CONGRESS

The U.S. House of Representatives was scheduled to debate and vote on the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements (SCORE) Act; however, just prior to debate on the legislation, House GOP leadership pulled the bill from the floor. The leadership has not yet announced a new schedule for floor consideration of this legislation.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held an executive session and approved Scott Mayer’s nomination to be a member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring December 16, 2029, and Mary Anne Carter’s nomination to be Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Arts for a term of four years.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) started the process of consideration of a resolution confirming an “en bloc” group of subcabinet nominations. This resolution was introduced after a similar resolution faced procedural hurdles and its consideration had to be discontinued. The new resolution includes the nomination of Henry Mack to be Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor as well as the nominations of Scott Mayer and Mary Anne Carter.

Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee Patty Murray (D-WA); Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Tammy Baldwin (D-WI); Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee Bernie Sanders (I-VT); Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY); and other Democrats sent a letter objecting to the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) recent interagency agreement announcement.

ADMINISTRATION

ED announced that on January 2, 2026, the agency will release a new portal for colleges and universities to report foreign funding.

ED posted materials for the upcoming Accountability in Higher Education and Access through Demand-driven Workforce Pell (AHEAD) negotiated rulemaking sessions.

COURTS

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals denied a lower court ruling that prevented the Administration from cancelling mental health grants awarded by ED.

EVENTS

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

December 9: Senate Judiciary Full Committee Hearing titled “Protecting Our Children Online Against the Evolving Offender.”

December 9: Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee Hearing titled “Building Pathways: Advancing Workforce Development in the 21st Century.”

December 10: House Education and Workforce Subcommittee Hearing titled “Building a Talent Marketplace: How LERs Empower Workers and Expand Opportunity.”

December 8-12: Department of Education negotiated rulemaking sessions to develop regulations related to Workforce Pell Grants.