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

CONGRESS

The Federal government ended its shutdown period after Congress passed a fiscal year 2026 continuing resolution, funding the government through January 30, 2026. The bill text can be found here.

A group of Democrats wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer, expressing concern with the Administration’s rollback of disability employment protections and the offices responsible for enforcing these protections.

A group of Democrats wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, sharing their concern that borrowers using income-driven-repayment (IDR) plans to repay their Federal student loans will soon face tax hikes.

ADMINISTRATION

According to a court filing, the Trump Administration formally determined the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s current funding mechanism to be illegal.

A Federal district judge ruled that States seeking to challenge the Administration’s cancellation of teacher training grants can pursue their case in Federal District Court and not only in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

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

McMahon Breaks Up More of the Education Department [Inside Higher Ed]

Colleges ease the dreaded admissions process as the supply of applicants declines [The Hechinger Report]

Dismantling of ED Prompts Flurry of Reactions [Inside Higher Ed]

MacKenzie Scott’s recent HBCU gifts top $700M. See who got funding. [Higher Ed Dive]

Trump administration to announce dismantling of much of Education Dept. [The Washington Post]

What to Know About Crucial Changes to Student Loans [Inside Higher Ed]

Feds cannot withhold funding from UC system amid lawsuit, judge rules [Higher Ed Dive]

Are the Deals to Save Research Funding Good for Research? [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

DOJ investigation into Berkeley’s Turning Point protest sends warning to other colleges [The Hill]

Fewer International Students Came to the U.S. This Fall [Inside Higher Ed]

Federal Agencies Return to Work After Longest Shutdown in History [The New York Times]

Faith-Based Institutions Navigate Trump’s Higher Ed Policy Changes [Inside Higher Ed]

Evolving job market, soaring loan debt drive students to community colleges [The Hill]

Ed. Dept. Layoffs Are Reversed, But Staff Fear Things Won’t Return to Normal [Education Week]

Federal special education staff may get their jobs back. But for how long? [NPR]

North Carolina Approves 11 New Goals Targeting Education & Workforce Development [The 74]

With Government Reopened, Will Education Department Staff Return? [Inside Higher Ed]

Enrollment among undergraduates, community colleges ticks up: Report [The Hill]
National Student Clearinghouse Report: “Preliminary Fall  Report Shows Steady Undergraduate Enrollment Growth”

Education Department zeroes in on 4-year colleges for expanded IPEDS collection [Higher Ed Dive]

Undocumented Students, Advocates Intensify Defense of In-State Tuition Laws [Inside Higher Ed]

As Shutdown Ends, Education Dept. Resumes Efforts to Downsize [The 74]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Scalise Releases 2026 House Calendar

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries Announces Committee Assignments for Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Thune: Americans Deserve Better Than Democrats’ Shutdown Dysfunction

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
November 19: Full Committee Executive Session on Nominations of Scott Mayer, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring December 16, 2029, vice Lauren McGarity McFerran, term expired and Mary Anne Carter, of Tennessee, to be Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts for a term of four years, vice Maria Rosario Jackson, resigned.
Location TBD.
Time TBD.

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: @EdWorkforceCmte to Mark Up Bills to Deliver Flexibility, Fairness, and Faster Pay for America’s Workers

Press Release: Chairman Walberg Holds Hearing on Innovation in Higher Education

Press Release: Chair Walberg Praises Trump for Putting Students First, Right-Sizing ED

Press Release: Kiley to Hold Hearing on Strengthening Skills Pathways Through CTE — Tomorrow at 2:00

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Remarks at Hearing on Innovation in Higher Education Without Accountability

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Statement on ED Offloading Core Responsibilities

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Hearing on “The Future of College: Harnessing Innovation to Improve Outcomes and Lower Costs.”

