One Big Beautiful Bill Will Become Law, ED Concludes Negotiated Rulemaking on Public Service Loan Forgiveness
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July 3, 2025
Leading the News this Week
The House passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Overall, the higher education provisions mirror what we have advocated for (please read on for details in the next section). ACCT wishes to thank you for the work you have put into reaching out to your elected officials, sharing relevant data and stories with them, and asking others to do the same. This work has moved the needle in a direction where community colleges have been able to avoid the enactment of adverse higher education proposals, as seen in the earlier forms of the reconciliation bill.
Any questions on this matter should be directed to publicpolicy@acct.org.
News in Higher Education
The "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" is Set to Land on President Trump's Desk
Today, the House passed the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act"after delays seen from Republican holdouts as well as Democrats, specifically Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), who broke the record for the longest speech delivered on the House floor in his and his party's opposition to the bill. Ultimately, Speaker Mike Johnson (LA-04) secured 218 votes to pass the bill. Now, the bill awaits President Trump's signature, which is set to take place on July 4th.
The higher education provisions in the "One Big Beautiful Bill" have morphed as the bill originated in the House, went through changes in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) committee, and emerged from the Bryd bath, to finally see final passage. Here is what the final higher education provisions look like:
- The Pell shortfall is addressed by adding funds to the Pell Grant program.
- Workforce Pell is included, which allows eligible students to use the Pell grant when enrolling in accredited workforce-focused programs that are between 8 and 15 weeks long.
- Rejects risk-sharing proposals in favor of gainful employment for all.
- Rejects Pell eligibility changes that would make students enrolling for less than 7.5 credits ineligible for Pell grant funding. Instead, students who have scholarships that cover the cost of attendance would be ineligible for Pell.
Please take a look at ACCT's statement and the pending signing into law of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act."
For more information on how else the bill impacts higher education, please check out ACCT’s Fact Sheets page for a summary of the education provisions. To stay informed on this and other federal developments, check out ACCT’s Advocacy page and sign up for our Latest Action in Washington updates at ACCT Now.
Department of Education Concludes Negotiated Rulemaking for Public Service Loan Forgiveness
In the wake of the Restoring Public Service Loan Forgiveness Executive Order, which directs the Secretary to exclude organizations that engage in illegal activities from participating in the Public Service Student Loan Forgivenes (PSLF), the Department of Education announced today that it has concluded negotiated rulemaking "to ensure that employers in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program are not engaging in activities that have a substantial illegal purpose." Overall, this process has resulted in 15 substantive changes to regulatory language. The administration has deemed the following as illegal activities: illegal immigration, terrorism, chemical and surgical castration or mutilation of children, child trafficking, illegal discrimination, and a pattern of violating state laws. The next step is for this rule to enter the public comment period. The Department has shared that "this week’s session is the first of several negotiated rulemaking proceedings planned by the Trump Administration to reform and streamline regulations on postsecondary education."
For more information on the negotiated rulemaking process, see here.
Grant Opportunities
Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA): Rehabilitation Long-Term Training program
The Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) has opened several grants in which grantees, such as institutions of higher education, are to award at least 65 percent of project funds as scholarships to students enrolled in the Rehabilitation Long-Term Training (RLTT) program. The closing date for these opportunities is July 17, 2025. Click here for more information.
- July 3- Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program Application Due
- July 11, 01:00 PM ET - LAW Live Webinar
- July 17: Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA): Rehabilitation Training: Rehabilitation Long-Term Training Program Closing Date
- Aug 1, 01:00 PM ET - LAW Live Webinar
- Sep 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.
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Spread the Word.
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