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

CONGRESS

The House Committee on Education and Workforce held a markup on H.R. 8210, A Stronger Workforce for America Act of 2026. The bill was favorably reported by the Committee by a vote of 19 to 14.

The Senate passed a budget resolution to unlock a second reconciliation bill, which notably does not involve education matters. The House is expected to consider the Senate-passed budget resolution next week.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) released a list of the ten States where it reported the highest levels of prevented fraud in Federal student aid programs.

ED released a notice of proposed rulemaking containing draft regulations to establish a new postsecondary accountability framework. The proposal follows Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) Committee negotiated rulemaking sessions held in December 2025 and January 2026.

Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced she was leaving her position as Secretary of Labor. Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling is now Acting Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

Media outlets suggested that ED would begin collecting on defaulted student loans this July.

According to Inside Higher Ed, ED clarified that the lifetime cap of $257,500 for Grad PLUS loans is expected to apply to borrowers who pause their enrollment before completing their degree, enroll part-time or in programs that take longer than 3 years to complete (such as dual-degree programs) or previously borrowed more than $257,500 through Grad PLUS and later seek additional Federal aid for a subsequent degree.

Assistant Secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education Kirsten Baesler sent an email notifying State education chiefs that formula funds will be released from ED through the existing G5 system and not DOL’s grant management system.

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

3 insights from McMahon’s testimony on the Education Department’s budget proposal [Higher Ed Dive]

Civil Rights Office Resolved 1% of Cases in 2025, Report Finds [Inside Higher Ed]
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Minority Staff Report: “Justice Denied: How Trump’s Office for Civil Rights Reached a 12- Year Low in Protecting Students from Discrimination”

In Backlash Against Tech in Schools, Parents Are Winning Rollbacks [The New York Times]

Historically Black colleges team up to pursue top research status [The Washington Post]

Supreme Court won’t hear gender support plan case [K-12 Dive]

What Are the Ingredients of a Good Preschool Curriculum? [Education Week]

Should schools get rid of homework? Some educators are saying yes [NPR]

The tricks teachers are trying to fix students’ shortening attention spans [The Hechinger Report]

Education Department Launches New FAFSA Fraud Prevention Tool [Inside Higher Ed]

Treasury’s first bite of a $1.7T student loan headache [POLITICO]

Latino Advocates Scramble to Block Trump’s Attempt to Gut $354-Million Grant Program for MSIs [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Texas Politicians Are Taking Curricular Control. Where Is the Accreditor? [Inside Higher Ed]

Kent Says Treasury Has ‘Better Talent’ Than ED to Support Student Loans [Inside Higher Ed]

Recent grads are settling for jobs they plan to leave, research shows [Higher Ed Dive]

Faculty Actually Are Trying to Flee Red States [Inside Higher Ed]

Missouri State faces lawsuit over bias response policy [Higher Ed Dive]

Diversity Statement Requests Decline in Higher Ed Hiring [Inside Higher Ed]
Heterodox Academy Report: Changing DEI Requirements in Faculty Hiring

Nebraska joins DOJ effort to end in-state tuition for undocumented students [Higher Ed Dive]

2 Years Later, Professors Still Face Consequences for Pro-Palestinian Speech [Inside Higher Ed]

Trump administration giving unclear graduate student loan guidance: Financial aid group [The Hill]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: NEWS: Sanders Releases New Report Detailing How Trump’s Education Layoffs Abandoned Students Facing Violence, Harassment and Discrimination

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Owens to Hold Hearing on the First Amendment in Higher Education — Tomorrow at 10:15

April 29: Subcommittee Hearing on “Speech or Silence? The Future of the First Amendment in Higher Education”
Witnesses: Mr. Tyson Langhofer, Senior Counsel, Alliance Defending Freedom; Mr. Jud Horras, President and CEO, North American Interfraternity Conference; Mr. Emerson Sykes, Senior Staff Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union; Dr. Steven McGuire, Paul & Karen Levy Fellow in Campus Freedom, American Council of Trustees and Alumni.
2175 Rayburn and via webcast.
10:15 a.m. ET

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Senator Collins Questions Sec. McMahon on Funding for Rural Schools, TRIO

Press Release: Senator Murray Grills McMahon on Dismantling the Department of Education, Proposing More Cuts to Investments in Students

