RAMC Washington Wrap Up – January 30, 2026

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

CONGRESS

By a 341 to 88 vote, the House passed H.R. 7148, which includes final fiscal year (FY) 2026 appropriations for the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) in addition to funding for the U.S. Departments of Defense, Transportation and Housing and Urban Development. The bill text can be found here. The text of the explanatory statement can be found here. The House also passed H.R. 7147, a measure providing appropriations for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The rule passed by the House that governed debate on these measures required the H.R. 7148 and H.R. 7147 text, as well as the H.R. 7006 text (the measure passed by the House last week that provides appropriations to the U.S. Department of Financial Services and U.S. Department of State) to be combined and sent to the Senate as one bill. The Senate is expected to consider this measure consisting of the final six FY 2026 appropriations bills next week.

By a 217 to 211 vote, the House passed H.R. 6359, the Pregnant Students’ Rights Act.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) temporarily paused involuntary collection efforts on Federal student loans, including the use of administrative wage garnishment and the Treasury Offset Program.

The Office of Management and Budget issued a budget data request to all Federal departments and agencies, excluding the U.S. Department of War and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The request seeks detailed information on how Federal funds were spent by entities in 14 States and Washington, DC, with the goal of reducing fraud.

COURTS

A district court judge ordered ED to reconsider certain TRIO grants that were denied or discontinued last year on the basis of diversity, equity and inclusion language.

ED and the plaintiffs in American Federation of Teachers v. U.S. Department of Education jointly agreed to allow for the agency’s appeal in this case to be dropped. The case challenged a February 14, 2025, Dear Colleague Letter issued by ED, which stated that race-based programming and related policies were unlawful and should not be used by institutions of higher education or K–12 schools.

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

Education Department moves to overhaul accreditation regulations [Higher Ed Dive]

Ph.D.s in STEM, Health Roles Fled Federal Research Agencies Last Year [Inside Higher Ed]

Yale announces free tuition for families making less than $200,000 [The Hill]

Texas Pauses Use of H-1B Visas at State Universities [Inside Higher Ed]

ED Eyes Rewrite of Accreditation Rules [Inside Higher Ed]

Does Northwestern’s $75M Trump deal stifle speech? [Higher Ed Dive]

Congress Is Asking Dozens of Prominent Universities About Students’ ‘Dismal’ Math Skills [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

A Home for Homeless DEI Strategies and Research [Inside Higher Ed]

GOP pitches student loan repayment as Americans struggle to keep up with bills [POLITICO]

Trump backs away from DEI case, but advocates survey a grim landscape [The Hill]

The Rise of Degree Apprenticeships [Inside Higher Ed]

He left the US for an internship. Trump’s travel ban made it impossible to return [Higher Ed Dive]

Higher Ed Spent Millions on Lobbying in 2025 [Inside Higher Ed]

Florida proposal seeks 1-year pause on H-1B hires at public universities [Higher Ed Dive]

Who Gets to Borrow (and Charge) Over $100,000 for Graduate School [The New York Times]

Cornell University lands $371.5M gift, the largest in its history [Higher Ed Dive]

Education Department says New York school violated Title VI over Native American mascot change [The Hill]

High-Stakes Policy Talks Shed Light on ED’s Playbook [Inside Higher Ed]

University of Pennsylvania rebuffs EEOC demand for employee records [Higher Ed Dive]

Education Dept. Drops Appeal of Court Order Blocking Anti-DEI Guidance [Inside Higher Ed]

‘The Perception of Danger Everywhere’: Navigating Campus Life Amid ICE Enforcement [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

House Committee on Education and Workforce
February 3: Subcommittee Hearing on “Building an AI-Ready America: Adopting AI at Work”
Witnesses to be announced.
2175 Rayburn and via webcast.
10:15 a.m. EST

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: House Appropriators Complete FY26 Funding Bills, Advance Results for the American People

Press Release: DeLauro Statement in Support of Stripping Homeland Security Bill from Senate Funding Package

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Scalise on Tim Walz: He’s a National Embarrassment

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Schumer Statement Calling On Thune To Avert A Shutdown And Separate Out DHS Funding Bill

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
Press Release: Chair Cassidy, HELP Committee Republicans Launch Task Force to Eliminate Fraud in Federal Spending, Protect American Taxpayers

House Education and Workforce
Press Release: Allen Announces Hearing on Adopting AI at Work

