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

CONGRESS

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held a markup of S.1602, Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act, and S.3747, Home School Graduation Recognition Act, as well as other bills. S.1602 passed by a 22 to 1 vote and S.3747 passed by a 23 to 0 vote. Both bills are now available to proceed to the Senate floor for consideration.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced a new interagency agreement (IAA) with the U.S. Department of State regarding foreign gift reporting, as required under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, as well as an IAA with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding the administration of the School Emergency Response to Violence (Project SERV), School Safety National Activities, Ready to Learn Programming, Full-Service Community Schools, Promise Neighborhoods and Statewide Family Engagement Centers.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon received a report from ED Senior Advisor Dr. Amber Northern regarding recommendations on how to improve the Institute of Education Sciences (IES).

ED issued an interpretive rule that details the Administration’s interpretation of existing regulations pertaining to the criteria and process for initial recognition of an accrediting agency by ED.

COURTS

A Federal district judge denied ED’s request for additional time to determine whether to approve loan forgiveness applications from students who claim they were defrauded.

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

Lawmakers and Universities Push Back on Loan Caps [Inside Higher Ed]

How 3 college administrators are tackling higher education disruption [Higher Ed Dive]

Florida Board Approves Ban on H-1B Visas [Inside Higher Ed]

Op-Ed: Will Agentic AI Break Higher Education? [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

U.S. Campuses in Middle East Shutter; Students, Employees Unable to Fly Back [Inside Higher Ed]

Pentagon to Curb Ties With Top Universities and Think Tanks [The New York Times]

College students, professors are making their own AI rules. They don’t always agree [NPR]

The Latest in Program and Personnel Cuts [Inside Higher Ed]

Pell Grant funding shortfall on the horizon as nearly 2 million more students qualify [The Hill]

Overburdened Research Offices Request Extension on Admissions Survey [Inside Higher Ed]

Inside Texas A&M’s Scramble to Censor Its Curriculum [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Columbia student detention tests universities’ immigration playbook [POLITICO]

ED Changes Timeline to Recognize New Accreditors [Inside Higher Ed]

UNC board approves contested academic freedom definition [Higher Ed Dive]

Federal Agents ‘Made Misrepresentations’ to Enter Columbia Dorm and Detain Student, University Says [The Chronicle of Higher Ed]

California history professor wins injunction against DEI regulations [Higher Ed Dive]

The Education Department’s 9 interagency agreements: What is going where [Higher Ed Dive]

Another Catholic College Stops Recognizing Its Faculty Unions [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

NSF Plans to Boost Staffing, Halve Grant Solicitations [Inside Higher Ed]

Louisiana governor urges Education Department to expand college DEI probe [Higher Ed Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Preview – Week of March 2, 2026

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Chairman Walberg Celebrates House-Passed Bill Empowering Home School Graduates

Press Release: Walberg Backs Bills Targeting Human Trafficking and Expanding Education Access

Press Release: @EdWorkforceCmte Announces Markup to Crackdown on Child Care Fraud

Press Release: House Democrats Slam Proposals to Exacerbate the Student Loan Crisis

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Supports Bipartisan Legislation Enhancing Detection of Human Trafficking

March 4: Subcommittee Hearing on “Building an AI-Ready America: Strengthening Employer-Led Training”
Witnesses: Tim House, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Wireless Infrastructure Association; Scott Ralls, President, Wake Technical Community College; Brent Parton, President, CareerWise; Mary Kate Morley Ryan, Managing Director, Talent & Organization, Transformation Americas, Accenture.
2175 Rayburn and via webcast.
10:15 a.m. ET

House Committee on Appropriations
March 4: Subcommittee Hearing on “Preparing for the Future: America’s Community Colleges”
Witnesses: Patricia G. Sims, President, Drake State Community & Technical College; Brad Hall, President, Blackfeet Community College; Shawn M. Morgan, Vice President of Workforce and Strategic Initiatives, Bevill State Community College; Shalin Jyotishi, Founder and Managing Director, Future of Work and Innovation Economy Initiative, New America.
2358-B Rayburn and via webcast.
10:30 a.m. ET

March 5: Subcommittee Hearing on “Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies – Member Day”
Witnesses to be announced.
2358-B Rayburn and via webcast.
10:30 a.m. ET

