CONGRESS

The House and Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) extending the current CR expiring on March 1 to March 8. The bill also extended the CR expiring on March 8 to March 22, which covers the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) fiscal year (FY) 2024 bill. Additionally, the bill included changes to the methodology used to calculate Federal student aid and appropriated additional funds for the Pell grant program.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that this will be his last term as leader of the Senate Republican conference.

The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions held an executive session on the nominations of Julie Su to be U.S. Secretary of Labor and the nomination of Stephen Ravas to be inspector general of Corporation for National and Community Service. The Committee voted to favorably report the nomination of Julie Su to the full U.S. Senate on an 11-10 vote. The committee postponed a vote on the nomination of Ravas to a later, unspecified date.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) reached consensus in its negotiated rulemaking effort to promulgate regulations providing loan forgiveness for borrowers experiencing hardship.

Next week, ED will conduct the final session of its negotiated rulemaking effort on program integrity and institutional quality covering regulations on cash management, State authorization, distance education, Return of Title IV funds, accreditation and regulations providing for the expansion of Federal TRIO program access to undocumented students.

ED issued a press release highlighting its recent actions to prepare for the implementation of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

ED issued a voter toolkit for schools, colleges and universities on “the promotion of voter participation for students.”

ED released guidance for States, local education agencies and school districts on using Title I funds to expand preschool access for three- and four-year olds.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule on “Improving Child Care Access, Affordability, and Stability in the Child Care and Development Fund.”

EVENTS

Penn Hill Group plans on providing clients a summary of the following events next week:

March 6: House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee Hearing on “Proven Results: Highlighting the Benefits of Charter Schools for Students and Families.”

March 7: House Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee Hearing on “Divisive, Excessive, Ineffective: The Real Impact of DEI on College Campuses.”

March 7: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Full Committee Hearing on “The Older Americans Act: Supporting Efforts to Meet the Needs of Seniors.”

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

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