House Ways and Means
Press Release: Thanks to Republican Tax Relief, This Year’s National School Choice Week Comes with Expanded Educational Freedoms, Supports for Families

Speaker of the House
Press Release: Speaker Johnson: Support For American Families Doesn’t End at Birth

Press Release: Republicans’ Historic Tax Cuts Support Life and Put Working Families First

House Majority Leader
Press Release: The Republican Recap: Week of January 19, 2026

Press Release: Committee Cliff Notes: Week of January 19, 2026

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader Schumer Statement Calling On Senate Republicans To Advance Five Appropriations Bills Ahead Of Deadline And Rewrite DHS Bill

Press Release: Leader Schumer Statement Announcing Senate Democrats Will Not Advance Appropriations Bill If DHS Funding Is Included

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
Press Release: Chair Cassidy Launches Inquiry into Students’ Declining Math Scores, Preparedness for College

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Advancing American Strength: President Trump Signs H.R. 6938 Into Law

Speaker of the House
Press Release: House Republican Leadership Statement on Fully Funding the America First Agenda

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Walberg: No Student Should Have to Choose Between Education and Pregnancy

Press Release: Walberg Applauds House Passage of Legislation Supporting Pregnant Students

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Slams Republican Bill to Keep Pregnant Students in the Dark About Their Rights

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Votes for ‘Labor-H’ Funding Bill

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Cole on H.R. 7148 and H.R. 7147: “This is What Responsible Governance Looks Like.”

Press Release: House Passes H.R. 7148 and H.R. 7147, Completing FY26 Appropriations – America First, Fully Funded

Press Release: DeLauro, Clyburn, McCollum Celebrate Passage of Funding Package

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Scalise Touts One Year of President Trump’s Wins

Press Release: Scalise on President Trump Delivering on Promises: American People Appreciate

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Markup on H.R. 7082, H.R. 7086, H.R. 4624.

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Cole Remarks at Rules Committee Hearing on H.R. 7148, Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 and H.R. 7147, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026 (As Prepared)

Press Release: Cole Testifies at Rules Committee on H.R. 7148 and H.R. 7147

House Committee on Small Business
Press Release: House Passes Bipartisan Small Business Bill

Department of Education and the Administration

ED Press Release: U.S. Departments of Education and Treasury Release Joint Fact Sheet on Historic Education Freedom Tax Credit

IES Press Release: New Toolkit Supports Implementation of the Providing Reading Interventions for Students in Grades 4–9 Practice Guide

ED Press Release: U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services Refer Minnesota Case to U.S. Department of Justice for Title IX Non-Compliance

HHS Press Release: HHS, Education Refer Minnesota to DOJ for Allowing Males in Girls’ Sports

DOL Press Release: US Departments of Labor, Education Issue Guidance for State Plans to Align Education and Workforce Development Systems

White House Press Release: Congressional Bill H.R. 4323 and H.R. 6938 Signed into Law

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces Negotiated Rulemaking to Reform and Strengthen America’s Higher Education Accreditation System

DOL Press Release: ICYMI: Secretary Chavez-DeRemer emphasizes safety, workforce development as she continues ‘America at Work’ listening tour

White House Press Release: Artificial Intelligence and the Great Divergence

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.7242 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to train individuals in construction trades and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Bynum, Janelle S. [Rep.-D-OR-5] (Introduced 01/27/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 01/27/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

S.3627 — Pregnant Students’ Rights Act
Sponsor: Moody, Ashley [Sen.-R-FL] (Introduced 01/13/2026) Cosponsors: (22)
Latest Action: Senate – 01/27/2026 Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 47 – 45. Record Vote Number: 12.

H.R.5764 — AI for Main Street Act
Sponsor: Alford, Mark [Rep.-R-MO-4] (Introduced 10/17/2025) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House – Small Business | Senate – Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Committee Report: H. Rept. 119-403
Latest Action: Senate – 01/26/2026 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Press Release: House Passes Alford’s AI for Main Street Act

H.R.5784 — AI–WISE Act
Sponsor: Scholten, Hillary J. [Rep.-D-MI-3] (Introduced 10/17/2025) Cosponsors: (6)
Committees: House – Small Business | Senate – Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Committee Report: H. Rept. 119-405
Latest Action: Senate – 01/26/2026 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Press Release: Rep. Scholten’s Bipartisan AI Bills Supporting Small Businesses Pass the House

