The information covered below is from June 20, 2025, through July 2, 2025.

Highlights:

• On July 4, President Trump signed his Administration's first key domestic policy bill, H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
• On June 27, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, siding with a group of parents seeking to opt their students out of story books with LGBTQ+ themes in Montgomery County Public Schools, MD.
• On June 27, the USED issued new guidance to state and local education agencies regarding how they can use Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 school improvement funds to support school choice initiatives

Administration:

President Trump signs budget reconciliation bill: On July 4, President Trump signed his Administration's first key domestic policy bill, H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The budget reconciliation bill previously passed the House on July 3 in a final vote of 218-214, with two Republicans voting against the measure - Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY). The Senate voted 51-50 to approve the bill, where three Senate Republicans voted against the partisan measure - Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) - and Vice President J.D. Vance cast the deciding vote. The bill represents major changes to a wide range of domestic policies, including many that affect students, families, and education systems and institutions. For further explanation on key education-related components of the bill, please see EducationCounsel's July 1 Alert.

Trump Administration withholds federal education funds: On June 30, media outlets reported that the U.S. Department of Education (USED) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) informed state departments of education that the Administration is withholding nearly $6.9 billion in federal education funds that were scheduled to be distributed on July 1. The funds are part of Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations, which mostly apply to the 2025-2026 school year. Withheld funds include:

• $376 million for Title I-C migrant education state grants
• $2.190 billion for Title II-A supporting effective instruction state grants
• $890 million for Title III-A English language acquisition grants
• $1.33 billion for Title IV-B 21st century community learning centers grants
• $1.38 billion for Title IV-A student support and academic achievement grants
• $715 million for adult education state grants

States and school districts planned their budgets for the upcoming year expecting disbursement of these funds. They will now have to quickly decide which services, programs, and staff to cut and/or backfill with other funding sources. Note that these are all for formula-funded education programs, not competitive grant programs where USED has more discretion in how funding appropriated by Congress is disbursed. It is not yet clear whether the Department will attempt to withhold additional funds. Legal challenges will likely be filed to challenge this Administration action.

White House:

White House announces pledge to invest in AI education: On June 30, the White House announced that more than 60 organizations have signed its Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Education, which follows President Trump’s Executive Order on Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for America’s Youth. In signing the pledge, the organizations “pledge to make available resources for youth and teachers through funding and grants, educational materials and curricula, technology and tools, teacher professional development programs, workforce development resources, and/or technical expertise and mentorship” over the next four years, and in working with the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education. Among the signees are large technology companies like Microsoft and Intel, as well as education software organizations such as Clever and Classlink.

U.S. Department of Education (USED):

USED reinstates original late liquidation deadlines for all states: On June 26, the USED informed all state departments of education that the Department was reversing course and would now honor the original late liquidation deadlines approved by the Biden Administration for those states seeking more time to completely expend their ESSER funds. Before this announcement, the states that had not joined a lawsuit against USED were subject to the termination of their liquidation extensions while the plaintiff states were protected by a federal court’s preliminary injunction. Now all states will receive the reimbursements they anticipated before USED terminated their extensions on March 28, at least as long as the court challenge is pending and unless the court ultimately decides that USED does have the authority to undo the agreed-upon extensions. (More information about the specifics of USED’s procedures is available in this FAQ site.)

USED issues guidance on using Title I School Improvement Funds to expand school choice: On June 27, the USED issued new guidance to state and local education agencies regarding how they can use Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) school improvement funds to support school choice initiatives. The Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) focuses on how states that allocate ESEA Sec. 1003(a) funds via a competition—rather than distributing the funds via formula—could prioritize proposals from those districts that will offer school choice options to students enrolled in schools identified for improvement. (Such schools include those identified for comprehensive support and improvement (CSI), targeted support and improvement due to consistently underperforming subgroups (TSI), and additional targeted support and improvement (ATSI).) This is the third in a series of DCLs implementing an early executive order on expanding school choice. As with the prior two issued on March 31 and May 21, the new DCL does not entail a change to current law. 