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Press Release: Senator Budd Chairs Subcommittee Hearing to Evaluate Innovative Deployment of AI to Support Workforce, Healthcare, and Industry

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Subcommittee Hearing on “Less Hype, More Help: AI That Improves Safety, Productivity, and Care”

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
March 4: Full Committee Hearing on “Oversight of Fraud and Misuse of Federal Funds in Minnesota: Part II”
Witnesses: The Honorable Tim Walz, Governor, State of Minnesota; The Honorable Keith Ellison, Attorney General, State of Minnesota.
HVC 210 and via webcast.
10:00 a.m. ET

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
March 3: Subcommittee Hearing on “Less Hype, More Help: AI That Improves Safety, Productivity, and Care”
Witnesses: Mr. Demetri Giannikopoulos, Chief Innovation Officer, Rad AI; Ms. Brittany Ng, Vice President, Siemens Digital Industries Software; and Dr. Damion Shelton, Co-Founder and Chairman, Agility Robotics.
253 Russell and via webcast.
10:15 a.m. ET

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chairman Cassidy Applauds New Trump Policy Empowering Independent Workers, Creating Job Opportunities for Americans

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Building on President Trump’s Vision, FY26 Funding Strengthens America

House Committee on Budget
Press Release: Chairman Arrington Applauds President Trump’s Anti-Fraud Task Force

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: ICYMI: Chairman Cassidy Delivers, Passes Legislation Improving Education, Health Care Out of Committee

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Mark Up of S. 1602, S. 1558, S. 3747, S. 1782, S. 1552, S. 3315

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Bill to Make College Cost More Transparent Gains Momentum

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Owens Announces Hearing on Strengthening Employer-Led Training in the Age of AI

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Cole Releases FY27 Programmatic, Language, and Community Project Funding Guidance

Press Release: DeLauro Statement on Partisan Changes to the Community Project Funding Process

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Merkley Statement on CBO Long Term Budget Outlook

Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Press Release: Ranking Member Markey Slams Trump Administration’s Hypocrisy on Partisan Fraud Enforcement

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Hearing on Restoring Integrity in Small Business Programs.

Department of Education and the Administration

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces Regional Semifinal Locations for the Presidential 1776 Award

White House Press Release: President Trump Is Delivering for Texans

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Receives Recommendations to Reform the Institute of Education Sciences

ED Press Release: Proclaiming February 2026 as National Career and Technical Education Month

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Issues Interpretive Rule to Reduce Barriers for New and Emerging Accrediting Agencies

IES Blog: Reimagining the Institute of Education Sciences

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor announces $81M to support training, employment for formerly incarcerated individuals

GAO Report: Federal Workforce Data: Improvements Needed to Increase Transparency of Information on Senior Policy and Supporting Positions

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.6392 — Home School Graduation Recognition Act
Sponsor: Harris, Mark [Rep.-R-NC-8] (Introduced 12/03/2025) Cosponsors: (9)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Committee Report: H. Rept. 119-492
Latest Action: House – 03/03/2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

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
Committee Report: H. Rept. 119-495
Latest Action: House – 03/03/2026 At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

S.1070 — National STEM Week Act
Sponsor: Ernst, Joni [Sen.-R-IA] (Introduced 03/14/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Committee Report: S. Rept. 119-110
Latest Action: House – 03/03/2026 Held at the desk.

H.R.3959 — Protecting Private Job Creators Act
Sponsor: Downing, Troy [Rep.-R-MT-2] (Introduced 06/12/2025) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: House – Financial Services
Latest Action: House – 02/25/2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 448.

H.R.7671 — To amend the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 to establish the position of the Assistant Director and Student Loan Borrower Advocate of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, to provide a framework for the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection and the Department of Education to coordinate in providing assistance to and serving borrowers seeking to resolve complaints related to their private education or Federal student loans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Bonamici, Suzanne [Rep.-D-OR-1] (Introduced 02/25/2026) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce; Financial Services; Ways and Means
Latest Action: House – 02/25/2026 Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Financial Services, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the committee concerned.

