Reconciliation Gets the Byrd Bath, Latest on Appropriations, This Week's Hearings and Markups
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June 23, 2025
Leading the News this Week
The Senate is inching closer to having a finalized reconciliation package. The next step is for the Senate parliamentarian to evaluate the provisions in the bill (more on this below). From there, the Senate chamber is to vote on its reconciliation plan. Then, the House and Senate are to resolve the differences between their proposals before reaching a vote.
In the meantime, we will continue our advocacy efforts so that the final reconciliation bill takes on the shape of the Senate plan. We urge you to do the same when you communicate with your elected officials in both chambers.
Any questions or requests for support in contacting the Senate should be directed to publicpolicy@acct.org.
News in Higher Education
Reconciliation Gets the Byrd Bath
The budget reconciliation bill is steadily moving in the Senate. Now it is experiencing what is known as the "Byrd Bath," where the Senate parliamentarian is evaluating the provisions of the bill to ensure they comply with the "Byrd Rule". In budget reconciliation, the bill can only address matters of taxation or provisions that will have a direct budgetary impact; provisions that are solely policies with no budgetary outcome are out of order. Currently, the parliamentarian has not deemed any of the education provisions to be out of order.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (SD) is aiming for this reconciliation bill to reach the Senate floor in the middle of this week and see passage in the Senate chamber by July 4th.
Latest on Appropriations
The House Appropriations Committee is moving along with drafting, marking up, and voting on the 12 individual appropriations bills that, when conferenced with the Senate versions, passed in each chamber, and signed by the President, collectively fund the federal government and its programs.
Currently, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill will be up for floor consideration, while the Legislative Branch, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, and Homeland Security are each moving along in the appropriations committee.
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor HHS) is scheduled to see committee action on July 21st and 24th with a subcommittee and full committee markup, respectively. Meanwhile, not all 302b allocations have been published. For Labor HHS, it is currently unknown what the total amount of funds the subcommittee has to appropriate towards its government programs.
This Week's Hearings and Markups
Tomorrow, June 24, at 10:30 AM ET, the Subcommittees on Higher Education and Workforce Development and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a joint hearing titled Enhancing Educational Outcomes in Indian Country: Postsecondary Education at the Bureau of Indian Education. As a reminder, while President Trump’s budget request did not propose to cut funding for tribal colleges through the Department of Education, it did propose to drastically eliminate funding for tribal colleges through the Bureau of Indian Education housed at the Department of the Interior.
On June 25, at 10:15 AM ET, the Committee on Education and Workforce will markup a series of bills, which include H.R. 2516, Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2025, and H.R. 4054, Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act.
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.
- June 24, 10:30 AM ET Hearing: Enhancing Educational Outcomes in Indian Country: Postsecondary Education at the Bureau of Indian Education.
- June 25, 10:15 AM ET Markup: H.R. 2516, Accreditation for College Excellence Act of 2025, and H.R. 4054, Accreditation Choice and Innovation Act.
- DEADLINE THIS WEEK! June 25 - Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) Partnership Grants
- 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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