As we begin the new year, this E-update includes information covering the end of 2023 through January 4, 2024. Updated information for this week will be included in our next publication.

Highlights: 

• On December 12, the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted 20-1 to advance S. 3392, the “Advancing Research in Education Act (AREA),” which is a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA).
• On December 12, the House Education and the Workforce Committee voted to advance H.R. 6585, the “Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act,” by a vote of 37-8, and H.R. 6655, the “A Stronger Workforce for America Act,” by a vote of 44-1.
• On December 11 and 12, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) held the third and final negotiated rulemaking session regarding federal student loan debt relief.

Administration:

White House:

President Biden announces Recompete Pilot Program finalists: On December 20, President Biden announced the 22 finalists of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program (Recompete). Additionally, President Biden traveled to Milwaukee, WI, to highlight that a proposal to revitalize and invest in Milwaukee’s 30th Street Industrial Corridor was selected as a Recompete Finalist. Recompete programs support the hardest-hit and most economically distressed areas where prime-age (25-54 years) employment is significantly lower than the national average, with the goal to close this gap through flexible, locally-driven investments. Funding for the program is authorized through the CHIPS and Science Act and the investments are aimed at connecting workers from 20 states and territories to high-quality jobs. Announcing the awards, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said, “These Recompete finalists and grant recipients have presented a wide range of inspiring solutions to create jobs, develop long-term economic growth, and realize the full potential in communities that for too long have been overlooked or counted out.”

U.S. Department of Education (USED):

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) releases results of 2022 Program for International Student Assessment (PISA): On December 5, the OECD released the 2022 PISA scores following tests of nearly 700,000 15-year-old students in 81 OECD Member countries and partner economies on mathematics, reading, and science. According to OECD’s press release, the data showed an “unprecedented drop in performance across the OECD…compared to 2018, mean performance fell by 10 score points in reading and by almost 15 score points in maths.” U.S. students fell 13 points in math on the 2022 test compared to the 2018 test. The OECD country notes for the 2022 PISA for the United States note, “Overall, 2022 results are among the lowest ever measured by PISA in mathematics. In reading and science, however, results confirm a long-term stability in results.” U.S. students fell 1 point in reading and 3 points in science compared to 2018. Overall, the U.S. ranked 22nd in math, 4th in reading, and 6th in science. In a statement, USED Secretary Miguel Cardona said, “At an extremely tough time in education, the United States moved up in the world rankings in reading, math, and science – all three categories PISA measures – while, unfortunately, many other countries saw declines.”

USED holds third negotiated rulemaking session on student loan debt relief: On December 11 and 12, the USED held the third and final negotiated rulemaking session regarding federal student loan debt relief. The sessions follow the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in June which ruled that the Biden Administration does not have the legal authority to provide widespread debt relief under the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students (“HEROES”) Act. As a result, the USED is using the negotiated rulemaking process to explore ways to pursue loan forgiveness under the Higher Education (HEA). Prior to the December rulemaking sessions, the USED announced the release of updated proposed regulatory text for proposed student loan debt relief. The updated text provides more information on the borrower groups for which the USED proposes loan forgiveness:

1. Borrowers whose balances are greater than what they owed upon entering repayment.
2. Borrowers whose loans first entered repayment many years ago.
3. Borrowers who are eligible for forgiveness under income-driven repayment (IDR) plans or discharge opportunities, such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness, but have not yet applied for such relief.
4. Borrowers who attended programs or institutions that failed to deliver sufficient financial value.

According to reporting from the National Association for Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), the rulemaking session was a “mixed bag” as the committee “ultimately did not reach consensus on several proposals.” Specifically, some negotiators disagreed with the $10,000 loan forgiveness cap for two student borrower groups: borrowers whose balances exceed what they owed upon entering repayment and borrowers who are not enrolled in IDR plans but are eligible for relief (groups one and three above). The committee did reach consensus on several amendments that the USED provided in the proposed text, including allowing the USED to provide forgiveness when loans are eligible based on the repayment plan and when a borrower is associated with gainful employment programs with high debt-to-earnings rates or low median earnings. NASFAA also reported that, “negotiators pressed [US]ED to have another session to further discuss the issue of [borrower] hardship, since [US]ED did not provide any regulatory text on the issue.” The USED negotiator was not able to indicate whether an additional session would take place, citing “protocols” and the need for the USED to “regroup” following the December sessions. More information about negotiated rulemaking can be found here.

Biden Administration announces nearly $5 billion in student loan forgiveness following fixes in IDR and Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF): On December 6, the Biden Administration announced $4.8 billion in student loan debt relief following fixes to IDR forgiveness and PSLF. Specifically, $2.2 billion will be issued to nearly 46,000 borrowers through fixes to the IDR program that will provide borrowers an accurate update to their progress toward forgiveness, and $2.6 billion will be issued to nearly 34,400 borrowers through fixes to PSLF, including borrowers who have benefited through the limited PSLF waiver. Announcing the loan forgiveness, President Biden said that the forgiveness “make[s] sure that borrowers who have been in repayment for at least 20 years – but didn’t accurately get credit for student loan payments – get the relief they are entitled to.” USED Secretary Cardona pointed to the announcement’s state-by-state IDR adjustments and PSLF discharges and said that this debt relief was “unparalleled.”

USED holds negotiated rulemaking session for proposed institutional quality and program integrity regulations: On January 2, the USED released issue papers across a number of issues related to higher education institutional quality ahead of the first meeting of the Institutional Quality and Program Integrity Negotiated Rulemaking Committee, which is being held from January 8 to 11. Additionally, a Negotiated Rulemaking Subcommittee focusing on TRIO eligibility will meet on January 12. The issue papers cover the following issues, which the rulemaking committee will discuss during negotiations:

• USED Secretary’s recognition of accrediting agencies and related issues.
• Institutional eligibility, including state authorization.
• The definition of distance education as it pertains to clock hour programs and reporting for students who enroll primarily online.
• Return of Title IV of Higher Education Act of 1965 funds. 
• Cash management to address disbursement of student funds. 
• Eligibility requirements for participants in the Federal TRIO Programs.

