RAMC Washington Wrap Up – September 25, 2026

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) approved three Workforce Pell-eligible programs at Metropolitan Community College in the State of Nebraska, making it the third institution to receive Federal program approval. The approved programs include Phlebotomy Technician, Pharmacy Technician and CompTIA Tech+ with Google IT Support.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposed a rule that would eliminate the 60-day grace period allowing H-1B and similar nonimmigrant visa holders to remain in the United States following the end of their employment.

CONGRESS

The U.S. Senate voted 74 to 24 to proceed to consider S.4668, the Protect College Sports Act, clearing a key procedural hurdle necessary for the Senate to begin debate on the legislation.

The House concluded legislative business and is scheduled to return on November 9, following the midterm elections.

COURTS

A Federal district court judge temporarily blocked a DHS rule that would replace the current “duration of status” framework with a four-year limit on international students’ presence in the United States.

A Federal district court judge invalidated footnotes that the U.S. Office of Management and Budget used to establish conditions on apportioned Federal funds appropriated for the U.S. Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and related funding. In addition, the judge ordered a status report regarding fiscal year 2025 IES funds by September 28 on whether ED had obligated such funds before the end of the 2026 fiscal year.

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

ED Redirects $235M in MSI Funds to HBCUs, Tribal Colleges [Inside Higher Ed]

College athletics rack up millions in deficits as Senate eyes oversight bill [Higher Ed Dive]

AI-Edited Stanford Ad Violated University Policy, Official Says [Inside Higher Ed]

Brown University adds 700 cameras in wake of deadly shooting [Higher Ed Dive]

Higher Ed Groups Push Back on Trump’s New Accreditation Rule [Inside Higher Ed]

‘It’s the illusion of learning’: How some educators say AI hurts students [The Washington Post]

How Apprenticeships Can Help Colleges Access Workforce Pell [Inside Higher Ed]

California governor signs laws to expand 4-year degrees at community colleges [Higher Ed Dive]

Ahead of Fiscal Year End, NSF Over a Billion Behind, IES to Award Funds [Inside Higher Ed]

Researchers sue NIH alleging unconstitutional grant screening process [Higher Ed Dive]

Under New Loan Limits, Students Struggle to Finance Final Year [Inside Higher Ed]

Workforce Pell’s Slow Rollout [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Trump’s Education Funding Maneuvers Were Illegal, Judges Rule [Education Week]

Trump proposal could shift child care subsidies to stay-at-home parents [The Hechinger Report]

Congress Crawls Toward Higher-Ed AI Regulation [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

UT Austin Axes Several Ethnic, Gender Studies Majors [Inside Higher Ed]

College enrollment rate among recent high school graduates ticks up [Higher Ed Dive]
The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center Report: High School Benchmarks

DHS proposes end to 60-day H-1B grace period, calling it a ‘burden’ [Higher Ed Dive]

Many HBCUs Thrive as Other Institutions Struggle to Enroll Enough Students [Inside Higher Ed]

Kirk family alleges ‘stunning’ security failures at UVU led to the figure’s death [Higher Ed Dive]

Money, Ads and Star Power: The Push to Remake College Sports [Inside Higher Ed]

Education Department not transparent about RIF cost or effectiveness, former employees say [K-12 Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
September 24: Full Committee Markup on “Nominations and S. 4428, No Aid for Ghost Students Act of 2026”
430 Dirksen and via webcast.
10:00 a.m. ET

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Sen. Collins Warns Administration Not to Proceed with NIH Executive Order

Press Release: Trump Admin Set to Impound or Redirect Billions of Dollars in Foreign Policy Investments Congress Made

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: DeLauro Statement on White House Efforts to Further Politicize Health Funding, Jeopardize Critical Biomedical Research

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Press Release: Chairman Cruz: Let’s Protect College Sports for the Thousands of Student Athletes Navigating ‘the Wild West’

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Sen. Collins: OMB Should Not Be Involved in Agency Decisions on Grant Awards

Press Release: Senator Murray on Trump’s Latest Plan to Politicize Lifesaving NIH Research

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chairman Cassidy, Klobuchar, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Honoring Connie Clery

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Next Week: Senate HELP Committee to Consider Trump Nominees, Bill Cracking Down on Student Aid Fraud

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Press Release: Committee Releases Updated Protect College Sports Act Bill Text

Press Release: Cantwell Hails Historic Opportunity to Codify Athletes’ Rights in Protect College Sports Act

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune Discusses the Importance of Protecting College Sports and Athletes

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Hearing Recap: “Who Gets the Scholarship? How the Global Shift in College Sports Affects Americans”

Press Release: ICYMI: Chairman Walberg Backs Four Education and Workforce Bills on House Floor

Press Release: Owens Holds Hearing on How the Global Shift in College Sports Affects Americans

Press Release: HEWD Ranking Member Adams Slams Republicans for Ignoring Rising College Costs

Statements and Webcast from the September 16 Subcommittee Hearing on “Who Gets the Scholarship? How the Global Shift in College Sports Affects Americans.”

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: House Budget Committee Unanimously Advances Two Bills to Improve Budget Process

Department of Education and the Administration

ED Press Release: US Department of Education Approves Workforce Pell Grant Programs in Texas

ED Press Release: US Department of Education Makes Significant Investments in America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities

White House Presidential Action: Enhancing Program Integrity and Interagency Coordination in the Administration of the H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Program

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Further Enhances Program Integrity and Interagency Coordination in the H-1B Visa Program

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of State Open Foreign Funding Investigations into Duke University and the University of North Dakota

Legislative Movement in Congress

S.4668 — Protect College Sports Act of 2026
Sponsor: Cruz, Ted [Sen.-R-TX] (Introduced 06/02/2026) Cosponsors: (9)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 09/22/2026 S.Amdt.6783 Considered by Senate.