H.R.6359 — Pregnant Students’ Rights Act
Sponsor: Hinson, Ashley [Rep.-R-IA-2] (Introduced 12/02/2025) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Committee Report: H. Rept. 119-447
Latest Action: Senate – 01/26/2026 Received in the Senate. Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 303.
Press Release: Hinson’s Bipartisan Pregnant Students’ Rights Act Passes House
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H.R.7148 — Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026
Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 01/20/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations; Budget; Ways and Means
Latest Action: Senate – 01/26/2026 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 302.
Press Release: Cole Votes in Favor of Defense; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education; Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development; and Homeland Security Appropriations Packages

H.R.6938 — Commerce, Justice, Science; Energy and Water Development; and Interior and Environment Appropriations Act, 2026
Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 01/06/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations; Budget
Latest Action: 01/23/2026 Signed by President.

H.R.7147 — Making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Cole, Tom [Rep.-R-OK-4] (Introduced 01/20/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations; Budget
Latest Action: House – 01/22/2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

H.R.7205 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit fees for admissions applications to higher education institutions to be paid from a 529 plan, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Bynum, Janelle S. [Rep.-D-OR-5] (Introduced 01/22/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Ways and Means
Latest Action: House – 01/22/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

H.R.7232 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide a student loan allowance calculation for purposes of determining the student aid index.
Sponsor: Stevens, Haley M. [Rep.-D-MI-11] (Introduced 01/22/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 01/22/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Press Release: Rep. Haley Stevens Introduces Bill to Tackle Intergenerational Student Debt Crisis

H.Res.1014 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7148) making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7147) making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026, and for other purposes; and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Foxx, Virginia [Rep.-R-NC-5] (Introduced 01/22/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Rules
Latest Action: House – 01/22/2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

H.R.982 — Warriors to Workforce Act
Sponsor: Van Orden, Derrick [Rep.-R-WI-3] (Introduced 02/05/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: House – 01/21/2026 Subcommittee Hearings Held

H.R.5436 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit an educational institution from withholding a transcript from an individual who pursued a course or program of education at such institution using Post-9/11 educational assistance.
Sponsor: Mannion, John W. [Rep.-D-NY-22] (Introduced 09/17/2025) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: House – 01/21/2026 Subcommittee Hearings Held

H.R.6498 — Student Financial Clarity Act of 2025
Sponsor: Guthrie, Brett [Rep.-R-KY-2] (Introduced 12/09/2025) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 01/21/2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 395.

H.R.6502 — College Financial Aid Clarity Act of 2025
Sponsor: McClain, Lisa C. [Rep.-R-MI-9] (Introduced 12/09/2025) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 01/21/2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 394.

H.R.7168 — To direct the Secretary of Education to develop standards for fire suppression systems in dormitories and other residential facilities for students on the campuses of institutions of higher education that receive Federal education funding, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Kean, Thomas H. [Rep.-R-NJ-7] (Introduced 01/21/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 01/21/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce

H.Res.1009 — Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6945) to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to clarify the authority of States to use funds for pregnancy centers, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6359) to require institutions of higher education to disseminate information on the rights of, and accommodations and resources for, pregnant students, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 140) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Land Management relating to Public Land Order No. 7917 for Withdrawal of Federal Lands; Cook, Lake, and Saint Louis Counties, MN.
Sponsor: Scott, Austin [Rep.-R-GA-8] (Introduced 01/20/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Rules
Committee Report: H. Rept. 119-459
Latest Action: House – 01/21/2026 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: National Special Education Spending Study. Comments due on or before March 30, 2026.

ED Notice: Intent To Establish Negotiated Rulemaking Committee. Nominations due on or before February 26, 2026.

DOC Notice: NTIA Listening Session on the Use of BEAD Funds Saved Through the Trump Administration’s Benefit of the Bargain Reform

NPS Comment Request: Education Reservation Request Form. Comments due on or before February 25, 2026.

ETA Comment Request: Work Opportunity Tax Credit. Comments are due on or before March 24, 2026.

Food and Nutrition Service Comment Request: OMB Generic Clearance for the Annual Survey of School Food Authorities. Comments are due on or before March 24, 2026.

BIA Comment Request: Education Contracts Under the Johnson-O’Malley Act. Comments due on or before March 23, 2026.

BIA Comment Request: Tribal Education Department Grant Program. Comments due on or before February 23, 2026.

IMLS Grant Notice: Native Hawaiian Library Services Grants (2026). Applications due on or before April 10, 2026.

IMLS Grant Notice: Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants (2026). Applications due on or before April 10, 2026.

Today’s Federal Register.