Of note, the issue paper pertaining to eligibility for TRIO programs would propose expanding eligibility for students, regardless of their immigration status. Current USED regulations restrict eligibility for TRIO programs to U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Members of the public who wish to register to view the sessions or provide public testimony can find more information here. A list of the individuals who will serve on the negotiating committee and subcommittee is here.

USED announces March 2024 as date for final Title IX rules: In December, the USED announced that final rules will be issued on two of the Department’s proposed Title IX regulations in March 2024. As noted in the Higher Ed Dive, “Education Department officials have twice postponed the two Title IX rules, first aiming to have them out in May 2023, then October.” The first rule was initially announced in July 2022 and aims to help strengthen protections for students who experience sexual harassment and assault at school, as well as protections for LGBTQI+ students from discrimination. The second rule was announced in April 2023 and would “establish that policies violate Title IX when they categorically ban transgender students from participating on sports teams consistent with their gender identity.”

National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) publishes new data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS): On December 12, the NCES published new data from the IPEDS, including data from four of its twelve surveys: Admissions (ADM), Graduation Rates (GR), Outcome Measures (OM), and Student Financial Aid (SFA). The IPEDS surveys are conducted annually and gather data from colleges, universities, and technical and vocational institutions that participate in the federal student financial aid programs. USED Secretary Cardona issued a statement following the latest release, noting that the data indicates “unfortunately still far too many students never make it to commencement day.” The statement also added Secretary Cardona’s support for collection of legacy admission data, which was collected for the first time during the latest cycle. USED Secretary Cardona said, “Access to data on legacy applicants is essential for colleges and universities reevaluating their admissions practices and working to build diverse student bodies in the wake of the Supreme Court's disappointing ruling on affirmative action earlier this year.”

USED announces $93 million in grants to support research and development at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs), and postsecondary completion for underserved students: On December 8, the USED announced $93 million in grant awards to 20 colleges and universities to support research and development at HBCUs, TCCUs, and MSIs, and to nine institutions to increase college completion rates for underserved students. The grants are being provided under the Research and Development Infrastructure (RDI) program and the Postsecondary Student Success Grant (PSSG) program. Institutions that receive funds under the RDI program will advance efforts to strengthen their research infrastructure, and PSSG recipients will bolster their work to equitably improve postsecondary student outcomes by leveraging data and implementing evidence-based approaches. Announcing the awards, USED Secretary Cardona said, “These grant awards will help many of our nation’s most inclusive and diverse colleges and universities expand their capacity to drive research and innovation, and propel more students to graduation day and fulfilling careers.”

USED awards $44.5 million to improve postsecondary education access and completion for students in rural communities: On December 22, the USED announced $44.5 million in grants to 22 institutions of higher education to help improve rates of postsecondary education enrollment, persistence, and completion among students in rural communities. The grants were awarded through the Rural Postsecondary and Economic Development (RPED) program, which is overseen by the office for the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), and are designed to support rural students through the development of high-quality career pathways aligned to high-skill, high-wage, and in-demand industry sectors and occupations in their region. A wide range of two-year technical colleges as well as four-year universities received the grants, and each will provide support to students through commitments to career counseling, structured pathways with individualized students planning, and cross-agency coordination with rural local educational agencies (LEAs), among other activities. Announcing the awards, USED Secretary Cardona said, “When we invest in postsecondary attainment in rural communities, we create pathways for students to find rewarding careers that do not require them to leave their hometowns for economic opportunity.”

USED announces $277 million in new grants to advance educational equity and innovation: On December 5, the USED announced $277 million in new grant awards to advance educational equity and innovation through the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) grant program. The grants were awarded to projects in the early-phase, mid-phase, and expansion phase to support high-quality STEM education, social emotional well-being, student engagement, and rural education. Recipients included state education agencies (SEAs), institutions of higher education, nonprofits, and research organizations to “help create, implement, replicate, and expand entrepreneurial, evidence-based innovations to improve outcomes for historically underserved learners and to rigorously evaluate such innovations.” Announcing the awards, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education Cindy Marten said, “the Department is pleased to support these new EIR grantees that advance our goal to create a more inclusive STEM community, while also supporting student success in math and reading.”

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL): 

U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) releases draft notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to modernize Registered Apprenticeship regulations: On December 14, the DOL released a draft NPRM aimed at enhancing the National Apprenticeship System by modernizing for Registered Apprenticeship regulations. The proposed rule would:

• Strengthen labor standards, quality, and worker protections.
• Better define roles for State Apprenticeship Agencies.
• Codify the Office of Apprenticeship’s role for national leadership, promotion and standards.
• Promote apprenticeship pathways, including pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship readiness programs.
• Create a student-centric model of Registered Apprenticeships.

Announcing the NPRM, then Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su stated that “the proposed changes will provide strong worker protections, improved employer experiences and greater clarity about the roles of federal and state governments and their partners in the National Apprenticeship System.” Following the announcement, House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) expressed opposition to the proposed regulations, calling them a “woke free for all.” Chairwoman Foxx stated, “If the goal was to make an already dysfunctional registered apprenticeship system less workable and relevant to the needs of workers and employers, this proposed rule appears likely to succeed.” The NPRM has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs and has been submitted to the Office of the Federal Register (OFR).  It is currently pending placement publication in the Federal Register. This version of the draft NPRM may vary slightly from the published document. The DOL’s Employment and Training Administration will host a webinar on January 11 at 2:00 p.m. to review the proposed changes, their benefits, and how to submit public comments on the proposal. More information and registration for the webinar are here.

