E-Update for the Week of May 23, 2022

Please note that in light of the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, EducationCounsel will not publish the next E-Update until June 3, 2022.

Highlights:

• On May 13, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) announced in a letter to AASA, the School Superintendents Association, that school districts, working with their state educational agencies (SEAs) to apply for a waiver request to USED, may be provided an additional 18 months to spend their American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds beyond the end of the obligation period for school infrastructure projects.
• On May 18, the House Education and Labor Committee held a markup on a series of education-related bills.
• On May 19, the House Oversight Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee held a hearing titled, “Free Speech Under Attack (Part II): Curriculum Sabotage and Classroom Censorship,” the Subcommittee’s second hearing addressing the “escalating assault” on free speech in K-12 classrooms.

Administration:

White House:

White House holds conversation on youth mental health: On May 18, the White House held a conversation on youth mental health, featuring remarks from First Lady Jill Biden, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, Ambassador Susan Rice, and singer, actor, and mental health advocate Selena Gomez. The event took place during global Mental Health Awareness Month. “Over the last decade, an alarming number of young people have struggled with mental health challenges, and the pandemic has made it so much worse,” First Lady Biden said. “You know the isolation, the anxiety, and the grief…. are wounds that sometimes go unseen, too often cloaked in secrecy and shame.  But young people don’t have to face these challenges alone.”
May 18, 2022

U.S. Department of Education (USED):

Districts could get extra time to spend pandemic relief funding on infrastructure projects: On May 13, USED announced in a letter to AASA, the School Superintendents Association, that school districts, working with their SEAs to apply for a waiver request to USED, may be provided an additional 18 months to spend their American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary Emergency Relief (ARP ESSER) funds beyond the end of the obligation period for school infrastructure projects. While districts must still obligate ARP ESSER dollars by September 30, 2024, the Department said that it has the authority to approve “liquidation extension requests for properly obligated funds” if SEAs) submit written requests to USED. “If approved, grantees may have up to 18 months beyond the end of the obligation period, although requests for longer may be considered related to extraordinary circumstances,” the Department wrote. “The Department does understand the need for schools to address urgent and pressing projects, including school infrastructure projects, intended to safeguard the health and safety of students, educators, and staff during this pandemic.”
May 13, 2022

USED extends changes to federal student aid verification process: On May 18, USED’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced that it will extend temporary changes to its Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) processing and verification cycle for the 2022-2023 award year. The changes, which aim to streamline the process for students to enroll or re-enroll in college with financial aid, will narrow FSA’s verification procedures to focus on identity theft and fraud during the upcoming academic year. “These changes will continue to provide relief to students and families affected by this ongoing national emergency,” FSA wrote in the letter. The Department is also considering longer term changes to ensure verification is “robust and equitable,” while easing the burden of the process on “students, families, and institutions of higher education.”
May 18, 2022

USED issues guidance urging colleges to provide mental health supports to students with ARP funds: On May 19, USED published new guidance to assist institutions of higher education in funding mental health supports for students, faculty, and staff with ARP Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF). The document highlights strategies for colleges and universities to invest federal relief funding in evidence-based mental health supports and better connect students to providers and care. The guidance also elevates leading institutions already using HEERF funds for these efforts. “We must make sure our colleges and universities have the tools and resources to help students, faculty, and staff heal from the grief, trauma, and anxiety they endured amid the pandemic,” USED Secretary Miguel Cardona said in a statement. The guidance will “equip higher education leaders with promising strategies for how they can use American Rescue Plan dollars to connect students to the services they need and to better support mental health and wellness throughout their campus communities.”
May 19, 2022

Congress:

