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

August 7, 2024

ADMINISTRATION     
The Departments of Education (ED), Justice and Homeland Security held a virtual convening to support campuses as they prepare for the return of students this Fall in dealing with antisemitic and other hate-based incidents.

ED released several Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)-related updates, including on Social Security Number flexibilities, batch corrections and processing paper forms.

ED announced that it will begin emailing all borrowers with at least one outstanding Federally held student loan to provide updates on potential student debt relief, and to inform them they have until August 30 to call their servicer and opt out if they do not want this relief.

ED released a new resource guide titled “Free To Learn: Leading Inclusive Learning Environments in Higher Education,” which aims to “foster safe and inclusive campuses through the Israel-Hamas conflict and beyond.”

ED’s Office for Civil Rights held a briefing in which it shared resources regarding Title IX implementation and highlighted that the Department’s 2020 Title IX Final Rule will remain in effect in States and schools currently being impacted by 2024 Title IX preliminary injunctions.

The Administration announced new Artificial Intelligence (AI) actions and additional sign-on of Apple to voluntary commitments on AI.

The Administration released an implementation roadmap for the U.S. Government’s May 2023 National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology.

CONGRESS
The Senate Appropriations Committee held a Full Committee markup of its fiscal year (FY) 2025 Labor, Health, Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill. The Committee passed the bill on a 25 to 3 vote, sending it to the Senate floor. The bill text can be found here. The Committee report can be found here.

COURTS
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) proposed a settlement to U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken regarding three antitrust lawsuits that enforce restrictions on pay and benefits for college athletes.

An Alabama District Court Judge decided against issuing a preliminary injunction on the Biden Administration’s Title IX rule in the States of Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. The following day, this decision was reversed by an appellate court order, meaning that these States are now 4 of 26 in which the Title IX rule is blocked from being implemented.

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

Harris’s VP Pick Has Backed Free College, Big Investments in State Universities [Inside Higher Ed]

How college leaders can engage with conservative lawmakers on DEI [Higher Ed Dive]

Time to Train Your Interim Leaders [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

An Expert Shares Advice on How to Hire for Innovation [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Success Program Launch: Wraparound 2-Year Program for First-Gen Learners [Inside Higher Ed]

Blueprint for Climate Action Across Higher Ed [Inside Higher Ed]

Declining Enrollment, FAFSA Issues Led to More Cuts in July [Inside Higher Ed]

St. Ambrose University and Mount Mercy University to combine [Higher Ed Dive]

In New Hampshire, a Mandate to Collaborate [Inside Higher Ed]

Harvard elevates interim president to top post [The Washington Post]

Can Biden’s Supreme Court reform announcement provide a boost with Democrats? [Brookings]

Senate Eyes Pell Grant Boost, More Money for Federal Student Aid [Inside Higher Ed]

How 2U’s bankruptcy shed light on the company and OPM market [Higher Ed Dive]

Education Department reverses course on batch FAFSA corrections [Higher Ed Dive]

A New Title IX Era Brings Confusion and Frustration [Inside Higher Ed]

Colleges’ Title IX Offices Operate Behind Closed Doors. This Researcher Got Inside. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

ASU Adds Sustainability to Gen Ed Curriculum [Inside Higher Ed]

Only 36% of adults say higher education is ‘fine how it is,’ survey finds [Higher Ed Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:

Senate Majority Leader

Press Release: Majority Leader Schumer Statement On The Commerce And Homeland Security Committees Advancing Vital Artificial Intelligence Legislation

Press Release: Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Tomorrow’s Vote To Advance The Bipartisan Tax Relief For American Families And Workers Act

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy, GOP Colleagues to NCAA: Keep Biological Men Out of Women’s Sports

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy, Cruz, Tillis Demand Answers on Secretary Cardona’s Potential Hatch Act Violation

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy, Romney, Scott, Tillis Introduce Bill to Stop Biden-Harris Admin from Transferring Debt Onto Taxpayers

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy on Biden-Harris Title IX Rule Going Into Effect Tomorrow

Senate Committee on Appropriations

Press Release: BILL SUMMARY: Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations Bill