USED holds negotiated rulemaking sessions on Public Service Loan Forgiveness: From June 30 to July 2, the USED held negotiated rulemaking for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) in accordance with President Trump’s Executive Order (EO), “Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness.” That EO directed USED to update the PSLF regulations to exclude from program eligibility any employer that engages in “activities that have a substantial illegal purpose.” In a 6/23/25 issue paper outlining the topics and proposed changes, USED outlined and listed amendments in alignment with the EO, redefining “Qualifying employer” and “Substantial illegal purpose” to include the following as disqualifying employer activities: violations of federal immigration law, facilitating cartels, child trafficking, “engaging in a pattern of aiding and abetting illegal discrimination,” and engaging in a pattern of public nuisance or vandalism. Additionally, the draft regulations reference the use of puberty blockers or sex hormones with individuals under age 19 as constituting “chemical castration of minors” (along with surgery referred to as “surgical castration or mutilation”), which would be included as a disqualifying employer activity. The paper also added definitions for both the “Process [and] Standard for determining a qualifying employer engaged in activities that have a substantial illegal purpose.”

Overall, the regulations would grant broad authority to the Secretary, the legality of which will remain undetermined until an employer loses eligibility and brings a legal challenge. EducationCounsel will continue monitoring the rulemaking process and provide further updates on the proposed and final regulations.

USED finds California Department of Education and California Interscholastic Federation in violation of Title IX: On June 25, USED’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that in its investigation of the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) regarding their policies allowing transgender girls and women to participate in girls sports, both CDE and CIF “are in clear violation of Title IX.” In its proposed Resolution Agreement, OCR requires CDE and CIF to take a number of actions within 10 days (7/5/2025), including:

• Circulate communication with recipients of federal funding that athletic programs must comply with current federal Title IX interpretation, which does not allow transgender athletes to compete in sports;
• Rescind of CDE and CIF guidance that allows transgender girls and women to compete in girls and women athletic events;
• Remove individual titles and awards from transgender girl and woman athletes and replace them with cisgender girls and women;
• Issue apologies to cisgender girls and women who did not receive the aforementioned titles and awards;
• Submit annual certifications that CDE and CIF, along with all recipients of federal funds, comply with Title IX, as well as a proposed “Monitoring Plan” to ensure ongoing compliance.

USED issues Notice Inviting Applications (NIA) for new American History and Civics (AHC) Seminars discretionary grant program: On June 23, USED announced an NIA for a new American History and Civics (AHC) Seminars discretionary grant program, noting the announcement “in honor of America’s 250th celebration.” The announcement notes that applications must include evidence-based approaches to the seminars, which “directly commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Founding of the United States.” Additionally, the seminars are required to study “traditions and texts essential to American constitutional government,” focusing on “the first principles of the Founding, their inclusion in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.” The Federal Register notice with complete information on applying is here.

University of Pennsylvania agrees to resolve its Title IX investigation regarding policies on transgender athletes: On July 1, USED announced that the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) has signed a Resolution Agreement to comply with the Trump Administration’s interpretation of Title IX. The Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) first opened the investigation into UPenn’s policy in February, and concluded UPenn violated Title IX by allowing a transgender woman to compete in female athletic programs and occupy female-only intimate facilities. Among the actions in the Resolution Agreement, UPenn agreed to rescind all individual UPenn swimming records and titles in the case(s) where transgender athlete(s) competed and won, and instead award the recognitions to the respective cisgender athlete(s); apologize to the cisgender athletes impacted; issue a public statement acknowledging the institution’s Title IX compliance; and adopt definitions of “male” and “female” consistent with President Trump’s Executive Orders “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism” and “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.”

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS):

HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) finds Harvard University in violation of Title VI: On June 30, the Joint Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism announced that the HHS OCR found Harvard in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act following an investigation into antisemitism on Harvard’s campus. In a letter to Harvard President Dr. Alan Garber, the Joint Task Force stated that its investigation found multiple reports of student-on-student antisemitism and harassment, and concluded that Harvard did not “dispute our findings,” nor take significant action to protect Jewish students. The letter requires that Harvard take “meaningful and immediate reform,” noting the potential for revocation of “federal privileges.”

Separately, on June 26, House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan and Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust Chair Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI) issued a subpoena to Harvard President Garber for additional information related to its antitrust investigation into Harvard’s tuition prices.

U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ):

DOJ opens investigation into the University of California (UC) system for employment practices: On June 26, the DOJ announced a new investigation into the UC system, regarding “potential race- and sex-based discrimination in university employment practices.” The announcement states that the system’s “UC 2030 Capacity Plan directs its campuses to hire ‘diverse’ faculty members to meet race- and sex-based employment quotas.” The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division’s Employment Litigation Section will investigate whether the UC system’s hiring practices engage in discrimination pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Congress:

Senate:

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee advances Trump Administration nominees for USED: On June 26, the Senate HELP Committee advanced “en bloc” by a party-line vote of 12-11 two nominations for USED: Penny Schwinn to serve as Deputy Secretary of Education, and Kimberly Richey to serve as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. The hearing to consider both Schwinn and Richey for their respective nominations was held on June 5, at which Senate HELP Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) expressed support for both nominees. The nominations now move to the full Senate for a final vote.

