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

October 10, 2024

CONGRESS

The House and Senate are not scheduled to conduct legislative business until after the November election with both chambers returning on November 12.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) launched the first phase of testing for the 2025-2026 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), called Beta 1. ED has provided several resources, including a revised Federal Student Aid Estimator for the Student Aid Index and Pell Grant eligibility, along with tools for creating a StudentAid.Gov account and a 2025-26 FAFSA prototype to help users prepare for the upcoming financial aid process.

Two major student loan grace periods have expired, one which lessened the consequences of missed or late payments and another that offered benefits to borrowers with defaulted Federal student loans, called Fresh Start.

President Biden signed an Executive Order instructing various Federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and ED, to create and release information within 110 days for K-12 schools and higher education institutions about active shooter drills conducted in schools.

The Federal Communications Commission and ED released a new resource guide on free and low-cost ways schools and libraries can increase their cybersecurity defenses.

ED appointed Denise Gonzales, a local school board member, and Jared Solomon, a Maryland state legislator, as new members of the National Assessment Governing Board and reappointed four current members.

COURTS
A Federal judge dismissed a 2023 lawsuit from Florida against ED, in which Florida argued that certain policies were preventing colleges from changing their accreditors.

A Federal judge in Georgia declined to stop the Biden Administration from implementing its student loan forgiveness regulations and transferred the ongoing case to a Federal court in Missouri. Subsequently, Eastern District of Missouri Judge Matthew Schelp replaced the Georgia Court’s temporary restraining order with a preliminary injunction halting implementation by the Biden Administration on these regulations.

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

States enact 5 laws directly censoring college classroom speech in 2024 [Higher Ed Dive]

Has the OPM Market Already Imploded? [Inside Higher Education]

S&P: Community colleges lifted by improved enrollment and finances [Higher Ed Dive]

A New Community College Sees Growth and Challenges [Inside Higher Education]

Arizona State U. Goes West [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Harris Holds Massive Edge Over Trump Among College Students. It’s Even Bigger in Swing States. [Inside Higher Education]

Here’s What Voters Want the Next President to Do for Higher Ed [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Admissions experts tackle test-optional policies, recruitment and more [Higher Ed Dive]

The 6 surprising education issues at stake in the election [The Hechinger Report]

The fallout: University of the Arts haunted by unanswered questions months after sudden closure [Higher Ed Dive]

How Colleges Are Bridging FAFSA Filing Gaps [Inside Higher Education]

October 7 Is Not the Time For Institutional Neutrality [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Ex-fraternity leaders receive prison time for Penn State pledge’s death [The Washington Post]

Colleges brace for Oct. 7 anniversary [The Hill]

Legal Boomerang for Biden Loan Forgiveness [Inside Higher Education]

5 ways colleges can improve outreach to rural students [Higher Ed Dive]

Online Learners Earned Fewer Degrees Than Their Peers During For-Profit College Boom [Inside Higher Education]

Missouri judge temporarily blocks Biden administration’s debt relief plan [POLITICO]

Employers Say Students Need AI Skills. What If Students Don’t Want Them? [Inside Higher Education]

U.S. Department of Education Begins Testing of New FAFSA Form [The 74]

North Carolina Colleges Extend Campus Closures [Inside Higher Education]

Biden student loan forgiveness may proceed after small win in lawsuit [The Washington Post]

Last pandemic-era student loan benefit ends even as borrowers struggle to make payments [The Hill]

A Grad Degree Can Be a Risky Bet [Inside Higher Education]

How colleges can navigate a shifting test-optional landscape [Higher Ed Dive]

Make AI Part of the Assignment [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

On Child Care, Vance Tests a Talking Point Democrats Also Embrace [The New York Times]

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

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy on Federal Court Blocking Biden-Harris Student Loan Scheme

House Committee on Education and the Workforce
Press Release: NEW REPORT: Warehouse and Delivery Worker Injuries Rise 20 Percent

Press Release: Chairwoman Foxx Statement on Anniversary of October 7

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Statement on the September Jobs Report

Press Release: E&W, E&C Republicans Press ARPA-H to Uphold Civil Rights Laws in its Research Funding Process

House Committee on Ways and Means

Press Release: Biden-Harris Record Speaks for Itself: Job Losses for Main Street and Tax Breaks for the Wealthy

Press Release: Neal Statement on September 2024 Jobs Report

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

White House Fact Sheet: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Holds Workforce Hub Convening in Milwaukee, Announces Commitments to Expand Pathways into Good-Paying Jobs

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

White House Press Release: Press Briefing by President Biden, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, and National Economic Adviser Lael Brainard

ED Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Exceeds Goal of Recruiting 250,000 New Tutors, Mentors, and Student Success and Postsecondary Transition Coaches Across the Country

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Highlights Resources to Support Communities Impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor approves up to $5M in initial funding to support disaster recovery jobs, training for Florida residents after Hurricane Helene

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

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor announces $6M in grants to expand job opportunities for women in apprenticeships, nontraditional occupations

Legislative Movement in Congress:

H.R.9936 — To amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 with respect to workforce development, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Spanberger, Abigail Davis [Rep.-D-VA-7] (Introduced 10/04/2024) Cosponsors: (1)

Committees: House – Agriculture

Latest Action: House – 10/04/2024 Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.

H.R.9934 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to make permanent the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide transportation to and from Department of Veterans Affairs facilities in connection with vocational rehabilitation or counseling.

Sponsor: Panetta, Jimmy [Rep.-D-CA-19] (Introduced 10/04/2024) Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs

Latest Action: House – 10/04/2024 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

Press Release: Rep. Panetta Reintroduces Bipartisan Legislation Ensuring Veterans Transportation to Medical Appointments

H.R.9931 — To provide bankruptcy relief for student borrowers.

Sponsor: Nadler, Jerrold [Rep.-D-NY-12] (Introduced 10/04/2024) Cosponsors: (18)

Committees: House – Judiciary

Latest Action: House – 10/04/2024 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary

H.R.9930 — To amend the Small Business Act to include surviving children in the definition of small business concern owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Moore, Barry [Rep.-R-AL-2] (Introduced 10/04/2024) Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: House – Small Business

Latest Action: House – 10/04/2024 Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.

H.R.9953 — To establish a Federal returnships program to strengthen the Federal workforce and to ease re-entry into the workforce for individuals who have taken time away from work, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Wexton, Jennifer [Rep.-D-VA-10] (Introduced 10/08/2024) Cosponsors: (5)

Committees: House – Oversight and Accountability

Latest Action: House – 010/08/2024 Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

ED Comment Request: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) I, II and III Data Collection Form. Comments are due on or before October 28, 2024.

ED Correction: Federal Student Loan Program Deferment Request Forms

ED Comment Request: Federal Student Loan Program: Internship/Residency and Loan Debt Burden Forbearance Forms. Comments due on or before October 30, 2024.

ED Comment Request: Application for Grants Under the Upward Bound Program. Comments due on or before November 4, 2024.

ED Comment Request: Federal Student Aid (FSA) Partner Connect System and User Access Management. Comments due on or before November 7, 2024.

ED Comment Request: Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act State Plan Guide. Comments due on or before November 12, 2024.

ED Comment Request: Consolidated Annual Report (CAR) for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. Comments due on or before November 12, 2024.

ED Grant: Strengthening Program Evaluation Capacity: Building Evidence of Effectiveness of Strategies To Increase Postsecondary Student Success. Applications due on or before November 14, 2024.

ED Comment Request: District Survey on Use of Funds Under Title II, Part A. Comments due on or before November 29, 2024.

ED Comment Request: Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA): Interest Rate Limitation Request. Comments due on or before November 29,2024.

ED Comment Request: Income Based Repayment-Notifications. Comments due on or before December 6, 2024.

Children and Families Administration Comment Request: Financing for Early Care and Education: Quality and Access for All-Case Studies. Comments due on or before December 9, 2024.

Department of Commerce Comment Request: Existing Awards and Recognition Programs for Standards Development and Best Practices for Standards Workforce Development in Support of the Implementation of the United States Government National Standards Strategy for Critical and Emerging Technology (USG NSSCET). Comments due on or before December 9, 2024.

ED Comment Request: Student Assistance General Provisions-Readmission for Servicemembers. Comments due on or before December 9, 2024.

ED Grant Notice: Personnel Development To Improve Services and Results for Children With Disabilities-Personnel Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and Other Minority Serving Institutions. Applications due on or before December 12, 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: Postsecondary Student Success Grant

ED Notice: President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

ED Notice: Annual Notice of Interest Rates for Fixed-Rate Federal Student Loans Made Under the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

ETA Notice: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Native American Employment and Training Council