Ranking Members Foxx and Burr write follow up letter to USED on potential student data leak: On May 20, House Education and Labor Committee Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC) sent a follow up letter to USED reiterating concerns about a recent report exploring whether the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) violated student data privacy regulations by inadvertently sharing data collected from individuals applying for the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) with Facebook. The Ranking Members noted that the latest letter is the second attempt to get clarity regarding these reports as “the Department failed to respond to an initial request demanding accountability on the alarming breach of security and privacy violations of prospective college students.” In their follow-up letter, Ranking Members Foxx and Burr criticized the Department stating, “conversations with Department staff have been obstructive, stalling, or potentially dishonest… this leads us to the conclusion that your agency is trying to hide something and hoping this issue fades away or, despite comments to the press about the leak not providing sensitive information, is more severe than stated by the Department.” The initial letter sent by Ranking Members Foxx and Burr on May 9 is here.
May 20, 2022

Senate:

Senate HELP Committee holds a hearing on cybersecurity in the health and education sectors: On May 18, the Senate HELP Committee held a hearing titled, “Cybersecurity in the Health and Education Sectors.” Witnesses included Denise Anderson, President and CEO of the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center; Joshua Corman, Founder of I Am The Calvary; Amy McLaughlin, Cybersecurity Program Director for the Consortium of School Networking; and Helen Norris, Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Chapman University. During the hearing, Senators from both sides of the aisle acknowledged that cybersecurity attacks are on the rise and can put sensitive information of students at risk, which is especially concerning for K-12 students as it may not be clear to parents that a child’s identity has been stolen. Senate HELP Committee Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) further noted, “Our schools are at risk of getting locked out of online programs that students use to get and turn in assignments, or teachers used to post and track grades, and administrators used to lay out courses and schedules for the semester.” Chairman Murray went on to say, “It is especially critical to me that we are treating cyber-attacks like the national security threat we know they are,” and asked several questions, including “How do we recruit, train and retain more cybersecurity experts, especially in the health and education sectors where there is a big shortage? What are some best practices that schools and healthcare providers should be implementing? And how can we better connect organizations to share information like this that will help prevent, mitigate and respond to cybersecurity incidents?” Several Senators during the hearing similarly asked questions regarding cybersecurity workforce shortages and what could be done to encourage interest in cybersecurity careers among young people in elementary school and high school. Additionally, the hearing drew attention to the digital equity challenge with Norris testifying that, “Investment in this area varies depending on the type of institution, a large research university or one with a medical center might employ a good size cybersecurity Department, but a smaller university or a community college with more financial limitations will be challenged to do so even though they must protect sensitive student data in a similar way.”
May 18, 2022

Senate Republicans introduce bill to block Biden Administration from canceling student loan debt: On May 18, Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr (R-NC), along with Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT), Tim Scott (R-SC), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), and Thom Tillis (R-NC), introduced the S. 4253, the “Student Loan Accountability Act.” According to the Senators, the bill would prohibit the Biden Administration from cancelling student loan debt “at the expense of millions of Americans who chose to not go to college or worked diligently to pay off any student debt.” The Senators argue that student loan relief would further add to inflation, while unfairly penalizing those who didn’t attend higher education or those who paid off their loans “responsibly.” “Not only is [debt cancellation] patently unfair, it doesn’t solve the root problem,” Ranking Member Burr said in a statement. “Canceling student loan debt unilaterally will only encourage colleges and universities to further increase tuition and encourage future borrowers to take out even riskier loans.”
May 18, 2022

House:

House Republicans write letter casting doubt on President Biden’s authority to cancel student loan debt, while President Biden meets with Democratic Senators to discuss the issue: On May 13, nearly two dozen House Republican Members sent a letter to President Biden expressing concern about his recent comments on potential student loan relief, arguing that his Administration does not have the authority to forgive student loan debt. Citing a memo from USED Secretary Miguel Cardona, the group of lawmakers wrote that the President has “no authority” to unilaterally forgive federal student loan debt. “We in Congress firmly believe you lack the statutory authority to do so, and such an action would be a display of a grossly backwards policy,” the Members wrote. Note: a subscription to Politico Pro is required to view the letter.