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Subcommittee Hearing on “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request for the Department of Education”

House Committee on Appropriations
April 30: Subcommittee Markup of “Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Bill and Fiscal Year 2027 Legislative Branch Bill”
H-140 Capitol and via webcast.
8:00 a.m. ET

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Chairman Arrington, Chairman Comer Introduce Legislation to Stop Fraud in Federal Programs

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Press Release: Cruz, Schatz, Curtis, Schiff Introduce New Bill Giving Parents Control Over Kids’ AI Chatbot Use

Senate Committee on Appropriations
April 28: Subcommittee Hearing on “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request for the Department of Education”
Witness: The Honorable Linda McMahon, Secretary, Department of Education
124 Dirksen and via webcast.
10:00 a.m. ET.

House Ways and Means Committee
Press Release: Innovators, Educators, Vulnerable Americans, Taxpayers, Faith Leaders, and Whistleblowers Receive Critical Relief and Support Under House-Approved Ways and Means Legislation

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Recap – Week of April 20, 2026

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Scott to Labor Department: Finish Investigation into Chavez-DeRemer and ‘Preserve All Documents’

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Chairman Graham Statement on the Senate Adopting the FY26 Budget Resolution

Press Release: Merkley: Republican Budget Resolution Ignores the Needs of Working Families

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Chairman Arrington, Chairman Comer Introduce Legislation to Stop Fraud in Federal Programs

Press Release: Boyle Statement on Senate Passage of the Republican Budget Resolution

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chairman Cassidy Announces New Subcommittee Chairman, Member

Press Release: Chairman Cassidy Delivers Remarks During Hearing with Secretary Kennedy on HHS Budget

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Hearing on “Fiscal Year 2027 Department of Health and Human Services Budget”

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Owens Announces Hearing on the First Amendment in Higher Education

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Committee Approves Numerous FY27 Subcommittee Allocations

Press Release: Republicans Push Through First Six Funding Allocations, Cut Domestic Programs in Anticipation of Defense Increase

April 27: Subcommittee Hearing on “Budget Hearing: U.S. Department of Labor”
Witnesses TBA
4:30 p.m. EST
2358-C Rayburn and via webcast.

Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Press Release: Warren Deepens Probes on Private Student Loan Servicer Amid Trump Administration’s Erosion of Private Student Borrower Protections

Senate Committee on Finance
Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Hearing on “The President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Department of Health and Human Services Budget”

Department of Education and the Administration

White House Press Release: First Lady Melania Trump Reinforces the Importance of Technology and Education with Her Majesty Queen Camilla

ED Press Release: Secretary McMahon Testifies on President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request

White House Press Release: Presidential Message on National Apprenticeship Week

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Launches Comprehensive, Nationwide Federal Student Aid Fraud Prevention Effort

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor celebrates National Apprenticeship Week 2026

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor Updates Online Financial Literacy Toolkit Supporting Disabled Workers with Resources for Families, Caregivers

GAO Report: Payment Integrity: Agencies’ Estimated Improper Payments Increased to $186 Billion in Fiscal Year 2025

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Announce Child Care Access Means Parents in School Partnership Grant Competition

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.8558 — To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to require each institution of higher education to certify as part of an application for a research and development award that such institution does not operate certain branch campuses, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Stefanik, Elise M. [Rep.-R-NY-21] (Introduced 04/28/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action: House – 04/28/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

H.R.8559 — To amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 to prohibit certain institutions of higher education from receiving research and development awards, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Stefanik, Elise M. [Rep.-R-NY-21] (Introduced 04/28/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action: House – 04/28/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

H.Res.1221 — Supporting the designation of the week of April 27 through May 1, 2026, as “National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week”.
Sponsor: Hayes, Jahana [Rep.-D-CT-5] (Introduced 04/28/2026) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 04/28/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Hayes Introduces Bipartisan Legislation Highlighting National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week

S.4407 — A bill to require the creation of family accounts for children to be able to use artificial intelligence chatbots, to require verifiable parental consent for teens using artificial intelligence chatbots, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Cruz, Ted [Sen.-R-TX] (Introduced 04/28/2026) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 04/28/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

