HOUSE and SENATE

The House passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (H.R.6800) by a 208 to 199 vote.

Congress sent H.J.Res.76, a Congressional Review Act resolution which would repeal the Administration’s final Borrower Defense to Repayment (BDR) rule, to the President for signature.

The Senate will be on its Memorial Day recess next week with only pro forma sessions scheduled. The House is expected to be in session and considering legislation next week.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) published guidance on how Governors can spend the funding they receive through the Education Stabilization Fund under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L.116-136).

ED updated its Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) webpage with several disclaimers related to student eligibility for emergency grant aid under HEERF, including that: guidance ED has issued under HEERF does not have the force of law; ED will “not initiate any enforcement action” based on the statements in the guidance regarding student eligibility of emergency financial aid; and ED is continuing to “consider the issue of eligibility for HEERF emergency financial aid grants under the CARES Act and intends to take further action shortly.”

ED approved the career and technical education (CTE) State plans for Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

ED estimated that Great Lakes Educational Loan Services provided incorrect information for roughly 4.8 million Federal student loan borrowers to credit bureaus. Great Lakes incorrectly reported borrowers’ accounts as “deferred,” instead of as making on-time payments as is required under the CARES Act.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance for reopening the U.S., including interim guidance for schools. Additionally, CDC published guidance for reopening institutions of higher education, specifically.

Seventeen States indicated their intent to apply for Rethink K-12 Education Models Grant funds through the Education Stabilization Fund under the CARES Act.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Penn Hill Group provides a list of grant opportunities and summaries for select grants. Please visit our website for more information.