Take Action on Community College Month, Earmarks for FY 2026, Lawmakers go Home, House to Lead Reconciliation
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April 14, 2025
Leading the News this Week
April is Community College Month! This is a time to reach out and remind your elected officials about the importance community colleges have in your communities. Take action by letting them know to join the Congressional Community College Caucus and to cosponsor the Congressional Resolution recognizing the significance of “Community College Month” which identifies April as Community College Month. Also, please check out ACCT's Community College Month toolkit to help you advocate for community colleges all month long!
News in Higher Education
Guidance for Programmatic Requests and Community Projects Funding Issued by the House and Senate
Both Senate and House Appropriations committees issued guidance to Senate and House members on submitting programmatic requests (which are requests for funding support to federal programs) and Community Projects Funding (known as Congressionally Directed Spending Requests in the Senate), also known as earmarks, for fiscal year 2026 (FY 26). Members of Congress can start submitting their requests today with submission deadlines starting the first week of May. However, individual Members will have earlier deadlines for requests from constituents to review and finalize their requests. Request forms should be found on their official website. Please reach out to your member of Congress to submit your community project request(s).
ACCT sent both Senate and House Appropriations leaders our FY 26 Appropriations programmatic priorities and is urging members to ask for support on those programs as well; continue to our Advocacy Update below for more information.
Lawmakers Back in Their Districts
For the next two weeks, Congress will be out of session which means that lawmakers are working in their districts. This provides an opportunity to invite your Member of Congress to events hosted by your community college or set up meetings at their district office. Members of Congress seek opportunities to learn the latest updates impacting their communities and constituents. If you meet with your lawmaker while they are in town, or host them for an event at your institution, please fill out ACCT's Congressional Contact Form to help us best support your advocacy efforts.
House Takes the Lead on Reconciliation Work
A major milestone was cleared for reconciliation, a filibuster-proof budgetary mechanism for items that involve direct/mandatory spending or taxation. Speaker Mike Johnson has stated the next step is for both chambers to collaborate while building the final reconciliation package. The expectation is that the House would proceed first in developing its plan and the Senate would respond to the House's framework. For now, Congress is on a two-week recess, meaning reconciliation work will be taking place behind the scenes as staff on various committees negotiate and work on drafting the legislation.
Advocacy Update
With the 119th Congress underway, ACCT has sent numerous letters advocating to members of Congress and the Administration on the importance of community colleges and workforce development.
This week ACCT Government Relations Team is featuring two letters sent to the Senate and House Appropriations and Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee leadership, Chair Senator Susan Collins (ME), Subcommittee Chair Senator Shelley Moore Capito (WV), Vice Chair Senator Patty Murray (WA), Subcommittee Ranking Member Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI), Chair Tom Cole (OK-04), Subcommittee Chair Robert Aderholt (AL-04), and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), outlining the funding priorities for the community college sector for fiscal year 2026.
These letters urge appropriations leaders to support the Pell Grant Program, Strengthening Community College Training Grants (SCCTG), the Higher Education Act Strengthening Institutions Program (Title III-A), workforce development, TRIO, Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR-UP), Child Care Access Means Parents In School (CCAMPIS), and other vital programs that facilitate favorable outcomes for community colleges and their students.
To further enhance our advocacy efforts, the Government Relations Team invites you to email publicpolicy@acct.org to share how recent developments at the federal level have impacted your students and your campus.
- April 29 - Public comment for the Department of Education's Rulemaking Process (In-Person Hearing)
- April 29, 11:59PM ET - Head Start/Early Head Start Grant Application Due
May 1 - Public comment for the Department of Education's Rulemaking Process (Virtual Hearing)
May 2, 1:00PM ET - LAW Live Webinar
May 23 - Deadline for ACCT's Leadership Congress Presentation Proposals
- June 6, 1:00PM ET - LAW Live Webinar
- June 20 - Fire Science Innovations through Research and Education (FIRE) Grant Application Due
- Jul 11, 2025, 01:00 PM ET - LAW Live Webinar
- Aug 1, 2025, 01:00 PM ET - LAW Live Webinar
- Sep 5, 202,5 01:00 PM ET - LAW Live Webinar
- October 22 - 25 - ACCT Leadership Congress
Outreach Efforts
Is your institution meeting or hosting an event with federal elected officials?
We created a Congressional Contact Form that will help us track outreach efforts of community college leaders across our membership. By filling out the form, you are better informing ACCT's advocacy efforts and our advocacy team is able to continue those conversations with congressional staff in DC.
ACCT NOW is the go-to resource for issues affecting community colleges. Our new website features original reporting and research, as well as of-the-moment legislative updates. ACCT NOW also includes articles, reports, and research from outside sources that benefit the ACCT community. Read the Latest Articles on ACCT NOW:
Would you Like a Federal Update Session for Your Team?
Both this new presidential administration and new Congress have brought with them a flurry of developments in the federal landscape that can make keeping up a monumental task. ACCT's Government Relations team is here to help by offering a 45-minute to an-hour federal update session to community college leadership teams who are ACCT members. To request a session, fill out this form and please email publicpolicy@acct.org with any questions.
Have a Question?
Contact us with any questions or concerns about public policy and ACCT's advocacy on behalf of two-year colleges and two-year college trustees. ACCT's Latest Action in Washington alerts are sent to interested ACCT members to keep you up to date on important legislative activities that impact community colleges.
If you no longer wish to receive ACCT's Latest Action in Washington alerts, reply to this email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line. For more information about ACCT's advocacy services, visit acct.org/advocacy
Spread the Word.
Please encourage your fellow trustees, presidents and colleagues to stay up to date about legislation that affects their community colleges by joining the Latest Action in Washington (LAW) Alert network. To join, simply register here.
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