November 19: Subcommittee Hearing on “From Classroom to Career: Strengthening Skills Pathways Through CTE”
Witnesses: Dr. Deb Volzer, Vice President, Workforce Development, SME; Mrs. Kristi Rice, Cybersecurity Teacher, Spotsylvania County Public Schools; Mr. Braden Goetz, Senior Policy Advisor, Center on Education & Labor; Mrs. Nicole Gasper, CEO, West Michigan Aviation Academy
2175 Rayburn and via YouTube
2:00 p.m. EST

November 21: Full Committee Hearing on “Member Day”
2261 Rayburn and via YouTube
9:00 a.m. EST

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Senator Murray Statement on Trump’s Latest Steps to Keep Illegally Dismantling the Department of Education—Abandoning Students Nationwide

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: DeLauro Statement on Trump Administration Renewed Attempts to Dismantle Department of Education

House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Press Release: Chairman Joyce Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Hearing on Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chatbots

Press Release: Chairman Hudson Delivers Opening Statement at Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Markup of 28 Bills to Streamline Broadband Permitting

Press Release: C&T Subcommittee Forwards Broadband Permitting Bills to Full Committee

Press Release: Pallone Opening Remarks at Oversight Hearing on AI Chatbots

Press Release: Pallone Slams Republican Hypocrisy on Broadband Deployment at Communications and Technology Subcommittee Markup of Seven Bills

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Subcommittee Hearing on “Innovation with Integrity: Examining the Risks and Benefits of AI Chatbots”

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Subcommittee Markup of “28 Bills to Streamline Broadband Permitting”

Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Press Release: Warren Presses Trump Administration on Plans to Prop Up OpenAI and Big Tech with Taxpayer Dollars at the Expense of Working Class Americans

House Committee on Ways and Means
Press Release: Davis Opening Statement at Worker and Family Support Subcommittee Hearing on Harnessing Innovation and New Technology to Help America’s Foster Youth Succeed

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Subcommittee Hearing on “Leaving the Sticky Notes Behind: Harnessing Innovation and New Technology to Help America’s Foster Youth Succeed”

House Committee on Small Business
Press Release: The House Committee on Small Business Reports Seven Bills Favorably to the House

House Majority Leader
Press Release: The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “Affordable Care Act Tax Credits Expire Next Month and Republicans Are Out of Excuses”

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Chairman Walberg to Hold Hearing on Innovation in Higher Education — Tomorrow at 10:15

November 18: Full Committee Hearing on “The Future of College: Harnessing Innovation to Improve Outcomes and Lower Costs”
Witnesses: Dr. Jeffrey Docking, President, Adrian College; Dr. Kollin Napier, Director, Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network; Dr. Wil Del Pilar, Senior Vice President, Higher Education, EdTrust; and Mr. Tade Oyerinde, Chancellor, Campus⁠.edu.
2175 Rayburn and via YouTube
10:15 a.m. EST

November 19: Subcommittee Hearing on “From Classroom to Career: Strengthening Skills Pathways Through CTE”
Witnesses: Dr. Deb Volzer, Vice President, Workforce Development, SME; Mrs. Kristi Rice, Cybersecurity Teacher, Spotsylvania County Public Schools; Mr. Braden Goetz, Senior Policy Advisor, Center on Education & Labor; Mrs. Nicole Gasper, CEO, West Michigan Aviation Academy
2175 Rayburn and via YouTube
2:00 p.m. EST

November 21: Full Committee Hearing on “Member Day”
2261 Rayburn and via YouTube
9:00 a.m. EST

House Committee on Energy and Commerce
November 18: Subcommittee Hearing on “Innovation with Integrity: Examining the Risks and Benefits of AI Chatbots”
Witnesses: Marlynn Wei, MD, JD, Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, and Author; John Torous, MD, MBI, Director of Digital Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School; and Jennifer King, PhD, Privacy and Data Policy Fellow, Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence.
2123 Rayburn and via webcast.
2:00 p.m. EST

November 18: Subcommittee Markup of “28 Bills to Streamline Broadband Permitting”
2123 Rayburn and via webcast.
10:15 a.m. EST

House Committee on Ways and Means
November 18: Subcommittee Hearing on “Leaving the Sticky Notes Behind: Harnessing Innovation and New Technology to Help America’s Foster Youth Succeed”
Witnesses: Martin Elisco, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Augintel; Dr. Jennifer Jacobs, CEO and Co-Founder, Connect Our Kids; Lasheunda Carr, Case Specialist, Lawrence Hall; Adrien Lewis, Founder and President, CarePortal; Michael Leach, Chief External Engagement Officer, Think of Us
2020 Rayburn and via webcast
10:00 a.m. EST