Relatedly, President Biden met with a group of Senators on student loan relief on May 18. According to The Hill, Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) were in attendance. “These are Senators who have been leaders on college affordability and student debt,” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a recent press briefing.
May 13 and 18, 2022

House passes workforce innovation bill: On May 17, the House passed H.R. 7309, the “Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act [WIOA] of 2022,” by a vote of 220-196. The bill passed mostly along party lines with four Republicans crossing the aisle to support the bill, including Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (D-PA), John Katko (R-NY), Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), and Fred Upton (R-MI). The Democratic proposal, which was introduced by House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee Chairwoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL), would reauthorize and expand the nation’s workforce development system by authorizing $74 billion over six years for WIOA programs. The legislation also focuses on increasing workforce development opportunities for workers from historically underrepresented communities, such as people of color, women, and justice-involved individuals. Prospects for further action in the Senate remain unclear, particularly given that the bill received only Democratic support in the House. A statement opposing the bill from House Education and Labor Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-NC) is here.
May 17, 2022

House Education and Labor Subcommittee holds a hearing on juvenile justice system: On May 17, the House Education and Labor Civil Rights and Human Services Subcommittee held a hearing titled, “Examining Ways to Improve the Juvenile Justice System and Support America’s Young People.” Witnesses included Lisette Burton, Chief Policy and Practice Advisor at the Association of Children’s Residential and Community Services (ACRC) in Wisconsin; Hasan Davis, Founder/Director of Hasan Davis Solutions in Kentucky; Alan Loux, President and CEO of Rawhide Youth Services in Wisconsin; and Dr. Karen Kolivoski, Associate Professor at the Howard University School of Social Work. In her opening statement, Subcommittee Chairwoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) elevated the importance of supporting marginalized youth, particularly in the context of the 68^th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education. “Despite the initial progress we made following this historic decision, our public schools are more segregated by race and class today than at any time since the 1960s,” Chairwoman Bonamici said. “And we know racially isolated and under-resourced schools contribute to the school-to-prison-pipeline and harm students’ academic and social development.”

During the hearing, witnesses testified about the importance of an interconnected juvenile justice system that focuses on rehabilitating and reintegrating justice-involved youth, rather than punishing them. More specifically, Davis’ testimony focused on how disparities in the use of exclusionary discipline can lead to a school-to-prison pipeline for some of the most vulnerable students, including students with disabilities and students of color. While Democratic Members more frequently asked questions highlighting the racial disparities in the juvenile justice system, Members from both parties called for greater coordination between local, state, and federal agencies, and emphasized the importance of effective prevention and intervention programs. “Parents, teachers, and community leaders are the first line of defense when it comes to preventing criminal behavior from at-risk youth,” Ranking Member Russ Fulcher (R-ID) said in his opening statement. “These local leaders are also the ones best equipped to address youth that have already fallen into illegal activity.”
May 17, 2022

House passes bills to improve education benefits for veterans: On May 17, the House passed by a vote of 370-43, H.R. 6376, the “Student Veteran Work Study Modernization Act”, which would allow the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to pay work-study allowances to student veterans who are going to school half-time, rather than the current rule that students have to be enrolled in at least three-quarters of a full-time load of courses. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the measure would reduce net spending by $1 million over a decade. Additionally, the House passed by a vote of 412-1, H.R. 6604, the “Veterans Eligible to Transfer School (VETS) Credit Act,” which would help student veterans by ensuring they are able to quickly and easily transfer their course credits to another institution should their school close or program end suddenly. Specifically, the bill would require the VA to work with students and explain the school credit transfer process and to provide them with a certificate of eligibility from the VA providing proof of their restored benefits. The House also passed by a vote of 397-15, H.R. 7375, which would direct the VA Secretary to update the payment system for the VA to allow for electronic fund transfer of educational assistance, administered by the Secretary, to a foreign institution of higher education. The bills now moves to the Senate, where they will be considered by the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
May 17, 2022