Senate Appropriations Committee holds hearing on President Trump’s budget rescissions request: On June 25, the Senate Appropriations Committee held a hearing on President Trump’s budget rescissions request, at which Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russell Vought testified. While the proposed package would seek to codify DOGE’s – the “Department of Government Efficiency,” formerly led by Elon Musk - previous efforts to primarily reduce foreign assistance spending, the request also includes a proposed rescission of $1.07 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which provides grants to the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and National Public Radio (NPR).

Throughout the hearing, members from both sides of the aisle voiced concerns on the proposed cuts. Committee Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) expressed concern for the cuts to PBS and NPR, stating that there are “more targeted approaches to addressing that bias at NPR than rescinding all of the funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.” Both Chair Collins and Vice Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) noted the bipartisan nature of the Senate Appropriations Committee; Vice Chair Murray expressed that the package is a “direct threat to continuing our long track record of bipartisan work and holding bipartisan markups this summer.” Vice Chair Murray went further to add, “If we do not reject this rescissions package outright, and seriously defend the authority of Congress and work of this Committee, we will find very quickly, our bills become a lot less important.” Later in the hearing, former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) also noted his concern over the package: “Dividing funding for major existing bipartisan priorities between base budget and reconciliation isn't just counterintuitive. It's actually counterproductive.”

House:

House Education and Workforce Committee advances legislation on school choice and college accreditation: On June 25, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a markup and advanced bills related to school choice and college accreditation. Among the bills advanced were:

• H.R. 3453, the “Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act,” which advanced by a party line vote of 20-15, and provides states with greater flexibility to use existing federal funds in the application process for charter school development.
• H.R. 2516, the “Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2025,” which advanced by a party line vote of 21-15, and prohibits postsecondary accreditors from mandating that institutions adopt “DEI” standards in order to receive accreditation.

On the passage of the bills, Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) said: “As we continue to expand and protect access to charter schools—which are an increasingly popular option for families and students—we are also working to reduce political bias in the college accreditation process.”

House Education and Workforce Subcommittee holds hearing on child care and the workforce: On June 24, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing titled, “Child Care and the American Workforce: Removing Barriers to Economic Growth.” The Committee heard from four witnesses: Caitlin Codella Low, Managing Director of Human Capital at the Bipartisan Policy Center; Todd D. Barton, Mayor of the City of Crawfordsville; Dr. Ruth Friedman, Senior Fellow at The Century Foundation; and Celia Hartman Sims, President and Founder of The Abecedarian Group. Throughout the hearing, members from both sides of the aisle remarked on the importance of parental choice in selecting the child care programs that best fit their family’s needs, as well as addressing the challenges of supporting and sustaining the child care workforce.

In his opening remarks, Subcommittee Chair Kevin Kiley (R-CA) acknowledged the complexities of the cost of child care, asserting that the national average cost of care - $13,128 - is “simply unsustainable,” later noting that the affordability is an “economic conundrum.” Chair Kiley expressed support for both parental choice and the child care workforce through the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), and stated that “the only reasonable approach to addressing the affordability and sustainability of the child care sector is through public-private partnership.” Subcommittee Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) echoed Chair Kiley’s support for investments through CCDBG, specifically citing Ms. Codella Low’s testimony, which stated that, “for every $1 invested in early childhood programs, the return is up to $17 in reduced need for public assistance, increased earnings, and better educational outcomes.”

Subcommittee member questions during the hearing continued the themes of the opening statements; Full Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) asked about how federal programs allowed for parental choice, to which Ms. Sims responded, “the [CCDBG] is incredibly inclusive of a variety of providers, including faith based providers.” Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) also addressed the need for providers to “earn a wage that they can actually sustain their own families in these roles.” Full Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) focused his questions on the cost of child care, specifically, why subsidies are necessary for child care to be affordable; Dr. Friedman explained that “parents cannot cover what providers actually need to pay their staff,” which is where subsidies can allow for accessibility. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D-CT) raised concerns about the potential for the Trump Administration to repeal a Child Care and Development Fund regulation finalized by the Biden Administration in 2024, which “capped family payments at 7% of family income, but allowing states to eliminate copayments for more families.” Dr. Friedman shared that “it would be a tragic mistake to repeal that rule.” Congresswoman Summer Lee (D-PA) also raised concerns over potential cuts to Head Start, referencing the Trump Administration’s closure of five regional Head Start office and the firing of hundreds of employees at the Administration for Children and Families, emphasizing the return on investment of child care: “for every dollar we invest in early childhood education, we save substantially more on services that children won't need as they grow up.”

