firearm safety, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Goldman, Daniel S. [Rep.-D-NY-10] (Introduced 02/17/2026) Cosponsors: (17)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 02/17/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.7594 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude certain post-graduation scholarship grants from gross income in the same manner as qualified scholarships to promote economic growth.
Sponsor: LaHood, Darin [Rep.-R-IL-16] (Introduced 02/17/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Ways and Means
Latest Action: House – 02/17/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.7576 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a credit for workforce artificial intelligence training, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Gottheimer, Josh [Rep.-D-NJ-5] (Introduced 02/13/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Ways and Means
Latest Action: House – 02/13/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.7147 — Making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 01/20/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations; Budget
Latest Action: Senate – 02/12/2026 Second cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate.

H.Res.1063 — Supporting the goals and ideals of “Career and Technical Education Month”.
Sponsor: Thompson, Glenn [Rep.-R-PA-15] (Introduced 02/12/2026) Cosponsors: (32)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 02/12/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Thompson, Bonamici, Kaine, Budd, Baldwin, & Young Introduce a Resolution Recognizing February as Career and Technical Education Month

S.3870 — A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to permit greater flexibility in carrying out incumbent worker training programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Peters, Gary C. [Sen.-D-MI] (Introduced 02/12/2026) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 02/12/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Peters Reintroduces Bipartisan Bill to Give States Flexibility to Respond to Local Workforce Needs

S.3877 — A bill to address the needs of workers in industries likely to be impacted by rapidly evolving technologies.
Sponsor: Durbin, Richard J. [Sen.-D-IL] (Introduced 02/12/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 02/12/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Durbin, Warnock, Schneider Introduce Investing In Tomorrow’s Workforce Act

S.3888 — A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to develop artificial intelligence training resources and toolkits for United States small businesses, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Moran, Jerry [Sen.-R-KS] (Introduced 02/12/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 02/12/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

H.R.6472 — Territorial Student Access to Higher Education Act
Sponsor: Moylan, James C. [Del.-R-GU-At Large] (Introduced 12/04/2025) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 02/11/2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 421.

H.R.7147 — Making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 01/20/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations; Budget
Latest Action: Senate – 02/11/2026 Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate.

H.R.7481 — Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
Sponsor: DeLauro, Rosa L. [Rep.-D-CT-3] (Introduced 02/11/2026) Cosponsors: (17)
Committees: House – Appropriations; Budget
Latest Action: House – 02/11/2026 Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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 concerned.

H.R.7498 — To establish and expand child care programs for parents who work nontraditional hours, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Hinson, Ashley [Rep.-R-IA-2] (Introduced 02/11/2026) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 02/11/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.7510 — To prohibit certain foreign governments from acquiring intellectual property rights of research conducted by United States universities, faculty, staff, or students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Nehls, Troy E. [Rep.-R-TX-22] (Introduced 02/11/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 02/11/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Rep. Troy E. Nehls Introduces the PROTECT Act of 2026

S.3845 — A bill to establish and expand child care programs for parents who work nontraditional hours, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Young, Todd [Sen.-R-IN] (Introduced 02/11/2026) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 02/11/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Young, Hassan Reintroduce Bill to Improve Child Care Accessibility for Working Families

S.3846 — A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act regarding employer-directed skills development, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Budd, Ted [Sen.-R-NC] (Introduced 02/11/2026) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 02/11/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Budd, Cassidy Lead Push to Streamline Access to Employer-Directed Skills Programs, Strengthen America’s Workforce

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Proposed Rule: Clarification of the Appropriate Use of Terms “National” and “Regional” by Recognized Accrediting Agencies. Comments are due on or before March 19, 2026.

ED Notice: Federal Perkins Loan Program Regulations and General Provisions Regulations. Comments are due on or before April 20, 2026.

ETA Grant Notice: Pay-for-Performance (PfP) Incentive Payments Program. Applications are due on or before April 3, 2026.

ED Comment Request: 2027-2028 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Comments are due on or before April 14, 2026.

Today’s Federal Register.