Congress:

Senate:

Senate HELP Committee advances bill to reauthorize the Education Sciences Reform Act: On December 12, the Senate HELP Committee voted 20-1 to advance S. 3392, the “Advancing Research in Education Act (AREA),” which is a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA) introduced by Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA). Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) was the only member to vote against the bill. AREA focuses on improving education research and evidence use in the classroom, while also reauthorizing the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), among other activities. 
 
Speaking on AREA at the Committee markup, Chairman Sanders highlighted that the bill will help modernize how states track student data and outcomes from preschool to college to allow for the identification of gaps and opportunities for young people. Additionally, the Chairman noted that the bill will help ensure high-quality research gets in the hands of teachers and principals and expand the research capacity of HBCUS, TCUs, and other MSIs. The Chairman also called attention to how the bill charges the Statistics Commissioner with developing a valid and accurate alternative student data poverty measure to help ensure funding and resources accurately reach the most vulnerable students.  In his opening statement, Ranking Member Cassidy made the case that the bill addresses concerns that the Committee has heard from both researchers and education leaders. The Ranking Member outlined that the bill improves education research at IES, enhances evidence used in the classroom, and strengthens the dissemination of evidence to improve student's academic outcomes.

The following amendments were adopted during the Committee markup of the bill: 

• Bipartisan Manager’s Amendment – The Manager’s Amendment, which was offered by Chairman Sanders, makes changes to the underlying bill, including improvements to the definition of evidence-based, among other changes.  This became the new base text once adopted by voice vote.

• Roger Marshall (R-KY) Amendment #1 – The amendment would prohibit federal funding authorized to be appropriated under Titles I, II, and III of AREA from being provided to an entity that receives funds from a covered nation. A covered nation is defined as North Korea, China, Russia, and Iran. The amendment was adopted by roll call vote of 14-6. 

• Roger Marshall (R-KY) Amendment #2 – As first introduced during the Committee markup, the amendment would prohibit funding to an entity that “allows” antisemitism to occur on its campus.  The amendment was later modified by voice vote to change the word “allows” to “promotes” and was adopted by a roll call vote of 14-6.

• Mitt Romney (R-UT) Amendment #1 – The amendment would authorize the Statistics Commissioner to collect data on school, LEA, and State policies pertaining to student smartphone use, including policies that prohibit smartphone use by students. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

• Mitt Romney (R-UT) Amendment #2 – The amendment would authorize the Research Commissioner to assess how student use of smartphones during instructional hours has affected academic achievement or youth mental health, and school, LEA, and State policies pertaining to student smartphone use, including policies that prohibit smartphone use by students. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

With the Committee approval of AREA, the bill now advances to the full Senate for consideration.  Additionally, the House would then need to consider AREA or its own version of an ESRA reauthorization bill to enable final passage. A section-by-section summary provided by the Committee is here. A recording of the Committee markup is here.

Senate confirms Danté Quintin Allen as Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration: On December 6, the Senate confirmed by voice vote Danté Quintin Allen as commissioner of the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA). Mr. Allen was first nominated by the Biden Administration in January 2023, and previously served as the executive director for CalABLE, California’s qualified federal ABLE Act savings and investment program for people with disabilities. USED Secretary Cardona issued a statement describing Mr. Allen as “a passionate advocate for students and individuals with disabilities and a proven leader with vast public and private sector experience.” The statement concluded, “I look forward to working together with Mr. Allen to provide individuals with disabilities and all students with equitable access to the education and training they need to find good-paying jobs; achieve economic security; and lead healthy, independent lives.” 

House:

House Education and Workforce Committee holds markup and advances bipartisan legislation to expand short-term Pell eligibility and reauthorize workforce programs: On December 12, the House Education and the Workforce Committee held a markup and advanced H.R. 6585, the “Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act,” and H.R. 6655, the “A Stronger Workforce for America Act.” H.R. 6585 would help low-income students participate in short-term programs aimed at moving more quickly into the workforce. The bill would also create a quality assurance system for Workforce Pell Grant programs—allowing any institution of higher education to participate as long as they meet all the requirements. H.R. 6585 advanced by a vote of 37-8 and a fact sheet on the legislation is here. H.R. 6655 would reauthorize workforce programs previously authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The reauthorized bill is aimed at expanding skills development, strengthening the relationship between employers and the workforce system, and putting more Americans on the pathway to successful careers. Representative Bob Good (R-VA) offered several amendments during the Committee markup, which were all rejected, in an effort to maintain the bipartisan agreement on the underlying bill. Specifically, amendments offered by Representative Good would have removed register apprenticeships from state training lists, eliminated JobCorps, and required all employers participating in WIOA to participate in e-verify. H.R. 6655 advanced by a vote of 44-1 and a fact sheet on the bill is here.

House passes resolution to block Biden Administration’s SAVE plan: On December 7, the House voted 210-189 to pass H.J. Res. 88, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to nullify the Biden Administration's new income-driven repayment plan, known as the Saving on A Valuable Education (SAVE) plan. The CRA Resolution was supported by all House Republicans and Democratic Representatives Jared Golden (D-ME) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA). The SAVE plan (1) cuts in half the amount that undergraduate loan borrowers have to pay each month from 10% to 5% of discretionary income; (2) raises the amount of income that is considered non-discretionary income and therefore is protected from repayment, guaranteeing that no borrower earning under 225% of the federal poverty level—about the annual equivalent of a $15 minimum wage for a single borrower – will have to make a monthly payment under this plan; (3) forgives loan balances after 10 years of payments, instead of 20 years, for borrowers with original loan balances of $12,000 or less; and (4) does not charge borrowers with unpaid monthly interest, so that unlike other existing IDR plans, no borrower’s loan balance will grow as long as they make their monthly payments – even when that monthly payment is $0 because their income is low. House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) spoke on the House floor in support of the resolution, stating, “the Biden Administration knows that it’s so-called 'SAVE' plan is illegal,” and that the “plan isn’t about helping borrowers…It’s about an upcoming election and an Administration dead set on using the executive pen to reshape our country.” House Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) spoke in opposition to the resolution, noting that repealing the SAVE plan would be “disruptive” as “the Department [of Education] reported last month that 5.5 million borrowers have already enrolled in the program.” Ranking Member Scott added, “repealing the SAVE Plan does nothing to make higher education more affordable or accessible.” On November 15, the Senate rejected a companion CRA resolution, S.J.Res. 43, in a 49-50 vote.