S.5445 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the time period for the contribution of military death benefits to Roth IRAs and Coverdell education savings accounts.
Sponsor: Blumenthal, Richard [Sen.-D-CT] (Introduced 09/22/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Finance
Latest Action: Senate – 09/22/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Press Release: Blumenthal, Sheehy Introduce Bill to Extend Benefits for Military Survivors

S.5451 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require that recipients of Pell Grants be citizens or nationals of the United States.
Sponsor: Banks, Jim [Sen.-R-IN] (Introduced 09/22/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/22/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.5456 — A bill to prohibit the Secretary of Education from garnishing social security payments from individuals in default on their Federal student loans.
Sponsor: Sanders, Bernard [Sen.-I-VT] (Introduced 09/22/2026) Cosponsors: (9)
Committees: Senate – Finance
Latest Action: Senate – 09/22/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

H.R.10515 — To establish a human-centered Federal framework for artificial intelligence in education and the workforce, promote the ethical and responsible teaching and learning of artificial intelligence, provide for equitable access to artificial intelligence-ready workforce development, safeguard student and worker data privacy, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Bonamici, Suzanne [Rep.-D-OR-1] (Introduced 09/21/2026) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce; Science, Space, and Technology; Ways and Means
Latest Action: House – 09/21/2026 Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and Ways and Means.

H.R.10518 — Diversify Act
Sponsor: García, Jesús G. “Chuy” [Rep.-D-IL-4] (Introduced 09/21/2026) Cosponsors: (12)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce; Budget
Latest Action: House – 09/21/2026 Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget.
Press Release: Representatives García, Hayes and Senator Booker Introduce the DIVERSIFY Act

H.Res.1559 — Expressing support for the designation of the week beginning on September 14, 2026, as “National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week”.
Sponsor: Castro, Joaquin [Rep.-D-TX-20] (Introduced 09/17/2026) Cosponsors: (56)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/17/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

S.5431 — A bill to remove college cost as a barrier to every student having access to a well-prepared and diverse educator workforce, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Booker, Cory A. [Sen.-D-NJ] (Introduced 09/17/2026) Cosponsors: (9)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/17/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.5444 — A bill to amend the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 to establish a National Center for Advanced Development in Education at the Institute for Education Sciences, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Bennet, Michael F. [Sen.-D-CO] (Introduced 09/17/2026) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/17/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Bennet, Van Hollen, Tillis Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Boost Innovation in Education

S.J.Res.213 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the Department of Homeland Security relating to “Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media”.
Sponsor: Durbin, Richard J. [Sen.-D-IL] (Introduced 09/14/2026) Cosponsors: (13)
Committees: Senate – Judiciary
Latest Action: Senate – 09/17/2026 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 668.

S.Res.863 — A resolution expressing support for designation of the week of September 13 through 19, 2026, as “National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week”.
Sponsor: Reed, Jack [Sen.-D-RI] (Introduced 09/17/2026) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/17/2026 Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

H.R.5505 — Equal Campus Access Act of 2026
Sponsor: Walberg, Tim [Rep.-R-MI-5] (Introduced 09/18/2025) Cosponsors: (14)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/16/2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 730.

H.R.10410 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to establish a national graduate nurse education program.
Sponsor: Underwood, Lauren [Rep.-D-IL-14] (Introduced 09/16/2026) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House – 09/16/2026 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.10424 — To establish a National Science Foundation grant program to provide opportunities for and strengthen research capacity at institutions of higher education to stimulate sustainable improvement in existing research and development at such institutions, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Carter, Troy A. [Rep.-D-LA-2] (Introduced 09/16/2026) Cosponsors: (8)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action: House – 09/16/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

H.R.10436 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award institutions of higher education grants for teaching English learners.
Sponsor: Grijalva, Adelita S. [Rep.-D-AZ-7] (Introduced 09/16/2026) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/16/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.10451 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish an emergency grant aid program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Morelle, Joseph D. [Rep.-D-NY-25] (Introduced 09/16/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/16/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.10452 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include in the calculation of cost of attendance an allowance for costs for prior learning assessments.
Sponsor: Norcross, Donald [Rep.-D-NJ-1] (Introduced 09/16/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/16/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.10455 — To establish State-Federal partnerships to provide students the opportunity to attain higher education at in-State public institutions of higher education without debt, to provide Federal Pell Grant eligibility to DREAMer students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Pocan, Mark [Rep.-D-WI-2] (Introduced 09/16/2026) Cosponsors: (17)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/16/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.Res.1550 — Expressing support for designation of the week of September 13 through 19, 2026, as “National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week”.
Sponsor: McBath, Lucy [Rep.-D-GA-6] (Introduced 09/16/2026) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 09/16/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

S.5408 — A bill to establish a prohibition for certain disclosures of personally identifiable information under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974.
Sponsor: Lee, Mike [Sen.-R-UT] (Introduced 09/16/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/16/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Lee, Miller Fight for Student Privacy with Student Voter Data Protection Act

S.5411 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish an emergency grant aid program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Smith, Tina [Sen.-D-MN] (Introduced 09/16/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/16/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

VA Comment Request: Veterans Employment Through High Technology Education Courses (VET TEC 2.0) Employment or Further Educational Pursuit Certification. Comments due on or before October 23, 2026.

ED Comment Request: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) & Temporary Expanded PSLF (TEPSLF) Certification and Application. Comments due on or before October 22, 2026.

ED Notice: 2025-26 Award Year Deadline Date for Reports and Other Records Associated with Prison Education Programs Accessing the Federal Pell Grant.

ED and DOL Grant Notice: Notice Announcing Impact Aid Discretionary Construction Grant Program Competition. Applications due on or before November 10, 2026.

Today’s Federal Register.