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

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) published its proposed changes to its initial draft regulations pertaining to the second session of the Accreditation, Innovation and Modernization (AIM) Committee negotiated rulemaking session that will take place next week.

CONGRESS

The U.S. Government Accountability Office released a report titled “FAFSA Simplification: Pell Grant Eligibility Changes after Simplified Aid Application.”

The House Appropriations Committee passed the fiscal year 2027 Commerce-Justice-Science funding bill on a 32 to 28 vote.

COURTS

According to POLITICO, a district court judge denied the Trump Administration’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging its efforts to dismantle ED, allowing the case to move forward.

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

25 states and DC sue Education Department over loan limits, citing health system strain [The Hill]

ABA Closes In on Axing Diversity Standard [Inside Higher Ed]

Black leaders turn to collegiate sports in fight over Southern representation [Politico]

Dual-Enrollment Students Need More Support [Inside Higher Ed]
Helios Education Foundation Report: “A Freshman and a Junior at the Same Time: An Analysis of Accelerated Student Perspectives from Florida’s State University System”

Education Department releases final rule for Workforce Pell [Higher Ed Dive]

Will Hawaii Forfeit $5 Million For Teacher Apprenticeships? [The 74]

CSU may soon offer degrees that take just 3 years to finish. Work experience counts too [The Los Angeles Times]

Transfer Model Eases Path to Bachelor’s Degree [Inside Higher Ed]

Cassidy, HELP Committee Chair, Loses Re-Election Bid in Louisiana Primary [Inside Higher Ed]

FAFSA completion rate for class of 2026 highest on record [Higher Ed Dive]

Libraries Are Adapting—and Stretched Thin [Inside Higher Ed]

Here are the undergraduate programs that pay off (and some that don’t) [The Washington Post]

McMahon Tussles With House Democrats at Latest Hearing [Inside Higher Ed]

DOJ alleges Yale’s medical school discriminates against applicants [Higher Ed Dive]

MIT president says research has shrunk 10 percent in 1 year amid Trump cuts [The Hill]

2026 FAFSA Completion Rate Hits Record High [Inside Higher Ed]

Court Rules Texas State Must Reinstate Prof Fired for Israel-Palestine Talk [Inside Higher Ed]

Students, alumni sue to block Kentucky State University overhaul [Higher Ed Dive]

Questions Raised About Change to FSA Website [Inside Higher Ed]

OCR resolved only 1% of cases in 2025, report shows [Higher Ed Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chairman Cassidy, Husted, Tuberville Introduce Bill to Crack Down on Student Aid Fraud

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Sen. Collins Stresses Need for Job Corps, Quick H-2B Visa Processing to Labor Sec

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

May 21: Subcommittee Hearing on “A Review of the President’s Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request for the National Institutes of Health”
Witness: The Honorable Jay Bhattacharya, M.D., Ph.D., Director, National Institutes of Health

House Committee on Ways and Means
May 20: Subcommittee Hearing on “Your Paycheck, Returned: How the Working Families Tax Cuts Delivered for Americans”
Witnesses: Clark Saunders, Adoptive Parent of Two and Public School Teacher; Sultan Stipho, Server, Buck and Rider Restaurant; Darcy Michalek, Owner, Michalek Properties; Jason Alexander, Mechanical Maintenance Worker, Optimus Steel; Donald Schneider, Deputy Head of U.S. Policy, Piper Sandler; and Kahryn Anne Edwards, Ph.D., Labor Economist and Public Policy Consultant.
1100 Longworth and via webcast.
10:00 a.m. ET

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Chairman Walberg Applauds Final Rule Creating Workforce Pell Grant

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Statement on Workforce Pell Final Rule

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Preview – Week of May 18, 2026

Press Release: The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Week of May 18, 2026

Press Release: Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Recap – Week of May 11, 2026

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chairmen Cassidy, Walberg, Moolenaar, Banks Sound Alarm on Chinese Communist Party Infiltrating American Universities, Threatening National Security

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Walberg Joins Chairs Warning Chinese Communist Party Is Infiltrating American Universities, Threatening National Security

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Demands Explanation Over Concerns of HHS Providing Inaccurate Information in Litigation

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Commemorates 72nd Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education

House Committee on Rules
Press Release: Meeting Announcement for May 19, 202

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Chairman Walberg Holds Hearing to Examine the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Education

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott’s Remarks at ED Secretary McMahon Hearing

Blog: Hearing Recap: “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Education”

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Hearing on “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Education”

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chairman Cassidy, Tuberville Seek Answers on Canvas Cybersecurity Incident, Calls for More Safeguards to Protect Students

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Secretary McMahon to Testify on Department of Education Budget and Priorities — Tomorrow at 10:15

Press Release: Democrats Demand ED Reverse Plans to Close Office for English Learners

May 14: Full Committee Hearing on “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Department of Education”
Witness: The Honorable Linda McMahon, Secretary, U.S. Education Department
2175 Rayburn and via webcast.
10:15 a.m. ET
 
House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Committee Approves FY27 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