For additional information, the First Five Years Fund (FFYF) has produced a longer summary of the hearing here.

House Oversight Subcommittee Committee holds hearing on “DEI”: On June 25, the House Oversight Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services held a hearing titled, “Sacrificing Excellence for Ideology: The Real Cost of DEI.” The focus of the hearing was primarily on the origins of DEI and the alleged use of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in federal government programs and contracting. The subcommittee heard from four witnesses: Dan Lennington, Managing Vice President at the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty; Dr. Judge Glock, Director of Research and Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute; Dr. Erec Smith, Research Fellow at the Cato Institute; and Dr. Shaun Harper, Professor of Public Policy at the University of Southern California.

In his opening remarks, Subcommittee Chair Glenn Grothman (R-WI), claimed, “Over the last 60 years, the destructive DEI agenda has now evolved and infiltrated nearly every type of institution in America, including higher education, corporate workplaces, government, the military, and more.” Chair Grothman continued. “These policies divide Americans by putting them all in groups and educating people that they should not view themselves as an individual, they should view themselves as a group.” Subcommittee Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), in his opening remarks, referenced the then-House-passed budget reconciliation bill’s cuts to Medicaid and food assistance, “I understand the majority's desire to change the subject…it is easier to deflect than face the truth. The subcommittee is trying to change the subject and [instead] pit Americans against each other by going after diversity.”

He added that he was “disappointed that the words “health care, financial services, and oversight” do not appear anywhere in today’s hearing topic.”

In witness testimony and questioning, Dan Lennington, from the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, a conservative think tank, claimed that “DEI policies and programs are not only prevalent, but they are also illegal. Even slightly favoring one race and “tipping the scale” in their favor amounts to illegal race discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” Dr. Glock, from the Manhattan Institute, focused his remarks on minority contracting in federal programs, and argued that, “Preferences for already successful businesses based on their owners’ race or sex are unconstitutional, expensive, and detrimental to the core functions of government. Minority-contracting programs should be removed from all levels of government as quickly as possible.” Dr. Smith, from the CATO Institute, stated that, “DEI is not a benign reform agenda; it draws from radical Marxist theory, systematically dismantles meritocratic principles [and] harms students’ readiness for post-college life…” The final witness, Dr. Harper from USC, argued in support of DEI efforts, and said, “DEI policies and programs aim to address these longstanding realities. Reducing them to “ideology” represents a consequential misrepresentation of the important work and the people who perform it.”

House Education and Workforce Subcommittee holds hearing on postsecondary education in Native American institutions: On June 24, the House Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a joint hearing with the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations titled, “Enhancing Educational Outcomes in Indian Country: Postsecondary Education at the Bureau of Indian Education.” Department of the Interior Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Indian Affairs Scott Davis testified. Throughout the hearing, Subcommittee members voiced concerns over the Bureau of Indian Education’s role in supporting and holding accountable institutions that serve Native American communities, naming both recurring and recent issues related to mismanagement. Subcommittee Chair Burgess Owens (R-UT) called attention to prior failure to exercise proper oversight of Haskell Indian Nations University, which has been a focus of Committee hearings in the past; Full Committee Chair Tim Walberg (R-MI) cited a recent report from the Department of the Interior’s Inspector General about the sexual harassment of students on Haskell’s women’s basketball team. Subcommittee Ranking Member Alma Adams (D-NC) also expressed concern about the oversight at both Haskell and the BIE, stating, “The students and faculty of these schools deserve better, and the Native communities that they serve deserve to have the promise of opportunity fulfilled.”