House passes legislation to increase reporting on foreign gifts: On December 6, the House voted 246-170 to pass H.R. 5933, the “Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act.” Thirty-one Democrats joined 215 Republicans in advancing the bill. The bill would “require additional information in disclosures of foreign gifts and contracts from foreign sources, restrict contracts with certain foreign entities and foreign countries of concern, require certain staff and faculty to report foreign gifts and contracts, and require disclosure of certain foreign investments within endowments” through an amendment to the Higher Education Act. A fact sheet on the bill released by House Education and the Workforce Committee Republicans states that foreign adversaries are targeting American students, colleges, and universities, and names “the Chinese Community Party” as an entity that has “expanded their influence…with lucrative funding opportunities.” Specifically, H.R. 5933 decreases the foreign gift reporting threshold for colleges and universities from $250,000 down to $50,000 – with an even stricter $0 threshold for countries and entities of concern – and requires disclosure of foreign gifts and contracts to individual staff and faculty at research-heavy institutions to protect those targeted the most by our adversaries.” Following the bill’s passage, House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) issued a statement citing “the crisis of confidence” plaguing universities and noting, “passing this legislation would send a strong message to our foreign adversaries.” House Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) spoke on the House floor in opposition to the bill stating, “We must take targeted and thoughtful steps to protect our research and development initiatives without jeopardizing our global partnerships that will benefit us all. H.R. 5933 would stall decades of innovative progress and jeopardize global research initiatives.” A companion bill, S. 3362, was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Tom Tillis (R-NC) and has been referred to the Senate HELP Committee.

House Education and the Workforce Committee holds hearing on Antisemitism on university campuses: On December 6, 2023, the House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing titled, “Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism.” Three university presidents - Claudine Gay from Harvard University, Liz Magill from the University of Pennsylvania, and Sally Kornbluth from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - testified before the committee, along with Pamela Nadell, Professor of History and Jewish Studies at American University. As an update, Claudine Gay of Harvard University and Liz Magill of the University of Pennsylvania resigned as presidents of their respective institutions following the hearing.

Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC), in her opening statement, said, “Over the past several weeks, we’ve seen countless examples of antisemitic demonstrations on college campuses. Meanwhile, college administrators have largely stood by, allowing horrific rhetoric to fester and grow.” Chairwoman Foxx concluded, “College and university presidents have a responsibility to foster and uphold a safe learning environment for their students and staff. By holding this hearing, we are shining the spotlight on these campus leaders and demanding they take the appropriate action to stand strong against antisemitism.”

In his opening remarks, Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) noted that, “To be clear, this discrimination is nothing new. Any student of history knows that it did not start with the October 7 [Hamas] attacks [on Israel]; or diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; or any one new event. My colleagues would do well to recall this country has a centuries-long history of racism and white supremacy.”

In her testimony, Dr. Gay shared that, “We at Harvard reject antisemitism and denounce any trace of it on our campus or within our community. Harvard must provide firm leadership in the fight against antisemitism and hate speech even while preserving room for free expression and dissent. This is difficult work, and I admit that we have not always gotten it right. As Harvard’s President, I am personally responsible for confronting antisemitism with the urgency it demands.” Dr. Gay also remarked that, “I am deeply troubled by instances of inflammatory rhetoric and division on campus,” and that the university “encourage[s] the vigorous exchange of ideas, but we will not, under any circumstances, permit speech that incites violence, threatens safety, or violates Harvard’s policies against bullying and harassment.”

Dr. Magill, in her testimony stated, “I value this opportunity to reaffirm my and Penn’s unyielding opposition to antisemitism and to outline the urgent, university-wide actions we are taking to combat this centuries-old and resurgent threat. As President, my first priority is to members of the Penn community and, above all, to their safety and support. I must also ensure that our academic mission thrives; that academic freedom and the free exchange of ideas endure; and that we swiftly address any violation of the law or our University’s policies.”

Dr. Kornbluth remarked, in her testimony, that “I have been direct and unequivocal [in condemning antisemitism] – and such leadership statements are important. But they must be paired with action. This is just what we’re doing at MIT.” She also argued that, “Those who want us to shut down protest language are, in effect, arguing for a speech code. But in practice, speech codes do not work. Problematic speech needs to be countered with other speech and with education, and we are doing that.” And, finally, in balancing free speech and safety, Dr. Kornbluth said, “However, the right to free speech certainly does not extend to harassment, discrimination or incitement to violence in our community. MIT policies are clear on this.”

Dr. Nadell, in her testimony and remarks, focused on the history of antisemitism in America, including recent events prior to the October 7th attacks, recommendations for addressing issues on university campuses, and the importance of the Biden Administration’s “National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism” effort.

