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

CONGRESS

The House Appropriations Committee released the text of its fiscal year 2027 Commerce-Justice-Science bill. The Subcommittee approved the bill by a 5 to 4 vote.

The House passed the Senate-passed budget resolution, which did not include instructions to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and the House Education and Workforce Committee. This indicates that matters such as changes to the Higher Education Act will not be addressed in the upcoming reconciliation bill.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) published a final regulation stemming from the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) negotiated rulemaking committee.

The U.S. Department of Labor launched its AI in Registered Apprenticeship Innovation Portal, which is a resource for organizations seeking to build AI literacy and develop AI-focused Registered Apprenticeship programs.   

COURTS

Massachusetts District Court Judge Dennis Saylor expanded the scope of his preliminary injunction blocking ED’s requirement for States to submit admissions data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Admissions and Consumer Transparency Supplement Survey to six colleges and those represented by the Association of American Universities; the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts; the Connecticut Conference of Independent Colleges; the Maine Independent Colleges Association; the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities; and the Oregon Alliance of Independent Colleges and Universities. 

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

Trump Administration Investigating Smith College Over Transgender Admissions [The New York Times]

First-Time Adult Enrollment Dropped This Fall. Should Colleges Be Worried? [Inside Higher Ed]

National Student Clearinghouse Research Center Report: “Final Fall Enrollment Trends”

How college students are learning to socialize without cellphones [The Washington Post]

$200M Gift to USC Will Advance AI Research [Inside Higher Ed]

Education Department launches Title IX investigation into all-women’s college [The Hill]

College students are in search of ‘AI-proof’ majors. But no one knows what they are [The Los Angeles Times]

Confusing College Pricing Sows Mistrust in Higher Ed [Inside Higher Ed]
Strada Education Foundation Report: “The Price Transparency Imperative: Rebuilding Confidence in Higher Education.”

Trump administration report accuses Biden of anti-Christian bias [POLITICO]

Why GSA’s anti-DEI certification is raising alarm in higher education [Higher Ed Dive]

Do states that spend more on education get better grades? [The Hill]

U.S. citizen students face an agonizing choice: Affording college or protecting parents from deportation [The Hechinger Report]

Trump Admin. Doesn’t Deem Education Degrees ‘Professional’ in Student Loan Rule [Education Week]

Education Department caps graduate school loans [The Hill]

ABA settles claim alleging diversity scholarship fund harmed White students [Higher Ed Dive]

Research HBCUs Launch Association to Foster Collaboration [Inside Higher Ed]

A University Is Scraping Course Materials for Its New AI Platform. It Didn’t Ask the Faculty. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Senate Education Committee Chair Bill Cassidy Fights to Keep His Seat [The 74]

ED Launches Civil Rights Investigation Into Stanford [Inside Higher Ed]

State lawmakers eye accreditation policy changes as new agency forms [Higher Ed Dive]

McMahon Meeting With Senate Committee Canceled After Live-Stream Threat [Inside Higher Ed]

Southern Oregon University risks closure without deep cuts, consultants say [Higher Ed Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Press Release: Ranking Member Lofgren Reacts to Latest Trump Scheme to Undermine Science

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Committee Cliff Notes: Weekly Recap – Week of April 27, 2026

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Big Wins for Small Businesses and the Next Generation of Workers in the Working Families Tax Cuts

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Spring Snapshots: April Article I Powers Bring More May Markup Hours!

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Chairman Walberg on ED, DOJ Report Detailing Anti-Christian Bias in Biden-Harris Administration

Press Release: Chair Walberg Applauds Trump Admin Efforts to Lower College Costs and Simplify Student Loan Repayment

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Criticizes Education Department for Raising Student Loan Payments and Limiting Access to Higher Education

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Rogers, Cole at FY27 Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee Markup

Press Release: Republicans Pass Bill out of Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee to Raise Costs, Make Children and Families Less Safe

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Subcommittee Markup of “Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Bill and Fiscal Year 2027 Legislative Branch Bill”

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Chairman Cassidy, Risch, Republican Colleagues Lead Legislation Protecting American Workers from Harmful Biden Heat Standards, Saving Louisiana Jobs

Press Release: Chairman Cassidy, Grassley Introduce Legislation to Make College More Affordable

House Committee on Education and Workforce
Press Release: Owens Holds Hearing on the First Amendment in Higher Education

Press Release: Hearing Recap: “Speech or Silence? The Future of the First Amendment in Higher Education”

Press Release: HEWD Ranking Member Adams Defends Students Rights to Free Speech on College Campuses

Press Release: ICYMI: Committee Democrats Hear from Experts about Impact of Trump’s Economy on American Workers

Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Subcommittee Hearing on The Future of the First Amendment in Higher Education.