House Education and Workforce Committee Chair Walberg continues investigation into antisemitism at DePaul, Haverford, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo: On June 26, House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) sent letters to DePaul University, California Polytechnic State University (San Luis Obispo), and Haverford College requesting additional information from the schools’ leaders following their testimony at a May 7 Committee hearing examining antisemitism on college campuses. The letters reference part of each leader’s statement during the May 7 hearing, requesting follow-up information on the steps and actions taken. Additionally, each letter calls for more information on how the institution’s leaders have modified or added to their campus policies and procedures to protect students and faculty from antisemitism, therefore complying with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

U.S. Courts:

Supreme Court provides parents a right to opt out of public school lessons for religious reasons: On June 27, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, siding with a group of parents seeking to opt their students out of story books with LGBTQ+ themes in Montgomery County Public Schools, MD (MCPS). MCPS added the books to its elementary English Language Arts curriculum in 2022, initially providing families the opportunity to opt their students out for religious and non-religious reasons. The district later stopped allowing the opt-outs because, among other reasons, MCPS “could not accommodate the growing number of opt out requests without causing significant disruptions to the classroom environment.” A group of parents challenged the policy change on the grounds that their children’s exposure to “LGBTQ+ inclusive” content violated parents’ right to free exercise of religion under the First Amendment.

The Supreme Court overruled lower courts to grant the parents a preliminary injunction against the district. Justice Alito, writing for the majority, extended the Court’s previous ruling in Wisconsin v. Yoder (affirming parents’ right to direct the religious upbringing of their children, which may be infringed upon by laws that create a “very real threat” to the beliefs and values they seek to impart) to conclude that reading or discussing books with LGBTQ+ themes - particularly those that “celebrate” these identities - can pose a significant threat to the religious freedom of families of differing beliefs as to merit the highest level of judicial scrutiny. In her dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor distinguished between exposure to diverse stories and curricular content (unsuccessfully challenged in various circuits) and compelling students to affirmatively participate in or change their beliefs (impermissible and not applicable in this case). She raised concerns about the broader consequences of the decision, such as districts altering curricula to remove potentially “objectionable” content for all students to avoid the burden of managing opt-outs and providing alternate instruction.

Supreme Court limits the availability of universal injunctions: On June 27, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Trump v. CASA that limits the ability of federal district courts to issue universal or nationwide injunctions that completely block a challenged policy rather than blocking it only on behalf of the plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit. The Supreme Court instructed district court judges to issue injunctions broad enough only to provide “complete relief” for the plaintiffs who requested it. There are still some open pathways to securing injunctions that apply to everyone. For example, class action lawsuits or challenges brought by national organizations might succeed in winning injunctions that are universal or nationwide. But the Court’s decision today will make it significantly harder to effectively challenge the Administration’s legal overreaches, as advocates and affected people and groups may have to begin filing multiple similar lawsuits. This ruling will apply both to future cases and to existing cases that are currently subject to a universal or nationwide injunction. The Department of Justice will likely quickly ask courts to revise any such injunctions, while advocates will likely seek ways to broaden their group of plaintiffs or file new lawsuits that can apply more broadly.

Note that although the underlying case here is about President Trump’s executive order attempting to eliminate the Constitution’s guarantee of birthright citizenship, the Supreme Court’s ruling does not address the legality of that effort. The Court also delayed implementation of the executive order by 30 days, and there is already at least one attempt to form a class action suit that would include every person who might be harmed if the executive order is implemented. Class action suits face their own set of procedural hurdles, though. The coalition of states that have also objected to the elimination of birthright citizenship are likely to argue to a district court that they can only receive “complete relief” in this case through a nationwide injunction, because otherwise they will be faced with providing services to people whose citizenship status might change every time they cross state lines.

Research organizations file lawsuit over National Science Foundation (NSF) cuts: On June 18, a group of research organizations, including the American Educational Research Association, filed a lawsuit in federal court regarding significant cuts to NSF grants and programs. The groups cite changes made to NSF’s priorities in April following President Trump’s Executive Order “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs,” which resulted in the elimination of grants that members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) determined were “not aligned with program goals or agency priorities.” The suit asserts that many of the eliminated grants were in direct alignment with NSF’s congressionally-mandated mission, part of which is to “expand the participation of underrepresented persons in STEM fields, including women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.” The groups also argue that the change in policy violated the Administrative Procedure Act and the grant cancellations are unlawful.

Upcoming Events (Congress & Administration):

• On July 10 at 9:30 a.m., the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a markup of the Commerce, Justice, Science; Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA; and Legislative Branch Appropriations Acts. The markup will be held in 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building and livestreamed here.
• On July 21 at 5:00 p.m. the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health, and Human Services (Labor/HHS) will hold a markup of the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor/HHS Appropriations bill. The location of the markup has not yet been announced. More information will be provided here.
• On July 24 at 10:00 a.m. the House Appropriations Committee will hold a markup of the Fiscal Year 2026 Labor/HHS Appropriations bill. The markup will be held in 2359 Rayburn House Office Building and livestreamed here.

