16 days until a partial shutdow... No images? Click here ![]() January 3, 2024 Happy New Year from ACCT! Leading the news this week: The Department of Education finally launched the new FAFSA application, but the rollout has been marred with glitches leaving many frustrated. Congress is still out on recess and won't be back in DC until next week. With just 16 days until a partial government shutdown and no appropriations deal in sight, we will be closely monitoring the situation. Now let's dive into the latest news in higher education. Bipartisan Workforce Pell Fact SheetThis past December, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce successfully passed the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act. The bill addresses a top priority for community colleges by extending Pell eligibility. For a closer look at the bill, ACCT published a comprehensive fact sheet, which can be found here. 2024 Legislative Priorities WebinarJoin the government relations teams from the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) and the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) as they unveil the 2024 Community College Priorities (Green Sheet). The webinar will take place Thursday, January 18 at 2:00 pm ET and provide NLS attendees with a comprehensive understanding of our federal advocacy priorities, empowering them for legislative meetings with Members of Congress. Register here. TANF Request for Information (RFI)The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), in the Department of Health and Human Services, issued and RFI for public comments on the possibilities for design and implementation of the new pilot program and work outcomes measures for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. ACF seeks input from partners to help understand some of the options, opportunities, and potential challenges associated with the development and implementation of the pilot program and the reporting of new statutory work outcomes measures applicable to all states. The deadline to submit public comments is January 11, 2024. For more information, click here. *Final Reminder* Battery Materials Processing & Manufacturing GrantThe Department of Energy recently release a funding opportunity announcement (FOA) for Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing Grant. The FOA will provide $3.5 billion to successful applicants to fund investments within the electric vehicle battery supply chain, increase domestic battery manufacturing, and create good-paying clean energy jobs. The overall scope in this FOA includes demonstration and commercial facilities for battery-grade precursor materials, battery components, and cell manufacturing and recycling. Institutions of higher education are eligible to participate as a prime recipient or subrecipient of this FOA. The deadline for concept papers, which are required, is January 9, 2024. For more information regarding this grant opportunity, click here.
![]()
Outreach EffortsIs 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: 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) 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 and LinkedIn, or like us Facebook. |