H.R.7676 — To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to authorize States to develop directories of career and technical education programs of study and career pathways, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: McClellan, Jennifer L. [Rep.-D-VA-4] (Introduced 02/25/2026) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 02/25/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: McClellan Introduces Career-Connected Learning Pathways Act to Support CTE Programs Nationwide

H.R.7689 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide basic and emergency supplemental living assistance grants under the student support services program.
Sponsor: Davis, Danny K. [Rep.-D-IL-7] (Introduced 02/25/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 02/25/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Rep. Davis Honors 40th Anniversary of National TRIO Day by Championing Bills to Help First-Generation, Low-Income, and Veteran Students Succeed in College

H.R.7690 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase the maximum stipend amounts provided under Upward Bound projects.
Sponsor: Davis, Danny K. [Rep.-D-IL-7] (Introduced 02/25/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 02/25/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.7696 — To establish a grant program to provide awards to National Laboratories and institutions of higher education to develop secure artificial intelligence (AI) cyber-physical testbeds to simulate grid-scale cyberattacks, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Hernández, Pablo Jose [Resident Commissioner-D-PR-At Large] (Introduced 02/25/2026) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Homeland Security
Latest Action: House – 02/25/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

S.1602 — Mathematical and Statistical Modeling Education Act
Sponsor: Hassan, Margaret Wood [Sen.-D-NH] (Introduced 05/05/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 02/26/2026 Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

S.3747 — Home School Graduation Recognition Act
Sponsor: Moody, Ashley [Sen.-R-FL] (Introduced 01/29/2026) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 02/26/2026 Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

S.3952 — A bill to establish artificial intelligence standards, metrics, and evaluation tools, to support artificial intelligence research, development, and capacity building activities, to promote innovation in the artificial intelligence industry by ensuring companies of all sizes can succeed and thrive, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Young, Todd [Sen.-R-IN] (Introduced 02/26/2026) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 02/26/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: Young, Cantwell Reintroduce Future of AI Innovation Act

S.Res.617 — A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of “Career and Technical Education Month”.
Sponsor: Kaine, Tim [Sen.-D-VA] (Introduced 02/26/2026) Cosponsors: (48)
Latest Action: Senate – 02/26/2026 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.

S.Res.618 — A resolution recognizing the importance of career and technical education (“CTE”) educators and work-based learning coordinators in delivering high-quality CTE, preparing students for success in the workplace, the classroom, and in life, and supporting dynamic workforce pipelines that enable the United States to grow and lead in critical economic sectors.
Sponsor: Blunt Rochester, Lisa [Sen.-D-DE] (Introduced 02/26/2026) Cosponsors: (14)
Latest Action: Senate – 02/26/2026 Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
Press Release: Resolution Introduced by Senators Blunt Rochester and Tuberville to Celebrate Career and Technical Education Teachers Adopted by Senate Unanimously

S.3957 — A bill to support National Science Foundation education and professional development relating to artificial intelligence.
Sponsor: Moran, Jerry [Sen.-R-KS] (Introduced 03/02/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 03/02/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: Proposed Priorities, Requirements, and Definitions-Comprehensive Centers Program. Comments are due on or before April 2, 2026.

DOL Comment Request: Components of the Jobs for Veterans State Grants State Plans. Comments are due on or before April 2, 2026.

ED Comment Request: Accrediting Agencies Reporting Activities for Institutions and Programs-Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institution and Programs (DAPIP). Comments due on or before April 1, 2026.

ED Notice: Interest Rates for Fixed-Rate Federal Student Loans Made Under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

ED Notice: Interest Rates for Variable-Rate Federal Student Loans Made Under the Federal Family Education Loan Program Prior to July 1, 2010

ED Notice: Interest Rates for Variable-Rate Federal Student Loans Made Under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

HUD Comment Request: Establishing Flexibility for Implementation of Work Requirements and Term Limits. Comments due on or before May 1, 2026.

ED Guidance: Regulatory Guidance Relating to the Criteria and Process for Initial Recognition of an Accrediting Agency

ED Comment Request: U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424 Form. Comments due on or before April 28, 2026.

ED Grant Notice: State Technical Assistance Projects To Improve Services and Results for DeafBlind Children. Proposals due on or before April 21, 2026.

ED Comment Request: The Recognition Process for Accrediting Agencies, State Approval Agencies; Evaluation of Foreign Medical, and Foreign Veterinary Accrediting Agencies (e-Recognition). Comments due on or before March 30, 2026.

Today’s Federal Register.