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Committee Releases FY27 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

Press Release: Harris Remarks at FY27 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill Full Committee Markup (As Prepared for Delivery)

Press Release: Cole Remarks at FY27 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill Full Committee Markup (As Prepared for Delivery)

Press Release: Rogers Remarks at FY27 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Bill Subcommittee Markup (As Prepared for Delivery)

Press Release: Cole Remarks at FY27 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Bill Subcommittee Markup (As Prepared for Delivery)

Press Release: Ranking Member Bishop Statement at the Full Committee Markup of the 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill

Press Release: Ranking Member DeLauro Statement at the Full Committee Markup of the Fiscal Year 2027 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Funding Bill

Press Release: Democrats Fought to Lower Costs, Republicans Fought to Cut Assistance to Farmers and Families

April 30: Subcommittee Markup of “Fiscal Year 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Bill and Fiscal Year 2027 Legislative Branch Bill”
H-140 Capitol and via webcast.
8:00 a.m. ET

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Boyle Leads Debate on House Floor, Slams Republican Budget that Does Nothing to Lower Costs

Press Release: Boyle Statement on House Passage of the Republican Budget Resolution

House Committee on Ways and Means
Press Release: Chairman Smith at Foster Care Legislation Markup: Bipartisan Policy Will Help Foster Youth Lead Independent Lives

Press Release: Neal Opening Statement at Worker and Family Support Markup

Press Release: Chu Opening Statement at Markup of H.R. 7463, the “Foster Youth Postsecondary Education Access and Success Act”

Press Release: Evans Opening Statement at Markup of H.R. 7343, the “Foster Youth Workforce Opportunity Act”

Department of Education and the Administration

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Opens Title IX Investigation into All-Women’s Smith College for Admitting Men

DOL Press Release: READOUT: US departments of Labor, Education host roundtable discussion on degree-connected apprenticeships during National Apprenticeship Week 2026

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor Names Office of the Secretary’s Senior Leadership Team

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Finalizes Landmark Rule to Lower College Costs and Simplify Student Loan Repayment

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Initiates Investigation into Stanford for Allegedly Discriminating Against Students on the Basis of Race

ED Press Release: Task Force Publishes Report on Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias and Restoring Religious Liberty

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor Launches Website to Build Artificial Intelligence Skills, Expand AI-Focused Registered Apprenticeship Programs

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.8659 — To amend the definition of a professional student in the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Sponsor: Kiggans, Jennifer A. [Rep.-R-VA-2] (Introduced 05/04/2026) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 05/04/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.R.8646 — Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agency Appropriations Act, 2027
Sponsor: Harris, Andy [Rep.-R-MD-1] (Introduced 05/01/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations
Latest Action: House – 05/01/2026 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 548.
H.R.8618 — To increase the total maximum Federal Pell Grant and extend flexibility for eligibility.
Sponsor: Menefee, Christian D. [Rep.-D-TX-18] (Introduced 04/30/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Workforce
Latest Action: House – 04/30/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

H.Res.1238 — Encouraging greater public-private sector collaboration to promote financial literacy for students and young adults.
Sponsor: Foster, Bill [Rep.-D-IL-11] (Introduced 04/30/2026) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Financial Services
Latest Action: House – 04/30/2026 Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

S.4463 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit against employer payroll taxes for wages and other expenses paid or incurred for apprenticeship programs.
Sponsor: Young, Todd [Sen.-R-IN] (Introduced 04/30/2026) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Finance
Latest Action: Senate – 04/30/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Press Release: Young, Moran Introduce Legislation to Promote and Expand Apprenticeship Programs

S.4476 — A bill to provide for voluntary disclosure by developers and users of artificial intelligence regarding workforce data and for reporting by the Secretary of Labor regarding the workforce data, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Warner, Mark R. [Sen.-D-VA] (Introduced 04/30/2026) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 04/30/2026 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Warner, Budd Introduce Legislation to Collect Data on AI’s Impact, Guide Lawmakers

S.J.Res.182 — A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Education relating to “William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program”.
Sponsor: Kaine, Tim [Sen.-D-VA] (Introduced 04/13/2026) Cosponsors: (32)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 04/30/2026 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 402.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Notice: Loan Rehabilitation: Reasonable and Affordable Payments.

ED Final Rule: Reimagining and Improving Student Education-Federal Student Loan Program Final Regulations.

ED Comment Request: U.S. Department of Education Supplemental Information for the SF-424 Form. Comments due on or before June 1, 2026.

ED and DOI Grant Notice: State Tribal Education Partnerships Program Competition. Applications due on or before June 11, 2026

DOL Comment Request: Workforce Recruitment Program. Comments due on or before June 1, 2026.

Today’s Federal Register.