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

CONGRESS

Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) announced her candidacy for the top Democrat position on the House Education and Workforce Committee. With her announcement, she joins Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT) in challenging Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), who currently holds the position.  

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a proposed rule that would increase fees associated with Optional Practical Training (OPT) to $70,000 for an international F-1 student’s initial OPT and $30,000 for each subsequent OPT.

A Federal court vacated a district court decision that had ordered the University of Pennsylvania to comply with an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) subpoena seeking the names and contact information of certain Jewish employees.

A Federal judge dismissed the U.S. Department of Justice’s lawsuit challenging the State of Virginia’s laws allowing certain undocumented students to qualify for in-State tuition, ruling that the statutes were not preempted by Federal law.

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

Expanding College Success for Low-Income Students [Inside Higher Ed]

A university-branded boot camp promised tech jobs. It delivered only debt [The Hechinger Report]

Online Sexual Assault Prevention Training Alone Rarely Works. Experts Say Why. [Inside Higher Ed]

Cornell bans fraternity houses from hosting parties as rape investigation continues [The Washington Post]

Students Increasingly Consider Politics in Choosing a College [Inside Higher Ed]

Colleges are cutting administrative jobs — and critics say that’s a good thing [The Hechinger Report]

AAUP Forges Ahead With Endorsements Despite Some Initial Backlash [Inside Higher Ed]

How 3 universities are approaching international student recruitment [Higher Ed Dive]

DOJ suffers court loss over in-state tuition for undocumented students [Higher Ed Dive]

9 Universities Accused of J-1 Visa Fraud [Inside Higher Ed]

Transgender athlete bans set to reach the ballot box for the first time [The Hill]

What Does the Law Require of Colleges to Prevent Sexual Assault? [Inside Higher Ed]

DHS proposes $70K fee for initial OPT participation and $30K for extensions [Higher Ed Dive]

3 Takeaways From the Harvard v. Trump Appeal Hearings [Inside Higher Ed]

HBCU students sue Missouri for $549M, citing underfunding [The Hill]

Fighting Back on Restrictions to Internships for International Students [Inside Higer Ed]

DHS proposes $70K fee for initial OPT participation and $30K for extensions [Higher Ed Dive]

3 Takeaways From the Harvard v. Trump Appeal Hearings [Inside Higher Ed]

HBCU students sue Missouri for $549M, citing underfunding [The Hill]

Fighting Back on Restrictions to Internships for International Students [Inside Higer Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Scott, DeSaulnier Demand Answers from Trump Administration on Ability to Protect 155 Million Workers’ Benefits

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Calls on Watchdog to Investigate Whether or Not HHS Lied in Litigation

House Committee on Ways and Means
Press Release: Chairman Smith Opening Statement: Tennessee Field Hearing on the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Delivering for Small Business, Manufacturing, and Working Families

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Field Hearing on “The One, Big, Beautiful, Bill Delivering for Small Business, Manufacturing, and Working Families”

Department of Education and the Administration

DOL Press Release: Keith Sonderling Sworn in as 31st US Secretary of Labo

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: Trump Administration Announces the Most Ambitious Set of Science Initiatives This Century

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Expands its Investigation into Swarthmore College Over New Allegations of Antisemitism

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.10771 — To establish an emergency preparedness grant program for higher education institutions, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Carter, Troy A. [Rep.-D-LA-2] (Introduced 10/09/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Action: House – 10/09/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

H.R.10786 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require certain institutions to require students who are United States citizens to pass the United States naturalization test in order to graduate, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Miller, Max L. [Rep.-R-OH-7] (Introduced 10/09/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 10/09/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: IHE Considerations Around Program Closure: How External Pressures and Internal Policies Shape Decision Making. Comments due on or before December 14, 2026.

ED Final Rule: Impact Aid Programs

IMLS Comment Request: IMLS Grants for Local History Notice of Funding Opportunity. Comments due on or before December 8, 2026.

DOJ Comment Request: Title-Electronic Applications for the Attorney Student Loan Repayment Program. Comments due on or before December 7, 2026.

Today’s Federal Register.