During questions, Republican and Democratic members strongly questioned the university presidents, particularly Dr. Gay and Dr. Magill, on protests on their campuses, their responses to the October 7th attacks, and specific cases of discrimination and harassment of Jewish students. Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) held several heated exchanges with Dr. Gay about her view that Harvard has not responded or disciplined hate and threatening speech - and called for her to resign. Representative Kevin Kiley (R-CA) asked Dr. Gay specifically about her response to a letter from student groups blaming Israel for the attacks, and she acknowledged that, “Had I known that the statement issued by the students would’ve been wrongly attributed to the university, I would have spoken sooner about it.” Representative Mark Takano (D-CA) also asked about the perceived lack of response from the university administration at Harvard, and Dr. Gay responded that, “Respectfully, the notion that Harvard did not react is not correct. From the moment I learned of the attacks on October 7, I was focused on action to ensure that our students were supported and safe.”

A number of other issues were raised during witness questioning, including free speech, Israel’s right to exist, and efforts to promote diversity on university campuses. On the issue of free speech, Representative Susan Wild (D-PA) asked Dr. Magill about “the line” between free speech and inciting violence, and she responded that, “Our approach with all rallies, vigils, and protests is that our public safety officers and something called open expression observers are present at all of them.” On the subject of promoting diversity, Representative Burgess Owens (R-UT), the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, accused the university presidents of not providing Jewish students the same “respect” and “protection” as other groups have received.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Foxx announces formal investigation into responses of Harvard, UPenn, and MIT regarding antisemitic events, as House also passes resolution condemning campus leaders’ previous testimonies: On December 7, House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) announced that the Committee would open “a formal investigation into the learning environments at Harvard, UPenn, and MIT and their policies and disciplinary procedures.” The announcement follows the testimonies of campus leaders during a House hearing regarding efforts to combat antisemitism on December 5.” Chairwoman Foxx also announced on December 13 the creation of a Committee-run email for college students and faculty who are interested in reporting antisemitism on campus. Regarding the email, Chairwoman Foxx stated, “Having a centralized reporting system allows the Committee to more effectively review and act on credible cases of antisemitism. I believe this resource will play an important role in helping the Committee conduct its investigation and bring real accountability to institutions that are failing their students and faculty.”

Relatedly, on December 13, the House passed by a vote of 303-126, H.Res. 927, a resolution condemning antisemitism on campuses and the testimony of university presidents in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. Eighty-four Democrats joined 219 Republicans to pass the resolution. House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) issued a statement following the resolution’s passage referencing the increases in antisemitism on college campuses, and said that “college administrators—like the ones who testified before the Committee last week—are not acting to protect students.” House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) spoke on the House floor in opposition to the resolution stating, “We need to do everything the law allows to address antisemitism, islamophobia, racism, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination on college campuses. This resolution is not a serious effort to advance that cause. I, therefore, oppose this resolution.”

House Oversight Subcommittee holds hearing on White House AI Policy: On December 6, the House Oversight Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation held a hearing titled, “White House Policy on AI.” The Subcommittee focused on President Biden’s October 30th Executive Order (EO) to ensure that the U.S. “leads the way in seizing the promise and managing the risks of AI,” as well as the guidance to Federal agencies from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on implementation of this EO. The Subcommittee heard from five witnesses: Ross Nodurft, Executive Director of the Alliance for Digital Innovation; Samuel Hammond, Senior Economist at the Foundation for American Innovation; Kate Goodloe, Managing Director at The Software Alliance; Daniel Ho, Professor at Stanford University Law School; and Dr. Rumman Chowdhury, a Fellow at the Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University.

Subcommittee Chairwoman Nancy Mace (R-SC), in her opening remarks, noted that, “We have explored the dark side of AI in this Subcommittee…implications for national security and risks for personal harm, among others” and that with “every major agency and many minor ones…engaged in this effort, we will be watching closely.” Representative Mace noted her “skeptical” support for the EO and OMB guidance and was pleased that they do not “regulate the technology itself…the AI genie is out of the bottle and we can’t put it back in.” In his opening statement, Ranking Member Gerald Connolly (D-VA), highlighted an estimate of the “total economic benefit of generative AI is between $6.1 and $7.9 trillion” and that “the U.S. must ensure we are a global leader in AI.” Ranking Member Connolly shared his support for the EO and OMB guidance and noted that, “These frameworks lead a comprehensive, society-wide effort to ensure AI best serves and protects the American people.”

During witness testimony, Ross Nodurft, from the Alliance for Digital Innovation, commented that, “[We are] very supportive of OMB’s outreach to industry to solicit comments and feedback on its draft memo,” but shared concerns that “the short turnaround time is limiting the amount of thoughtful and constructive feedback from industry. The rushed nature of the response means OMB will be finalizing its guidance to agencies without the full benefit of insights from the industry partners that are developing and deploying AI capabilities.” Samuel Hammond, from the Foundation for American Innovation, was supportive of some aspects of the EO, but raised concerns that, “In every case, managing these growing demands will require the federal government to not only adopt AI aggressively, but should force Congress and the executive branch to rethink the configuration of our administrative and regulatory agencies from the ground up.”

Continuing with the other witnesses, Kate Goodloe, from the Software Alliance, was pleased that the EO “takes a broad approach to setting AI policy,” but that “it does not replace the importance of Congressional action.” Goodlow noted two areas where she believes Congress must act, “First…create durable and consistent rules that harmonize the United States Government’s approach to using and procuring AI systems. Second, [ensure] new guardrails on private sector companies that develop and use high-risk AI systems.” Daniel Ho, from Stanford Law School, similarly was supportive of the EO and shared a vision where “the government protects Americans from bad actors and leverages AI to make lives better—like the [Department of Veterans’ Affairs’] use of AI to enable physicians to spend more time caring for veteran patients, and less time taking notes.” Ho argued that the EO and OMB guidance are “important steps towards this future…their focus on AI safety, investment, talent, and leadership are critical for America to lead in AI innovation and governance. But the executive branch cannot achieve this goal fully without Congress.” Finally, Rumman Chowdhury, from Harvard University, highlighted the importance of continued U.S. investment in AI technology and offered examples of investments in Singapore, Norway, and other countries looking to play a leading role in AI. However, she warned that, “We must be circumspect on if, when, and how we adopt AI systems. This technology is meant to serve humanity and innovation is only possible if we are all able to reap the benefits.”