Press Release: Chair Murray Opening Remarks at Full Committee Markup

House Committee on Education and the Workforce

Press Release: Chair Foxx Demands Answers from Columbia University

Press Release: Chair Foxx Discusses Importance of Title IX on Eve of Disastrous Biden-Harris Rule Implementation

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

White House Press Release: Statement from President Joe Biden on the July Jobs Report

White House Press Release: Readout of Supporting Safe and Resilient Campuses Webinar

ED Media Advisory: U.S. Secretary of Education to Uplift Student Debt Relief Actions in Philadelphia

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Announces Resolution of Complaint Against Drexel University Alleging Antisemitic Discrimination

DOL Press Release: Statement by Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su on July jobs report

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor Announces $45M in Funds Available to Improve Employment Opportunities for Young People Affected by Violence, Poverty

Legislative Movement in Congress:

S.2714 — CREATE AI Act of 2023

Sponsor: Heinrich, Martin [Sen.-D-NM] (Introduced 07/27/2023) Cosponsors: (3)

Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Latest Action: Senate – 07/31/2024 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Press Release: Heinrich Bill to Democratize Access to Artificial Intelligence Research Passes Out of Committee

S.3162 — TEST AI Act of 2023

Sponsor: Lujan, Ben Ray [Sen.-D-NM] (Introduced 10/30/2023) Cosponsors: (5)

Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Latest Action: Senate – 07/31/2024 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

S.3312 — Artificial Intelligence Research, Innovation, and Accountability Act of 2023

Sponsor: Thune, John [Sen.-R-SD] (Introduced 11/15/2023) Cosponsors: (7)

Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Latest Action: Senate – 07/31/2024 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Press Release: Thune Applauds Passage of Bipartisan AI Bill in Senate Commerce Committee

S.4394 — NSF AI Education Act of 2024

Sponsor: Cantwell, Maria [Sen.-D-WA] (Introduced 05/22/2024) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Latest Action: Senate – 07/31/2024 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Press Release: Cantwell Champions Package of AI Innovation and Workforce Bills Through Committee Passage

S.4487 — Small Business Artificial Intelligence Training and Toolkit Act of 2024

Sponsor: Cantwell, Maria [Sen.-D-WA] (Introduced 06/11/2024) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Latest Action: Senate – 07/31/2024 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

S.4495 — PREPARED for AI Act

Sponsor: Peters, Gary C. [Sen.-D-MI] (Introduced 06/11/2024) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Latest Action: Senate – 07/31/2024 Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

Press Release: Committee Passes Peters Bipartisan Bill to Ensure the Federal Government Safely and Responsibly Purchases and Uses Artificial Intelligence

S.4596 — Artificial Intelligence Public Awareness and Education Campaign Act

Sponsor: Young, Todd [Sen.-R-IN] (Introduced 06/20/2024) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Latest Action: Senate – 07/31/2024 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

S.4874 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the employer-provided child care credit and the dependent care assistance exclusion.

Sponsor: Kaine, Tim [Sen.-D-VA] (Introduced 07/31/2024) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate – Finance

Latest Action: Senate – 07/31/2024 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.4880 —A bill to implement or strengthen programs that increase the supply of quality child care services by enhancing the wages of child care workers, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Kaine, Tim [Sen.-D-VA] (Introduced 07/31/2024) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 07/31/2024 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Press Release: Kaine & Britt Introduce Bold Bipartisan Proposal to Make Child Care More Affordable

S.4896 — A bill to authorize the National Science Foundation to support research on the development of artificial intelligence-enabled efficient technologies.

Sponsor: Welch, Peter [Sen.-D-VT] (Introduced 07/31/2024) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Latest Action: Senate – 07/31/2024 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Press Release: Welch, Luján Introduce Bill to Support Research of Emerging AI-Enabled Green Technologies

S.4903 — A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to require youth representation on each State workforce development board, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Butler, Laphonza R. [Sen.-D-CA] (Introduced 07/31/2024) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 07/31/2024 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.4926 — A bill to establish a new Guaranteed Student Loan Program.

Sponsor: Rounds, Mike [Sen.-R-SD] (Introduced 08/01/2024) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 08/01/2024 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Press Release: Rounds Introduces Legislation to Offer Affordable Student Loan Option

S.4942 — A bill making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Baldwin, Tammy [Sen.-D-WI] (Introduced 08/01/2024) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate – Appropriations

Committee Report: S. Rept. 118-207

Latest Action: Senate – 08/01/2024 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 471.

