CONGRESS

Democrats elected Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) as House Minority Leader, Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) as Minority Whip and Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) as caucus chair.

A group of Republican House Members sent a letter to the House Republican Steering Committee in support of Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC) serving as Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee for the 118^th Congress.

House Republicans voted against a proposal to ban earmarks in the 118^th Congress.

Representative Donald McEachin passed away at the age of 61.

ADMINISTRATION

The Biden Administration extended the student loan pause on payments, interests and collections until June 2023 or 60 days after a resolution has been reached in pending legal challenges filed against the Administration’s student loan forgiveness program.

The U.S Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and Justice presented their first report to Congress on “recruiting, retaining, and training the Department of Education’s highly qualified workforce who investigate complaints and enforce Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Clery Act).”

The U.S Department of Justice issued guidance to its attorneys on the treatment of student loans in bankruptcy litigation.

THE COURTS

The Supreme Court of the United States agreed to review the legality of the Biden Administration’s student loan forgiveness program during the Court’s current term. The Court is expected to hear oral arguments on the program in February.

The 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Biden Administration’s request to put the lower court’s decision to vacate the program on hold.

EVENTS

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

December 7: House Education and Labor Subcommittee Hearing on, “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Corporation for National and Community Service.”

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

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