April 28, 2025

Leading the News this Week: Reconciliation Proposal Unveiled

ACCT is urging you to take action TODAY! It is imperative that you reach out to your member of Congress and let them know that harmful changes to the Pell Grant Program and risk-sharing found in the House Education and Workforce Committee's reconciliation bill will be detrimental to community colleges and their students. With consideration of the bill taking place tomorrow morning, contacting your federal elected officials is a time-sensitive matter. Take action here!

News in Higher Education

House Education and Workforce Chair Unveils Reconciliation Bill

Today, Chair Tim Walber (MI-05) released the House Education and Workforce reconciliation bill titled Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan, with a "markup" to consider the legislation and report it out of committee scheduled to take place tomorrow, TUESDAY, April 29 at 10:15 AM ET. The Republicans on the committee were tasked with finding $330 billion in savings. 

In its current state, the bill proposes several changes. Below is a summary. 

Accountability:

• Creates a risk-sharing policy that would require institutions to reimburse the federal government for student loans that borrowers do not pay back. 

Pell Grant Program:

• Require students to take 15 credits per semester rather than the current 12 to be eligible for the full Pell Grant
• Address the looming Pell shortfall by adding additional funding for the next three years.
• Create the Workforce Pell program that would offer Pell dollars to recipients looking to complete short-term programs that range from 8 to 15 weeks in duration.

Direct Loan Program:

• Eliminate subsidized student loans while maintaining the unsubsidized loan program. As such, student borrowers' only federal direct loan option would have interest accruing while enrolled in their programs.

Again, we urge you to let members of Congress know that risk-sharing and restricted Pell eligibility are problematic for community colleges and community college students. Visit ACCT's Action Center to get in contact with your member of Congress.

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.

Grant Opportunities

Please review the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education's Community College webpage for new grants community colleges are eligible for.

• 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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