Press Release: House Republicans Pass Funding Bill that Weakens the Economy and Makes Families and Children Less Safe

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Bill

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Press Release: Cantwell, Markey, Schumer & Colleagues Demand Answers on Trump’s Firing of National Science Board Members

Department of Education and the Administration

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces Additional Measures to Reduce Federal Burden on States

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Issues Final Rule to Create New Workforce Pell Grant Program

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Labor Announce Historic Expansion of WIOA Combined State Plans

DOL Press Release: US Department of Education and US Department of Labor Announce Historic Expansion of WIOA Combined State Plans

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.8896 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide enhanced student loan relief to educators, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Leger Fernandez, Teresa [Rep.-D-NM-3] (Introduced 05/19/2026) Cosponsors: (10)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 05/19/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

S.4567 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide enhanced student loan relief to educators, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Luján, Ben Ray [Sen.-D-NM] (Introduced 05/19/2026) Cosponsors: (13)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 05/19/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Luján, Leger Fernández, Hayes Reintroduce Legislation to Address Educator Shortages and Expand Federal Loan Forgiveness for Educators

S.4568 — A bill to amend the definition of professional student in the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Sponsor: Merkley, Jeff [Sen.-D-OR] (Introduced 05/19/2026) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 05/19/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Merkley, Wicker Launch Bipartisan Effort to Overturn New Limits on Student Loans for Nurses

H.R.8845 — Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2027
Sponsor: Rogers, Harold [Rep.-R-KY-5] (Introduced 05/15/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations
Committee Report: H. Rept. 119-652
Latest Action: House – 05/15/2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 567.

H.R.8815 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to change certain eligibility provisions for loan forgiveness for teachers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Hayes, Jahana [Rep.-D-CT-5] (Introduced 05/14/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 05/14/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Hayes Introduces Bill to Expand Access to Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers

H.R.8834 — To ensure that significantly more students graduate college with the international knowledge and experience essential for success in today’s global economy through the establishment of the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program in the Department of State.
Sponsor: Schneider, Bradley Scott [Rep.-D-IL-10] (Introduced 05/14/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Foreign Affairs
Latest Action: House – 05/14/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

S.4528 — A bill to provide for the long-term improvement of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Scott, Tim [Sen.-R-SC] (Introduced 05/14/2026) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 05/14/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Sens. Scott, Coons Introduce Bill to Support Education Excellence at HBCUs

S.4531 — A bill to amend section 498A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the Secretary of Education to prioritize program reviews of institutions of higher education that disburse Federal financial aid under title IV of such Act without verifying the identity of a student whose FAFSA presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud.
Sponsor: Husted, Jon [Sen.-R-OH] (Introduced 05/14/2026) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 05/14/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Husted introduces bill to crack down on student aid fraud

S.4541 — A bill to ensure that significantly more students graduate college with the international knowledge and experience essential for success in today’s global economy through the establishment of the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Program in the Department of State.
Sponsor: Durbin, Richard J. [Sen.-D-IL] (Introduced 05/14/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations
Latest Action: Senate – 05/14/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Press Release: Durbin, Wicker Reintroduce Legislation To Promote Study Abroad

H.R.8781 — To clarify that for purposes of Federal nondiscrimination requirements applicable to education programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance, discrimination prohibited under title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is based on the biological reality of sex.
Sponsor: Arrington, Jodey C. [Rep.-R-TX-19] (Introduced 05/13/2026) Cosponsors: (22)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 05/13/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: ‘There Are Only Two Sexes: Male and Female.’ Arrington Leads Effort to Restore Biological Sex Standard in Title IX

H.R.8791 — To provide for the long-term improvement of Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Hill, J. French [Rep.-R-AR-2] (Introduced 05/13/2026) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 05/13/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: Privacy Act of 1974; Matching Program. Comments due on or before June 22, 2026.

ED Comment Request: ED-524 Budget Information Non-Construction Programs Form and Instructions. Comments due on or before July 20, 2026.

ED Grant Notice: National Professional Development Program Competition. Applications due on or before July 14, 2026.

DOL Comment Request: Job Corps Enrollee Allotment Determination. Comments due on or before June 22, 2026.

ED Final Rule: Accountability in Higher Education and Access Through Demand-Driven Workforce Pell: Pell Grant Exclusion Relating to Other Grant Aid; and Workforce Pell Grants.

ED Comment Request: Federal Perkins Loan Program Regulations and General Provisions Regulations. Comments due on or before June 18, 2026.

ED Comment Request: Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery. Comments due on or before June 18, 2026.

ED Grant Notice: College Assistance Migrant Program Competition. Applications due on or before June 12, 2026.

ED Grant Notice: High School Equivalency Program Competition. Applications due on or before June 12, 2026.

ED Notice: Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the National Reporting System for Adult Education

IMLS Comment Request: Guidelines for IMLS Grants to States Five-Year Evaluation. Comments are due on or before June 17, 2026.

IMLS Comment Request: IMLS Grants to States Program State Reporting System

Today’s Federal Register.