September 26, 2024

Leading the news this week: Congress is officially out until after the elections after bipartisan efforts to keep the government funded past September 30th moved quickly yesterday, but before leaving, they unveiled the Government Accountability Office's report on what went wrong with the FAFSA rollout. 

Now let's dive into the latest news in higher education!

Government Shutdown Averted

Late last night, both chambers of Congress moved quickly to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government funded past September 30, 2024 at the Fiscal Year 2024 levels. The House passed the bill first with a strong bipartisan vote of 341-82. The Senate then took up the bill the same evening and passed it with a bipartisan 78-18 vote.  With this, both chambers decided to recess earlier than scheduled and will not be back for legislative business until after the general elections in November, when they will have just a month to come to an agreement on funding levels for Fiscal Year 2025 before the new deadline. 

Final Reminder: Department of Transportation's (DOT) Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) Program Funding Opportunity

The Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST) has released an FY24 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Reconnecting Communities Pilot (RCP) program. The RCP Program focuses on improving access to daily needs such as jobs, education, healthcare, food, nature, and recreation, and foster equitable development and restoration, and provide technical assistance to further these goals. 

Up to $607 million is available for planning, capital construction, and technical assistance. DOT will prioritize grant funding applications that demonstrate, among other characteristics, workforce development and economic opportunity.

For more information on the program visit here. For direction on how to apply visit here. The deadline to apply is September 30, 2024. 

• September 27 - Good Jobs Challenge Initiative
• September 30 - Transitioning Gang-Involved Youth to Higher Education Program
• November 12 - Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act State Plan Guide Comments Due
• November 12 - Consolidated Annual Report for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act Comments Due

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:

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