During comments and questions, there was general bipartisan agreement on the need for federal action, though differences remained on the scope and range of the action. Members expressed an interest in continuing to hold hearings on AI and on the rollout of the EO.

FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel testifies before House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee: On November 30, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology held a hearing titled, “Oversight of President Biden’s Broadband Takeover,” at which Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel testified. In her opening remarks, Committee Chairwoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) expressed concern over new FCC regulations, stating that they “will put burdensome requirements on our nation's broadband providers, leading to government bureaucrats micromanaging Americans' Internet access.” Subcommittee Chairman Bob Latta (R-OH) also stated that the regulations will “micromanage the broadband industry” and “discourage broadband buildout at a time when Americans need it most.” FCC Chairwoman Rosenworcel noted in her opening remarks that the rules “ “fulfill Congress’ clear and broad directive to ‘facilitate equal access to broadband’ and ‘prevent’ and ‘eliminate’ digital discrimination of access to broadband service.” Chairwoman Rosenworcel continued that the rules were developed “in a way that is fair and reasonable, ensuring that we have a process to address these matters and recognize genuine issues of technical and economic feasibility for broadband providers, thoughtfully and carefully on a case-by-case basis.”

Representatives Bonamici and Fitzpatrick reintroduce bipartisan legislation to establish a national center to promote high-reward education research: On December 11, Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) reintroduced H.R. 6691, the “New Essential Education Discoveries (NEED) Act,” a version of which was first introduced in 2022. The NEED Act would create a fifth center at the Institute for Education Sciences (IES) – the National Center for Advanced Development in Education (NCADE) – which would develop and disseminate innovative, cutting-edge practices and tools, using a model similar to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Additionally, the press releases note that the bill would "update Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) and help states better track the progress and outcomes of students through K-12 and into the workforce.” Representative Fitzpatrick stated, “Our bipartisan NEED Act will create a national center dedicated to developing innovative tools based on data and technological advances to help close learning gaps.” Representative Bonamici added, “These critical investments are designed to strengthen teaching and learning to reach more students—particularly students who face the greatest opportunity gaps.”

Upcoming Events (Congress & Administration):

• From January 8 to 11, USED will hold negotiated rulemaking committee session on Institutional Quality and Program Integrity. The rulemaking committee will consider six topics: cash management, return of Title IV funds, accreditation, state authorization, distance education, and eligibility for TRIO programs. This is the first of three meetings of the committee. Additional committee meetings will be held from February 5-8 and March 4-7. Members of the public who wish to register to view the sessions or provide public testimony can find more information here.
• On January 10 at 10:15 a.m., the House Education and the Workforce Committee will hold a markup to consider H.R. 6914, the “Pregnant Students’ Rights Act,” which would require institutions of higher education to disseminate information on the rights of, and accommodations and resources for, pregnant students, and for other purposes. A webcast of the markup and information on proposed amendments are here.
• On January 11 at 2:00 p.m., the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration will host a webinar on proposed rulemaking to modernize registered apprenticeship regulations. The webinar will feature information on the proposed changes, their benefits, and how to submit public comments on the proposal. More information and registration are here.

Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):

• On January 16 at 2:00 p.m., the Hunt Institute will host a webinar titled, “Postsecondary Pathways | Bridging the Gap: Empowering Rural Communities for Higher Education Success.” The webinar will explore some of the unique challenges that rural students face as they consider postsecondary enrollment, including how college aspirations can be limited by the desire to maintain strong community ties and provide familial support. Presenters will feature effective strategies and best practices for increasing postsecondary enrollment among rural students. More information and registration are here.
• On January 17 at 2:00 p.m., KnowledgeWorks, Education Commission of the States, and New Classrooms will host a webinar titled, “The Future of Education: Championing Student-Centered Learning Through Legislative Action.” Representatives from each of the organizations will consider the evolving education landscape and education policies as schools are back to their pre-pandemic schedules and federal stimulus funds are coming to an end. Panelists from Minnesota, Montana, and South Carolina will discuss how they are prioritizing student-centered approaches in the current legislative session. More information and registration are here.
• On January 23 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., EdPrepLab, a project of the Learning Policy Institute and Bank Street Graduate School of Education, will host its Fourth Annual EdPrepLab Policy Summit titled, “Thriving Leaders, Thriving Schools: Policies for Effective School Leader Preparation.” The summit will focus on effective policy efforts that can help increase access to high-quality, comprehensive school leader preparation and development programs. Speakers include: Danny Carlson, Chief of Staff at the USED Office of Elementary and Secondary Education; Rebecca Cheung, Assistant Dean at the University of California, Berkeley School of Education Leadership Development programs; Linda Darling-Hammond, President and CEO of the Learning Policy Institute and Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus at Stanford University; Will Jordan, Research Officer at The Wallace Foundation; Ronn Nozoe, CEO of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP); and Marjorie Wechsler, Principal Research Manager at the Learning Policy Institute. More information and registration are here.
• On January 31 at 1:00 p.m., Results for America will host a virtual event titled, “The Power of Evidence to Drive America's Progress - Celebrating 5 Years of the Evidence Act.” The event will feature the release of a new report by Harvard University Assistant Professor Dr. Christina Ciocca Eller on federal evidence-based policymaking efforts. Speakers include the authors of the legislation, Senate Appropriations Chairwoman Patty Murray (D-WA) and former U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI), as well as Shalanda Young, Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Members of the new bipartisan Congressional What Works Caucus will also share how Congress can better integrate data and evidence into the legislative process. More information and registration are here.