Upcoming Events (Outside Organizations):

• On July 23 at 3:00 p.m., the Grantmakers for Thriving Youth (GTY) will host a webinar titled, "Youth Leaders on Mental Health: Pathways to Healing & Wellbeing for All." GTY and the National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy will lead a discussion about youth mental health and well-being. Participants will hear directly from youth leaders from across the country about how they are ensuring they and their peers have the support they need to thrive. Speakers include: Mikayla Arciaga, Georgia Advocacy Director at the Intercultural Development Research Association; Saanvi Arora, Executive Director at the Youth Power Project; Hazel Guzman, Program Officer for Adolescent Mental Health at the Carmel Hill Foundation; and Naomi Porter, National Collaborative for Transformative Youth Policy at Changemaker. Registration is here.

Publications (Outside Organizations):

• On June 24, TransUnion released an article titled, “Following the Resumption of Federal Collection Activities in May, Nearly One in Three Federal Student Loan Borrowers Find Themselves at Risk for Default.” The article provides an overview of a recent TransUnion analysis which found that a record number of federal student loan borrowers were 90 or more days past due. As of April 2025, there were 31% of federal student loan borrowers with a payment 90 days or more overdue. The article states that millions of borrowers are weeks away from defaulting.
• On June 25, Education Trust released a fact sheet titled, “State Fact Sheet: 2025 Budget Reconciliation.” The fact sheet analyzes the impact of the then proposed bill, now law, on students and families within Texas specifically. Some of these impacts include that approximately 143,000 Pell Grant recipients in the state would be at risk for losing their entire grant, students with families making as much as $227,340 can receive scholarships for private school tuition through the federal voucher program, and that proposed changes to SNAP could cause 1.6 million students to lose access to free school meals.
• On June 30, the Learning Policy Institute (LPI) released a report titled, “Instructionally Relevant Assessment Systems: What is the Role of Performance Assessments?” The report argues that performance assessments offer better insight into what students know and can do relative to the standards being measured. The report makes several recommendations to system leaders who are interested in implementing such assessments. These include ensuring assessments measure things such as higher-order thinking and problem solving, leveraging performance assessments in conjunction with other assessment instruments, and the need for sustained and meaningful professional development.

Legislation:

Introduced in the House of Representatives:

H.R. 4054

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reform accreditation.
Sponsor: Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL)

H.R. 4085

A bill to establish Haskell Indian Nations University as a federally chartered educational institution to fulfill the treaty and trust responsibility of the Federal Government to Indians, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Tracey Mann (R-KS)

H.R. 4087

A bill to provide a definition of antisemitism for the enforcement of covered civil rights laws.
Sponsor: Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL)

H.R. 4120

A bill to address behavioral health and well-being among education professionals and other school staff.
Sponsor: Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR)

H.R. 4186

A bill to authorize the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to award grants to eligible entities to support the mental and behavioral health of elementary and secondary school students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL)

H.R. 4253

A bill to support States and high-need local educational agencies in increasing the number of mental health services providers in schools.
Sponsor: Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)

H.R. 4260

A bill to ensure the appropriate administration of the Impact Aid program.
Sponsor: Rep. Patrick Ryan (D-NY)

H.Res. 534

A resolution to commemorate the enactment of title IX and to celebrate the contributions women and girls make in education and athletics.
Sponsor: Rep. Lisa McClain (R-MI)

H.Res. 536

A resolution supporting the designation of the week including June 23, 2025, as "National Women's Sports Week" to celebrate the anniversary of the passage of title IX and the growth of women's sports.
Sponsor: Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY)

Introduced in the Senate:

S. 2140

A bill to establish Haskell Indian Nations University as a federally chartered educational institution to fulfill the treaty and trust responsibility of the Federal Government to Indians, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS)

S. 2166

A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include child development and early learning as community services under the Federal work-study program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)

S. 2193

A bill to establish a pilot program to expand early child care options for members of the Armed Forces and their families.
Sponsor: Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)

S.Res. 295

A resolution supporting the designation of the week of June 23 through June 29, 2025, as "National Women's Sports Week" to celebrate the anniversary of the enactment of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the growth of women's sports.
Sponsor: Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA)