CONGRESS

Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) won their Senate elections, ensuring at least a 50-50 Democrat majority (with Vice President Kamala Harris’ tiebreaking vote) for the 118^th Congress.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was re-elected to serve as Minority Leader in the 118^th Congress by his fellow Senate Republicans.

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) announced that he would seek the top Republican spot on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee rather than on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) announced that he would seek the top Republican spot on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Senator Patty Murray’s office confirmed that she is seeking to chair the Senate Committee on Appropriations.

The Republican Party is now projected to be the majority party in the U.S. House of Representatives next Congress.

Current Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced that, while she will remain in Congress, she will not seek reelection as Speaker of the House or seek to serve in the House Democrat Caucus’ leadership in the next Congress.

Current Majority Leader Steny Hoyer released a statement indicating that he will not seeking to serve in an elected Democrat leadership position for the 118^th Congress.

Current House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) won an initial intraparty election to serve as the Speaker of the House for the 118^th Congress. The official vote for Speaker will take place on the first day Congress is in session after the new year.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED), along with the U.S. Department of Labor and the U.S. Department of Commerce, announced a joint effort that aims “to support career-connected learning and increase job pathways for young Americans.”

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona issued a statement on the settlement in the Theresa Sweet et al. v. Miguel Cardona et al. (Sweet v. Cardona) case.

Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson issued a statement on the Federal Communications Commission’s release of its pre-production draft map of broadband availability in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued guidance on the treatment of student loans in bankruptcy cases.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released an update on its investigation into bomb threats received by Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) earlier this year.

The U.S. Department of Justice will seek to have the Supreme Court and the 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals review recent judicial decisions halting the Administration’s student loan forgiveness initiative.

THE COURTS

U.S. District Judge Mark T. Pittman ruled unlawful, and vacated, the Biden Administration’s student loan forgiveness program.

The 8^th Circuit Court of Appeals granted an emergency motion for injunction as the court continues consideration of legal challenges to the Biden Administration’s student loan forgiveness program.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup granted final approval of a settlement in the Sweet v. Cardona case.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

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