Publications (Congress & Administration):

• On December 7, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) published a new report titled, “Updated Federal Guidance Would Assist Title I Schools in Meeting Parent and Family Engagement Requirements.” The GAO studied differences between family engagement and communications at Title I schools, which serve high percentages of low-income students and families. The results indicated little difference in how parents from Title I and non-Title I schools participate in and receive information from their schools, though the GAO found that the USED should update its “outdated” parent and family engagement guidance to states, districts, and schools. Specifically, USED needs to update the decades-old guidance to reflect current law, including how districts must prioritize high-need schools when distributing funds for parent and family engagement activities.
• On December 6, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) published new data from the 2021-22 Private School Survey titled, “Nation's Private School Enrollment Did Not Change from 2019-20 to 2021-22 School Year.” The data showed no significant changes in private school student enrollment between the 2019-20 and 2021-22 school years. Additionally, during that same time, there was no change in the overall number of teachers in private schools, but there was a 3 percent decrease in the number of private schools across the country.
• On December 19, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published a report titled, “College Banking and Credit Card Agreements.” The report is the 14th annual of its kind and is provided to Congress pursuant to the Credit CARD Act of 2009, which requires that the CFPB perform a review of publicly available information on college websites to gather data on the financial products that colleges offer directly to their students or jointly market to their students with third-party providers. The report found that many colleges continue to employ marketing strategies that may mislead students into accepting products that may not be the best choice for them. Specifically, some colleges use financial product partners that may charge students high or atypical fees, and some students face unexpected fees at graduation. Additionally, the average fees paid by students vary, and accountholders at HBCUs, for-profit colleges, and Hispanic-servicing institutions (HSIs) all pay higher-than-average fees per account.
• In December, What Works Clearinghouse published a new intervention report on “Building Blocks.” Building Blocks is a mathematics curriculum that aims to develop preschool children’s knowledge of mathematics following early mathematics learning trajectories. Following three studies of the program, findings from the report show that the program has “potentially positive effects” in its impact on student mathematics achievement.

Publications (Outside Organizations):

• On December 5, Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation published a new report titled, “Voices of Gen Z: Perspectives on STEM Education and Careers.” The report studied whether members of Generation Z, who were born between 1997 and 2011, are interested in STEM careers and whether the U.S. education system has done enough to prepare these youth for STEM roles. Key findings show that Gen Z youth are generally interested in STEM occupations, although few cite them as their first-choice careers, and Gen Z students and adults believe their K-12 schools have generally taught them about STEM careers, but many report they have not been exposed to foundational content that underlies many STEM jobs. The report does not make express recommendations, but purports that exposing Gen Z to STEM topics and jobs will ensure the U.S. has the labor force it needs.
• On December 5, the Aspen Economic Strategy Group published a new brief titled, “Pandemic-Era Student Learning Loss and the Policy Response.” The brief examines the scope of student learning loss, what the federal government and districts have done thus far to help students, and what the federal government can do now to put America’s students on a better path forward. The brief used results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to show that pandemic-induced learning loss has reversed two decades of progress in student achievement. Recommendations include ways that policymakers can provide schools with more time, more resources, and more accountability to help students get back on track.
• On December 7, The Education Trust published new research in a series titled, “Improving Students’ Access to Advanced Coursework.” The series analyzed data on what advanced coursework opportunities Black and Latino students and students from low-income backgrounds are able to access, including gifted and talented programs in elementary school, Algebra I in middle school, and Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or dual-enrollment programs in high school. The series includes a wide array of resources, including research reports and fact sheets, state-level briefs, and a state-level data tool. The analyses find that Black and Latino students lack access to advanced math and are often shut out of AP classes. The series offer recommendations for policymakers and education leaders at the federal, state, and school level on how to open the doors of opportunity for underserved students.
• On December 11, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools published a new report titled, “Believing in Public Education: A Demographic and State-level Analysis of Public Charter School and District Public School Enrollment Trends.” The report analyzed data from 2019-2023 to examine enrollment trends, finding that charter schools have gained more than 300,000 students, an increase of 9%. Over the same time period, district public schools have been unable to recover the 1.5 million students they lost during the pandemic, resulting in a 3.5% enrollment loss.
• On December 14, the Hunt Institute published a report titled, “2023 Across the Aisle Report: Cutting Through the Noise: Parents and Voters Want Real-World Skills, Safe Schools, and Literacy.” The report is a summary of findings from a survey designed to capture insights from parents and voters on a variety of education issues ranging from career readiness, student mental health, and childhood literacy, to “hot-button” topics like school choice, parental involvement in education, and more. The findings show that parents and votes have “core values” for education, which prioritize workforce readiness, training educators to support students’ mental health, and teaching students about online safety, among other topics.

Legislation:

Introduced in the House of Representatives:

H.R. 6566
A bill to authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to local educational agencies to make physical improvements at the elementary schools and secondary schools served by such agencies, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ)

H.R. 6576
A bill to improve the full-service community school program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Susie Lee (D-NV)

H.R. 6585
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to extend Federal Pell Grant eligibility to certain short-term workforce programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY)

H.R. 6592
A bill to authorize the Secretary of Education to provide grants to local educational agencies to cover the costs of challenges to determinations not to discontinue the use of specific instructional materials, or the availability of specific school library materials, in public elementary and secondary schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-FL)

H.R. 6593
A bill to require that the regulations related to SAVE Plan shall have the force and effect of enacted law.
Sponsor: Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-NY)

H.R. 6601
A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to codify a competitive grant program to build community colleges' capacity to provide employment and training programs for in-demand industries or occupations.
Sponsor: Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA)

H.R. 6613
A bill to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish Regional School Safety Development Centers to provide consultation for schools to develop or improve a school safety plan based on evidence-based best practices, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. John Rutherford (R-FL)

H.R. 6615
A bill to establish the Office of the Special Inspector General for Unlawful Discrimination in Higher Education within the Department of Education.
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN)

H.R. 6620
A bill to prohibit Federal funds from being provided to institutions of higher education with endowment funds equaling or exceeding $5,000,000,000, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Elijah Crane (R-AZ)

H.R. 6629
A bill to reauthorize the YouthBuild program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT)

H.R. 6631
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-WA)

H.R. 6639
A bill to amend the Community Services Block Grant Act to update the Federal poverty line, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Kevin Mullin (D-CA)

H.R. 6655
A bill to amend and reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Sponsor: Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC)

H.R. 6689
A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to forgive the Federal student loans of borrowers who are enrolled for benefits under part A of title XVIII of the Social Security Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA)

H.R. 6691
A bill to amend the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 to establish a National Center for Advanced Development in Education at the Institute for Education Sciences, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

H.R. 6692
A bill to amend the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010 to establish the position of the Assistant Director and Student Loan Borrower Advocate of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, to establish the Office for Students and Young Consumers of the Bureau, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

H.R. 6698
A bill to provide Federal-local community partnership construction funding to local educational agencies eligible to receive payments under the Impact Aid program.
Sponsor: Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA)

H.R. 6701
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase and adjust for inflation the above-the-line deduction for teachers.
Sponsor: Rep. Michael Lawler (R-NY)

H.R. 6706
A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to fund the information clearinghouse through fiscal year 2031, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY)

H.R. 6715
A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to make grants for hate crime prevention and prejudice reduction education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-NY)

H.R. 6728
A bill to require public school, and public institution of higher education, athletic teams and clubs to be designated for membership based on biological sex, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI)

H.R. 6759
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an exclusion from gross income for AmeriCorps educational awards.
Sponsor: Rep. John Larson (D-CT)

H.R. 6786
A bill to authorize the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to make grants to eligible entities to assist certain individuals in reentering a secondary school or a high school equivalency program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA)

H.R. 6791
A bill to amend the Digital Equity Act of 2021 to facilitate artificial intelligence literacy opportunities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE)

H.R. 6792
A bill to amend the public service loan forgiveness program under the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require an on-line portal, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA)

H.R. 6795
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for education.
Sponsor: Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO)

H.R. 6809
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow certain Federal student loans to be transferred from a parent to a child, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bill Foster (D-IL)

H.R. 6816
A bill to prohibit the availability of Federal education funds for elementary and secondary schools that receive direct or indirect support from the Government of the People's Republic of China.
Sponsor: Rep. Kevin Hern (R-OK)

H.R. 6827
A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to increase commodity assistance under the summer food service program.
Sponsor: Rep. Marcus Molinaro (R-NY)

H.R. 6830
A bill to require certain libraries to maintain a diverse collection of books, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA)

H.R. 6838
A bill to require the Secretary of Education to disclose information about career and technical education and funding under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, and require FAFSA applications to include a career and technical education acknowledgment.
Sponsor: Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX)

H.R. 6847
A bill to impose limitations on the amount of indirect costs allowable under Federal research awards to institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA)

H.R. 6848
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit institutions of higher education from requiring ideological oaths or similar statements, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX)

H.R. 6883
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to track and record additional information on hate crimes, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)

H.R. 6888
A bill to develop career and technical education programs of study and facilities in the areas of renewable energy.
Sponsor: Rep. Seth Magaziner

H.Res. 907
A resolution to condemn the rise in antisemitism, call on all Americans to combat antisemitism in the United States, and implement aspects of the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism.
Sponsor: Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY)

H.Res. 927
A resolution condemning antisemitism on University campuses and the testimony of University Presidents in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Sponsor: Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) 

H.Res. 944
A resolution directing the Secretary of Defense to provide a briefing to the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives on plans to implement certain STEM education and outreach efforts.
Sponsor: Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)

Introduced in the Senate:

S. 3392
A bill to reauthorize the Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002, the Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

S. 3396
A bill to establish the Office of the Special Inspector General for Unlawful Discrimination in Higher Education within the Department of Education.
Sponsor: Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH)

S. 3404
A bill to require certain protections for student loan borrowers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)

S. 3426
A bill to reauthorize the YouthBuild program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)

S. 3443
A bill to prohibit institutions of higher education, elementary schools, and secondary schools from receiving Federal funds if those schools or institutions have covered relationships with covered persons, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL)

S. 3453
A bill to establish a grant program to facilitate peer-to-peer mental health support programs for secondary school students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-CO)

S. 3477
A bill to increase access to higher education by providing public transit grants.
Sponsor: Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)

S. 3487
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide an exclusion from gross income for AmeriCorps educational awards.
Sponsor: Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO)

S. 3518
A bill to authorize the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, to make grants to eligible entities to assist certain individuals in reentering a secondary school or a high school equivalency program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ)

S. 3520
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for education.
Sponsor: Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)

S. 3524
A bill to establish an interactive online dashboard to improve public access to information about student loan forgiveness programs, repayment programs, and repayment plans.
Sponsor: Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)

S. 3525
A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to maintain a peer-to-peer support line to provide emotional support, information, brief intervention, and mental health resources to youth who are experiencing stress or who are at risk of, or affected by, mental health disorders, and to establish a grant program for local educational agencies to employ school-based mental health coordinators.
Sponsor: Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)

S. 3532
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the establishment of a Task Force on Youth Mental Health Data Integration.
Sponsor: Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)

S. 3536
A bill to amend the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to require notification with respect to individualized education program teams, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN)

S. 3537
A bill to require the Secretary of Education to disclose information about career and technical education and funding under the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006, and require FAFSA applications to include a career and technical education acknowledgment.
Sponsor: Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN)

S.Res. 488
A resolution recognizing Jobs for America's Graduates for helping young people of truly great promise in the United States succeed in school, on the job, and in postsecondary education, leading to generations of productive and rewarding careers.
Sponsor: Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)