Ranking Member Foxx writes op-ed criticizing USED’s “Anti-Charter School Crusade”: On May 18, House Education and Labor Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-NC) published an op-ed in the Washington Times criticizing USED’s proposed rule change to the Charter Schools Program (CSP). In the piece, Ranking Member Foxx argues that a provision in the rule aiming to encourage greater collaboration between charters and traditional public schools is “bowing to the political will of teachers unions.” “Essentially, the Administration is putting the power in the hands of the school district to identify any charters which they deem could serve as ‘potential partners’ and eliminating the rest,” Ranking Member Foxx wrote. Meanwhile, the Department clarified last week that charter schools could still receive grant funding if they did not propose a collaboration with a traditional public school districts.
May 18, 2022

House Education and Labor Committee advances several bills related to school infrastructure and student mental health: On May 18, the House Education and Labor Committee held a markup on a series of education-related bills. Passed on a partisan vote of 27 to 19, H.R. 604, the “Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act,” would create a $100 billion grant program and $30 billion tax-credit bond program targeting high-poverty schools whose facilities pose health and safety risks to students and educators. The Committee considered H.R. 604 as a stand-alone bill as the legislation was not included in the bipartisan budget reconciliation package and is not expected to be included in a possible budget reconciliation package. Meanwhile, H.R. 5407, the “Enhancing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention through Campus Planning Act,” and H.R. 6493, the “Campus Prevention and Recovery Services for Students Act,” passed by voice vote, indicating some Republican support for both bills. H.R. 5407 aims to promote positive mental health among college students and encourage comprehensive planning on college campuses to prevent suicide and other mental health crises, while H.R. 6493 promotes evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies on college campuses. Lastly, H.R. 7780, the “Mental Health Matters Act,” which promotes the use of evidence-based mental health, social-emotional, and behavioral health interventions for young children enrolled in early education programs, passed by a partisan vote of 26 to 18. The bills will now move to the full House for consideration. A statement from Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) is here, and a statement from Ranking Member Virginia Foxx (R-NC) is here.
May 18, 2022

House Oversight Subcommittee holds a hearing on free speech in K-12 classrooms: On May 19, the House Oversight Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee held a hearing titled, “Free Speech Under Attack (Part II): Curriculum Sabotage and Classroom Censorship,” the Subcommittee’s second hearing addressing the “escalating assault” on free speech in K-12 classrooms. During the hearing, two panels of witnesses examined ongoing efforts to dictate classroom discussion about American history, race, and LGBTQ+ issues through “restrictive” state laws that Democrats argue potentially punish teachers for discussing these topics. In his opening statement, Subcommittee Chairman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) called these laws “the hallmark of authoritarian regimes – removing anything from the public sphere that does not comport with a strict party-line and then demonizing it.” Meanwhile, Ranking Member Nancy Mace (R-SC) painted Democrats’ criticism of the state laws as an effort to “discredit legitimate and lawful attempts to ensure curriculums are designed to empower students to achieve their full potential.”

The first panel featured testimony from multiple high school students, who testified that the laws have “a chilling effect on how schools educate students and have resulted in the targeting of teachers.” The second panel featured testimony from Willie Carver, a former teacher from Kentucky; Jennifer Cousins, a parent from Florida; Suzanne Nossel, the Chief Executive Officer at PEN America; Timothy Snyder, a history professor at Yale University; James Whitfield, a former principal from Texas; and Virginia Gentles, Director of the Education Freedom Center at the Independent Women’s Forum. Carver, Nossel, Synder, and Whitfield all testified that efforts to censor classroom discussion are “growing more extreme,” and that the proposed legislation “resembles policies implemented in authoritarian regimes.” However, Gentles, the Republican witness, joined Republican Members in emphasizing the importance of academic freedom in K-12 education, and characterized the state laws as simply responding to “a wave of parental objections to school materials that promote an obvious political and ideological agenda.”
May 19, 2022

Upcoming Events (Congress & Administration):