S.4409 — A bill to clarify the program standards registration process for registered apprenticeship programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Sen.-R-IN] (Introduced 04/28/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 04/28/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.4414 — A bill to improve educational efforts related to artificial intelligence literacy at the elementary school and secondary school level, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Schiff, Adam B. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 04/28/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 04/28/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: NEWS: Sens. Schiff, Rounds Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster Artificial Intelligence Literacy for Students

S.4415 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding the use of TEACH grants, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Grassley, Chuck [Sen.-R-IA] (Introduced 04/28/2026) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 04/28/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Grassley, Reed Introduce Legislation to Modernize TEACH Grants, Increase Accountability for Higher Education Institutions

S.4423 — A bill to amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to require each institution of higher education to certify as part of an application for a research and development award that such institution does not operate certain branch campuses, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Scott, Rick [Sen.-R-FL] (Introduced 04/28/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 04/28/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

S.4424 — A bill to amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 to prohibit certain institutions of higher education from receiving research and development awards, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Scott, Rick [Sen.-R-FL] (Introduced 04/28/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 04/28/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

H.R.6431 — New Opportunities for Business Ownership and Self-Sufficiency Act
Sponsor: Carey, Mike [Rep.-R-OH-15] (Introduced 12/04/2025) Cosponsors: (6)
Committees: House – Ways and Means
Committee Report: H. Rept. 119-509
Latest Action: House – 04/27/2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

H.R.8499 — To require that opioid overdose rescue kits be located at public institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: De La Cruz, Monica [Rep.-R-TX-15] (Introduced 04/27/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce; Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House – 04/27/2026 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 committee concerned.

H.R.8501 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow rehabilitation expenditures for public school buildings to qualify for rehabilitation credit.
Sponsor: Evans, Dwight [Rep.-D-PA-3] (Introduced 04/27/2026) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Ways and Means
Latest Action: House – 04/27/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Press Release: Evans Reintroduces School-Repair Bill

H.R.8503 — To ensure that the Federal share of the supplemental nutrition assistance program allotment costs shall be mandatory if a State cannot pay the applicable State share of applicable allotment costs.
Sponsor: Figures, Shomari [Rep.-D-AL-2] (Introduced 04/27/2026) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House – Agriculture
Latest Action: House – 04/27/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Press Release: Figures Introduces “Rural Futures” Package Ahead of Farm Bill Vote

H.R.8517 — To develop career and technical education programs of study and facilities in the areas of renewable energy.
Sponsor: Magaziner, Seth [Rep.-D-RI-2] (Introduced 04/27/2026) Cosponsors: (22)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 04/27/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.8518 — To provide for the discharge of parent borrower liability if a student on whose behalf a parent has received certain student loans becomes disabled.
Sponsor: Magaziner, Seth [Rep.-D-RI-2] (Introduced 04/27/2026) Cosponsors: (8)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 04/27/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

S.4386 — A bill to establish an advisory committee regarding data standardization and integration for apprenticeships, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Cassidy, Bill [Sen.-R-LA] (Introduced 04/27/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 04/27/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.Res.687 — A resolution supporting the designation of the week of April 27 through May 1, 2026, as “National Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Appreciation Week”.
Sponsor: Hassan, Margaret Wood [Sen.-D-NH] (Introduced 04/27/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 04/27/2026 Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

H.R.8463 — To establish governmentwide requirements for pre-payment fraud prevention actions, to provide the U.S. Treasury appropriate data resources, to facilitate participation in governmentwide anti-fraud data sharing, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Comer, James [Rep.-R-KY-1] (Introduced 04/23/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Oversight and Government Reform; Ways and Means
Latest Action: House – 04/23/2026 Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committee on 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 jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.8469 — Making appropriations for military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Carter, John R. [Rep.-R-TX-31] (Introduced 04/23/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations
Latest Action: House – 04/23/2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 539.

H.R.8475 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for a Savings Opportunity and Affordable Repayment plan as an income contingent repayment plan.
Sponsor: DeLauro, Rosa L. [Rep.-D-CT-3] (Introduced 04/23/2026) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 04/23/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.8476 — To require each local educational agency and institution of higher education that receives Federal financial assistance to treat discrimination motivated by antisemitism as vigorously as such agency or institution treats other forms of discrimination prohibited by title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Fine, Randy [Rep.-R-FL-6] (Introduced 04/23/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce; Judiciary
Latest Action: House – 04/23/2026 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 concerned.

