May 25, 2022 Take Action: Ask Congress to Support Short Term Pell EnactmentCongress is currently considering two legislative proposals to address U.S. global competitiveness and innovation. In order to reconcile the differences between the two proposals, the House and Senate are engaging in a legislative process called a "Conference Committee" to determine the final bill language. One of the two proposals, the House-passed COMPETES Act, includes a provision that would extend Pell Grant eligibility to shorter term workforce training programs. Community colleges have been longtime supporters of "short term Pell Grants," and we are urging all members of Congress to support keeping this provision in the final proposal that results from the Conference Committee. Please reach out to your elected officials and ask them to support Short Term Pell in the Conference Committee negotiations using out Advocacy Action Campaign! New HEERF Guidance on Infrastructure ProjectsThis week, the Department of Education released new HEERF guidance to support college leaders in their efforts to maintain campus operations and facilities as they recover from the pandemic. The guidance answers frequently asked questions based on new flexibilities related to the use of HEERF (a)(2) grant funds for construction, renovation, and real property projects that were that were included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, signed by the President on March 15, 2022. The flexibilities only apply to HEERF (a)(2) grant recipients including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions & other Minority Serving Institutions, and Strengthening Institutions Program recipients and are limited to HEERF (a)(2) grant funds. The FAQ’s provide information about how HEERF (a)(2) institutions may use HEERF to cover construction and renovation and provide specific examples of how these colleges and universities might use this new source of funds. The Office of Postsecondary Education will hold a series of webinars for the various communities of eligible institutions, detailing the application process and to answer additional questions on June 2, 7, 8, and 9, 2022. A registration link for the webinars, as well as a link to this guidance, will be sent directly to institutions. House Education & Labor Committee Hold Education HearingThis week, on Thursday May 26, 2022 at Noon ET, the House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing entitled “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education.” The hearing will be the committee’s budget oversight hearing with Secretary Cardona expected to testify to justify the President’s budget request. You can watch the livestream of the hearing and access its recording here. 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. 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) E-Alert network. To join, simply e-mail publicpolicy@acct.org with 'LAW Alert' in the subject of the e-mail. For more community college news from inside the beltway, follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/CCTrustees) or like us Facebook (facebook.com/CCTrustees). Have questions? 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. |