• On May 23 at 12:30 pm, USED will host a virtual summit titled, “Recovery to Thriving: Supporting Mental Health & Students with Disabilities.” The event will bring together education leaders, disability advocates and coordinators, special education professionals, and others to discuss issues affecting students with disabilities and students with mental health needs as our nation continues to emerge from the pandemic. More information and registration are here.
• On May 24 at 10:15 am, the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS) Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a hearing to examine USED’s fiscal year (FY) 2023 budget. USED Secretary Cardona will testify. The hearing will be livestreamed here.
• On May 24 at 11:00 am, there will be an open meeting of the President’s Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs).  The meeting agenda will include roll call; welcoming remarks; a review of the Board’s mission and function; a discussion of the Board’s strategic priorities; and group discussion. The public comment period will begin immediately following the conclusion of such discussions. An RSVP was required in order to attend the meeting virtually. RSVPs had to be received by end of business on May 21 by emailing the whirsvps@ed.gov More information and registration is here.
• On May 24 at 12:00 pm, the House Education and Labor Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee and Subcommittee for Indigenous People of the United States will hold a joint hearing titled, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Bureau of Indian Education.” Witnesses have yet to be announced. The hearing will be livestreamed here.
• On May 24 at 10:00 am, the House Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a Member Day hearing to allow Members an opportunity to provide input on the drafting of the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Labor/HHS Appropriations bill. A Dear Colleague to Members of the House of Representatives is here. The hearing will be livestreamed here.
• On May 24 through 26, the VA will hold a virtual meeting of the Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education. Agenda topics include briefings on topics of interest to its three subcommittees: Modernization, OJT/Apprenticeship, and Distance Learning. Email vbavaco@va.gov to register.
• On May 25 at 10:00 am, the House Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a hearing titled, “Tackling Teacher Shortages.” Witnesses include Dr. Lindsey Burke, Director of the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation; Desiree Carver-Thomas, Researcher and Policy Analyst at the Learning Policy Institute; Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers; and Dr. Jane West, Education Policy Consultant. The hearing will be livestreamed here.
• On May 25 at TBD, the Senate HELP Committee will hold an executive session to consider a series of nominations, including LaWanda Toney, who is nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach at USED, and Nasser Paydar, who is nominated to serve as Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education at USED. The executive session will be livestreamed here.
• On May 26 at 10:00 am, the House Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a Public Witness Day hearing to accept public witness testimony regarding the President’s FY2023 budget request. The deadline to submit written testimony is May 26. More information is here and the hearing will be livestreamed here.
• On May 26 at 12:00 pm, the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education.” USED Secretary Cardona is expected to testify during the hearing. More information will be posted here.
• On May 26 at 1:00 pm, USED and the Learning Policy Institute (LPI) will hold the first session in a new learning series titled, “Community Schools: An Evidence-Based Whole Child Approach to Education.” The event will discuss what it takes to operate a quality, sustainable community school; how community schools have enabled educators to support students through the pandemic; and what makes community schools an effective strategy for supporting the whole child. More information and registration are here.

Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):

• On May 23 at 1:00 pm, New America will hold an event titled, “Wiring WIC: Technology Innovations to Strengthen the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.” The event will discuss strategies for modernizing WIC with technology to strengthen the program now and in the years ahead. More information and registration are here.
• On May 23 at 1:00 pm, the Software and Information Industry Association will hold an event titled, “The Diamond in the Rough: Chiseling 21st Century Learners in a Broadband-Enhanced World.” The event will focus on ways the United States is using bipartisan infrastructure law funding to ensure we close the digital divide for students. More information and registration are here.
• On May 23 at 2:00 pm, the Center for American Progress will hold an event titled, “Beyond Acronyms: honoring the Complex Experiences of Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities in K-12 Education.” The event will highlight the complexity of Asian American and Pacific Islander experiences in K-12 education. More information and registration are here.
• On May 24 at 12:00 pm, the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies will hold an event titled, “College Admissions: Fair or Fixed?” The event will address how and when race is commonly used in college admissions, and whether colleges and universities are generally following the existing law. More information and registration are here.
• On May 26 at 11:00 am, the Brookings Institution will hold an event titled, “Who You Know: The Role of Social Capital in Uplifting Young Americans.” The event will consist of a presentation and discussion of a new research report focused on social capital and access to higher education. More information and registration are here.