Speaker of the House
Press Release: Speaker Johnson: The Democrats Knew the Pain the Shutdown Would Cause, and They Did It Anyway

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Preview – Week of November 17, 2025

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries on CNN: “House Democrats Have Introduced Legislation to Extend the ACA Tax Credits for Three Years”

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: House Republican Appropriators Stood United to End the Longest Shutdown in U.S. History

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Press Release: Cantwell, Warren, Sanders, Peters Call for Administration to Release Critical Economic Data and Stop Keeping Public, Fed in the Dark About U.S. Economy

House Committee on Ways and Means
Press Release: Big, Beautiful Success Story: 2026 Tax Refunds Projected to be Largest Ever

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Chairman Arrington Statement on House Vote to End Shutdown

House Committee on Ways and Means
Press Release: Chairman Smith Praises President Trump and First Lady for Supporting Foster Youth

Speaker of the House
Press Release: House GOP Leadership Statement on Passage of Government Funding Bill to End the Democrat Shutdown and Reopen the Government

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Scalise: Today is About Ending the Misery Democrats Created

Press Release: House GOP Leadership Statement on Passage of Government Funding Bill to End the Democrat Shutdown and Reopen the Government

Press Release: Scalise: It’s Time to End the Democrats’ Shutdown

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Jeffries: “House Democrats Are Here on the Capitol Steps to Reiterate Our Strong Opposition to This Spending Bill”

Press Release: Joint Democratic Leadership Statement on Partisan Republican Spending Bill

Press Release: Leader Jeffries on House Floor: “We’ll Fight Until We Win This Battle for the American People”

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Next Week: Senate HELP Committee to Consider Trump Nominees

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Kiley Announces Hearing on Strengthening Skills Pathways Through CTE

Press Release: Education Leaders Sound the Alarm on Trump Administration Lack of Support for HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs

Press Release: “Shameful and Wrong”: Ranking Members Scott, Pallone, Neal Joined Protect Our Care to Slam Republicans for Failing to Fix Their Health Care Crisis

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Continuing Resolution to Reopen Government, FY 2026 Appropriations Bills Head to President’s Desk

Press Release: Senator Collins’ Statement on Her Legislation to End the Government Shutdown

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Cole asks Democrats: What Do You Stand For?

Press Release: House Republicans Restore Order: Congress Passes Clean Funding Extension and Full-Year Appropriations Bills to Reopen Government

Press Release: Ranking Member DeLauro Statement on ‘Million-Dollar Jackpot’ Provision in GOP Funding Bill

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Boyle Statement on Passage of Republican Spending Bill

House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Press Release: Pallone: Democrats Care and We’ll Continue to Fight for You

House Committee on Small Business
Press Release: Chairman Williams’ Statement on the End of Government Shutdown

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces Six New Agency Partnerships to Break Up Federal Bureaucracy

DOL Press Release: US Departments of Labor, Education Announce New Elementary, Secondary, and Postsecondary Education Partnerships

GAO Report: Chief Information Officer Open Recommendations: Department of Labor

GAO Report: Chief Information Officer Open Recommendations: Department of Education

White House Press Release: Presidential Message on American Education Week

ED Press Release: U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Announces Additional Appointment to the National Assessment Governing Board

IES Blog: Transforming Teaching with Technology: An Evidence-Based Toolkit for Higher Education

White House Press Release: We’re Making Big Progress on Prices — and We’ll Keep Working to Make Sure Everyone Benefits

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces Richard Lucas to Serve as Acting Chief Operating Officer of Federal Student Aid

ED Blog: A Teacher Defines Classical Education

IES Press Release: New Toolkit Supports Implementation of the Using Technology to Support Postsecondary Student Learning Practice Guide

White House Press Release: Congressional Bill H.R. 5371 Signed into Law

White House Press Release: First Lady Melania Trump Announces Executive Order on Fostering the Future, Opens New Opportunities for Public-Private Partnerships

White House Executive Order: Fostering the Future for American Children and Families

White House Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Fosters the Future for American Children and Families

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Celebrates Senate Confirmations for Additional Education Leadership

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.5764 — AI for Mainstreet Act
Sponsor: Alford, Mark [Rep.-R-MO-4] (Introduced 10/17/2025) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House – Small Business
Latest Action: House – 11/18/2025 Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 – 0.
Press Release: Alford Applauds Small Business Committee Passage of AI for Main Street Act

H.R.5784 — AI–WISE Act
Sponsor: Scholten, Hillary J. [Rep.-D-MI-3] (Introduced 10/17/2025) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Small Business
Latest Action: House – 11/18/2025 Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 27 – 0.