H.R.8479 — To require the National Institute of Standards and Technology to establish task forces to facilitate and inform the development of technical standards and guidelines relating to the identification of content created by generative artificial intelligence, to ensure that audio or visual content created or substantially modified by generative artificial intelligence includes a disclosure acknowledging the generative artificial intelligence origin of such content, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Foushee, Valerie P. [Rep.-D-NC-4] (Introduced 04/23/2026) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action: House – 04/23/2026 Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 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.8488 — To require developers of AI-focused data centers to disclose certain information before the AI-focused data centers are developed, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: McIver, LaMonica [Rep.-D-NJ-10] (Introduced 04/23/2026) Cosponsors: (8)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House – 04/23/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

H.Res.1209 — Recognizing the significance of “Community College Month” in April as a celebration of more than 1,000 institutions throughout the United States supporting access to higher education, workforce training, and more, broadly sustaining and advancing the Nation’s economic prosperity.
Sponsor: Courtney, Joe [Rep.-D-CT-2] (Introduced 04/23/2026) Cosponsors: (32)
Committees: House – Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Action: House – 04/23/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Press Release: Courtney, Bilirakis Celebrate Community College Month

S.4382 — A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish a grant program for a workforce data quality initiative, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Hickenlooper, John W. [Sen.-D-CO] (Introduced 04/23/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 04/23/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.Con.Res.33 — A concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2026 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2035.
Sponsor: Graham, Lindsey [Sen.-R-SC] (Introduced 04/21/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Budget
Latest Action: House – 04/23/2026 Held at the desk.
Press Release: Chairman Graham Statement on the Senate Adopting the FY26 Budget Resolution

S.Amdt.4855 — Purpose: To create a point of order against reconciliation legislation that would provide funding to Federal agencies that have unobligated funds from previous reconciliation bills.
Amends Bill: S.Con.Res.33
Sponsor: Padilla, Alex [Sen.-D-CA] (Submitted 04/22/2026, Proposed 04/23/2026)
Latest Action: 04/23/26 Amendment SA 4855 ruled out of order by the chair.

S.Amdt.5294 — Purpose: To establish a deficit-neutral reserve fund relating to increasing funding for child care for families.
Amends Bill: S.Con.Res.33
Sponsor: Alsobrooks, Angela D. [Sen.-D-MD] (Submitted 04/22/2026, Proposed 04/22/2026)
Latest Action: 04/23/26 Amendment SA 5294 ruled out of order by the chair.
Press Release: Senator Alsobrooks Forces Vote Capping Child Care Costs at 7% of Income

S.Amdt.5378 — Purpose: To reduce new budget authority for functions 150, 250, 500, and 600 in order to offset $70,000,000,000 of new spending by cutting $45,000,000,000 of foreign aid, eliminating $5,000,000,000 in refugee spending, cutting $16,000,000,000 from the Department of Education, and cutting $4,000,000,000 of National Science Foundation funding.
Amends Bill: S.Con.Res.33
Sponsor: Paul, Rand [Sen.-R-KY] (Submitted 04/22/2026, Proposed 04/23/2026)
Latest Action: 04/23/26 Amendment SA 5378 not agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 25 – 73. Record Vote Number: 99.

S.4371 — A bill to ensure that qualified technical schools offering certain career pathway and job training programs have the same access to Federal grants as 2-year and 4-year institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Curtis, John R. [Sen.-R-UT] (Introduced 04/22/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 04/22/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: Student Assistance General Provisions-Subpart J-Approval of Independently Administered Tests. Comments due on or before May 29, 2026.

ETA Notice: PY 2026 Title III Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Service Allotments and PY 2026 Workforce Information Grants

BLS Notice: Consumer Expenditure Surveys: Contingent Work Supplement to the Current Population Survey; Correction

ED Comment Request: Common Core of Data (CCD) School-Level Finance Survey (SLFS) 2025-2027. Comments due on or before May 27, 2026.

ED Comment Request: FERPA and PPRA E-Complaint Forms. Comments due on or before May 26, 2026.

Today’s Federal Register.