Publications (Outside Organizations):

• On May 16, the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia’s Consumer Finance Institute published a report titled, “Expectations of Student Loan Repayment, Forbearance, and Cancellation: Insights from Recent.” The report examines consumer expectations around student loan repayment, forbearance and cancellation, and found that about 70 percent of borrowers who were making regular payments before the pandemic expected to be able to make their payments in full after blanket pandemic forbearance ends. The full report is here.
• On May 17, Georgetown University’s FutureEd and the Center for Children and Families published a report titled, “How Medicaid Can Help Schools Sustain Support for Students’ Mental Health.” The report examined how schools are using their federal pandemic relief dollars to hire mental health professionals, and how Medicaid could help sustain staff positions after the federal funding runs out in 2024. According to the report, more than a third of the local education agencies (LEAs) have earmarked a total of $1.2 billion in ESSER funding for psychologists, social workers and mental health counselors. Just over half of those school districts and charter organizations are in the 16 states that have either expanded (or are in the process of expanding) their school Medicaid programs to allow reimbursement for mental health professionals. However, the report warns that the other half will not have access to this reimbursement unless states change their Medicaid plans. The full report is here.
• On May 18, the Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education published a report titled, “Indicators of Higher Education Inequity in the United States: 2022 Historical Trend Report.” The report examined changes over time in measures of equity for higher education and identified policies and practices that promote and hinder progress. The report also illustrates the need for increased support of policies, programs, and practices to create greater equity in higher education opportunity and outcomes. The full report is here.
• On May 20, the National Conference of State Legislatures published a new report titled, “How Schools Are Spending Unprecedented Education Relief Funding.” The analysis found that districts spent the largest share of the money – about 29 percent – on academic interventions, while spending on educators and staff accounted for 22.2 percent of planned spending. According to the report, within this category, nearly 80 percent of districts plan to spend money on hiring staff, while nearly 56.1 percent planned to increase educator and staff compensation. The full report is here.

Legislation:

H.R. 7780
A bill to support the behavioral needs of students and youth, invest in the school-based behavioral health workforce, and ensure access to mental health and substance use disorder benefits.
Sponsor: Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA)

H.R. 7784
A bill to amend the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act to improve trauma support services and mental health care for children and youth in educational settings, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT)

H.R. 7785
A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to recognize digital skills and digital literacy as critical adult education and literacy objectives, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WI)

H.R.7825
A bill to amend title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit the provision of funds under such title to institutions of higher education that violate the immigration laws, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC)

H.R.7851
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to disclose certain ties to China-affiliated organizations, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX)

H.R.7855
A bill to prohibit Federal funding for institutions of higher education that have agreements with certain academic institutions in the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY)

H.R.7859
A bill to create a Council on Emergency Response Protocols to ensure the establishment of accessible, developmentally appropriate, culturally aware, and trauma-informed emergency response protocols in public schools, early child care and education settings, and institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA)

S.4253
A bill to prohibit the mass cancellation of student loans.
Sponsor: Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT)

S.4259
A bill to create a Council on Emergency Response Protocols to ensure the establishment of accessible, developmentally appropriate, culturally aware, and trauma-informed emergency response protocols in public schools, early child care and education settings, and institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Senator Bob Casey (D-PA)

S.4275
A bill to authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible entities to carry out educational programs that include the history of peoples of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the setting and founding of America, the social, economic, and political environments that led to the development of discriminatory laws targeting Asians and Pacific Islanders and their relation to current events, and the impact and contributions of Asian Americans to the development and enhancement of American life, United States history, literature, the economy, politics, body of laws, and culture, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI)

S.4277
A bill to require public institutions of higher education to disseminate information on the rights of, and accommodations and resources for, pregnant students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)