LAW Alert: FY25 Hearing Roundup; FAFSA Week of Action; ED's New Student Loan Debt Proposed Rule; SNAP E&T Cohort Apps

April 17, 2024

Leading the news this week: The House of Representatives is at a stalemate. Speaker Johnson's faces the possibility of a motion to vacate by his right-flank should he move forward with passing additional foreign aid.

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

FY25 Appropriations Hearings Roundup

Earlier today, the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing titled “Budget Hearing - Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the Department of Labor." Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su testified and justified President Biden’s FY 25 budget request for DOL. To watch the recording of the hearing click here.

Last week, the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing titled “Budget Hearing – Fiscal Year 2025 Request for the Department of Education." Secretary Cardona will testify and justify the President’s FY 25 budget request for ED. You can access its recording here.

FAFSA Week of Action

Colleges nationwide are grappling with the significant challenges brought about by the rollout of the Better Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and these delays can dissuade some students from pursuing postsecondary education, impacting both enrollment and completion rates. ACCT is collaborating with the Department of Education to bolster the FAFSA Week of Action from April 15-19, aiming to raise awareness about the FAFSA form and provide support for student submissions.

We urge our members to disseminate these vital resources, as they empower students to navigate the FAFSA process effectively, ensuring greater access to financial aid and supporting their educational aspirations.

ED unveils New Student Loan Debt Relief Plan

Today, the Department of Education (ED) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to provide targeted debt relief as part of efforts to address the burden of student loan debt. The proposed rule lays out nine separate and distinct types of waivers using the Secretary of Education’s longstanding authority under the Higher Education Act. Eight of these are applicable to loans held by the Department, while the ninth addresses commercially held loans in the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program.

Taking a step back: Last week, ED unveiled their new strategy to provide extensive debt relief to millions of borrowers. These plans aim to alleviate the financial burden for millions by proposing waivers for accrued interest, automatic discharge for eligible borrowers not enrolled in forgiveness programs, forgiveness for long-term borrowers, and assistance for those in low-value programs or institutions. ED estimates that under these proposals over 26 million borrowers would be eligible for student debt relief.

A summary of the proposed rule can be found here. The proposed rule is open for public comments for a period of 30 days. To submit comments, click here.

SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) Cohort 2 Applications

ACCT is accepting applications for the SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) project open to rural or rural-serving community colleges, as well as state or regional systems and associations. As a SNAP E&T third-party provider, you can receive reimbursement for expenses that support eligible students, including books, fees, transportation, childcare, and more.

Join the cohort for technical assistance, trainings, resources, and a stipend. Don't miss this opportunity to leverage funding and enhance student support. Applications are open and will be accepted on a rolling basis until the cohort is full. ACCT will start reviewing applications after Friday, April 19th, 2024, at 11:59 pm ET. For more details, click here.

April 19 - SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) Cohort 2 Applications
April 24 - EPA Call for Applications for HBCU-MSI Advisory Council Webinar
April 25 - deadline to apply for Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program

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:

LaGuardia Community College’s Blueprint for Student Success

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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