S.4950 — A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act regarding Native American programs.

Sponsor: Lujan, Ben Ray [Sen.-D-NM] (Introduced 08/01/2024) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 08/01/2024 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.4962 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act to combat campus sexual assault, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [Sen.-D-NY] (Introduced 08/01/2024) Cosponsors: (7)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 08/01/2024 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Press Release: Senators Gillibrand And Grassley, Representatives Khanna And Fitzpatrick Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation To Combat Sexual Assault On College Campuses, Strengthen Accountability And Transparency For Institutions

S.4967 — A bill to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to reauthorize and update the Act, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Fischer, Deb [Sen.-R-NE] (Introduced 08/01/2024) Cosponsors: (5)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 08/01/2024 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Press Release: Fischer, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Expand Working Families’ Access to Quality Child Care

S.4981 — A bill to provide eligible institutions with grant funds to support programs of study for in-demand industry sectors or occupations.

Sponsor: Rosen, Jacky [Sen.-D-NV] (Introduced 08/01/2024) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 08/01/2024 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.Res.795 — A resolution condemning the botched rollout by the Department of Education of the FAFSA Simplification Act.

Sponsor: Rounds, Mike [Sen.-R-SD] (Introduced 08/01/2024) Cosponsors: (18)

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 08/01/2024 Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

H.R.9270 — To establish a grant program within the Department of Labor to support the creation, implementation, and expansion of registered apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity.

Sponsor: Lee, Susie [Rep.-D-NV-3] (Introduced 08/02/2024) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Education and the Workforce

Latest Action: House – 08/02/2024 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.9256 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase and adjust for inflation the above-the-line deduction for teachers.

Sponsor: Griffith, H. Morgan [Rep.-R-VA-9] (Introduced 08/02/2024) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Ways and Means

Latest Action: House – 08/02/2024 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Grant: Technical Assistance on State Data Collection–National Technical Assistance Center to Improve State Capacity to Collect, Report, Analyze, and Use Accurate IDEA Part B Data. Applications due on or before August 8, 2024.

ED Grant Notice: Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities—National Center on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, etc. Applications due on or before August 12, 2024.

ED Comment Request: U.S. Department of Education Postsecondary Success Recognition Program. Comments are due on or before August 12, 2024.

ED Grant: From Seedlings to Scale Grant Program and Research Networks Focused on Critical Problems of Education Policy and Practice. Applications due on or before August 15, 2024.

ED Comment Request: Impact Aid Electronic Data Collection (EDC) Program Questionnaire. Comments due on or before August 16, 2024.

ED Comment Request: Program Integrity and Institutional Quality: Distance Education, Return of Title IV, HEA Funds, and Federal TRIO Programs. Comments due on or before August 23, 2024.

ED Comment Request: Rural, Insular, and Native Achievement Programs Progress Update Protocol. Comments due on or before August 23, 2024.

DOL Comment Request: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Common Performance Reporting. Comments due on or before August 23, 2024.

ED Grant: State Personnel Development Grants (SPDG) Program. Applications due on or before August 23, 2024.

ED Grant Notice: Stronger Connections Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Grant Program. Applications due on or before August 26, 2024.

DOD Grant Notice: Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Consortium. Applications due on or before September 12, 2024.

ED Comment Request: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) I, II and III Data Collection Form. Comments are due on or before September 13 2024.

ED Grant Notice: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education-Tribal Controlled Colleges or Universities (TCCUs) Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) Grant Program. Applications due on or before September 16, 2024.

ED Comment Request: Performance Reports for Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Program. Comments due on or before September 16, 2024.

ED Comment Request: Federal Student Loan Program: Internship/Residency and Loan Debt Burden Forbearance Forms. Comments due on or before September 18, 2024.

ED Comment Request: Federal Student Aid (FSA) Partner Connect System and User Access Management. Comments due on or before September 30, 2024.

NSF Grant Notice: Advanced Technological Education. Applications due on or before October 3, 2024. 

HHS Grant Forecast: Tribal Colleges and Universities Head Start Partnership Program Grants. Estimated due date is on or before January 6, 2025.

ED Notice: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity Meeting.