H.R.6077 — To amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure that medical students, medical residents, and medical faculty receive education and training in the deployment of artificial intelligence in the medical profession, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Barragán, Nanette Diaz [Rep.-D-CA-44] (Introduced 11/18/2025) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House – 11/18/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

H.Res.887 — Electing Members to certain standing committees of the House of Representatives.
Sponsor: McGovern, James P. [Rep.-D-MA-2] (Introduced 11/18/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Latest Action: House – 11/18/2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

S.3189 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross income any retirement income received by individuals who retired from service as a law enforcement officer or member of the Armed Forces and subsequently serve as school resource officers.
Sponsor: Sheehy, Tim [Sen.-R-MT] (Introduced 11/18/2025) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Finance
Latest Action: Senate – 11/18/2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance

H.Res.883 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2003) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to lower the interest rate on Federal student loans to 2 percent.
Sponsor: Luna, Anna Paulina [Rep.-R-FL-13] (Introduced 11/17/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Rules
Latest Action: House – 11/17/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

H.R.6045 — To amend the Small Business Act to require the Administrator of the Small Business Administration to publish or update a resource guide for small business concerns operating as child care providers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Williams, Nikema [Rep.-D-GA-5] (Introduced 11/13/2025) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Small Business
Latest Action: House – 11/13/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Small Business.
Press Release: Congresswoman Nikema Williams Leads Bipartisan, Bicameral Introduction of COACH Act to Support Childcare Providers in Launching and Growing Small Businesses

H.R.2259 — National Strategy for School Security Act of 2025
Sponsor: Gonzales, Tony [Rep.-R-TX-23] (Introduced 03/21/2025) Cosponsors: (9)
Committees: House – Homeland Security
Latest Action: House – 11/12/2025 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 329.

H.R.5371 — Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026
Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 09/16/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations; Budget
Latest Action: 11/12/2025 Signed by President.

H.R.6026 —To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Education to submit a report on the availability, accessibility, and affordability of childcare for veteran families.
Sponsor: Gottheimer, Josh [Rep.-D-NJ-5] (Introduced 11/12/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce; Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: House – 11/12/2025 Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 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.6039 — To advance commonsense priorities.
Sponsor: McGovern, James P. [Rep.-D-MA-2] (Introduced 11/12/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Ways and Means; Small Business; Appropriations; Ethics; Education and Workforce; Judiciary; Veterans’ Affairs; Natural Resources; House Administration; Science, Space, and Technology; Energy and Commerce; Financial Services; Transportation and Infrastructure; Oversight and Government Reform; Agriculture; Armed Services; Foreign Affairs; Intelligence (Permanent Select); Homeland Security; Rules; Budget
Latest Action: House – 11/12/2025 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Small Business, Appropriations, Ethics, Education and Workforce, the Judiciary, Veterans’ Affairs, Natural Resources, House Administration, Science, Space, and Technology, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Government Reform, Agriculture, Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Intelligence (Permanent Select), Homeland Security, Rules, and Budget.

H.Res.873 — Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 5371) making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2026, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Fischbach, Michelle [Rep.-R-MN-7] (Introduced 11/12/2025) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Rules
Committee Report: H. Rept. 119-372
Latest Action: House – 11/12/2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

H.Res.875 — Recognizing the 75th anniversary of The Arc of the United States, a leading organization promoting and protecting the civil and human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supporting their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
Sponsor: Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [Rep.-R-PA-1] (Introduced 11/12/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 11/12/2025 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

White House Presidential Document: Fostering the Future for American Children and Families

VA Notice: VA National Academic Affiliations Council Meeting

ED Comment Request: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2025-26 Through 2026-27. Comments due on or before December 15, 2025.

ED Comment Request: Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2027) Main Study International Questionnaire. Comments due on or before January 12, 2026.

Today’s Federal Register.