ASAHP was one of 171 organizations that are members of the CDC Coalition and joined in sending a letter to congressional appropriators urging at least $11.581 billion in funding for the CDC’s programs in FY 2025.
The letter may be accessed here.
Congress Passes FY 24 Funding Package
Congress passed and President Biden on Saturday signed the second and final tranche of FY 24 funding bills. The six bill package consists of a bit over 70 percent of annual discretionary funding and includes the Labor-HHS-ED bill.
The House passed the funding package on Friday under suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority for passage. Due to absences, 280 votes were required, and the House passed the bill 286-134. Just 101 Republicans supported the measure, less than a majority of the majority, with 112 opposed. 185 Democrats supported the package, with 22 opposed. The Senate passed the bill on Saturday around 2am in a 74-24 vote.
The bill provides a 3 percent increase for defense funding and flat-funding for nondefense discretionary programming. See our previous post here, and the links below for more details.
The House and Senate are both scheduled to be on recess for the next two weeks, returning the week of April 8th. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has previously said that aid to Ukraine and Israel would be a priority for the House once it wrapped up FY 24 funding.
Text of the FY 24 funding package is here. The Labor-H explanatory statement is here, and the Labor-H Congressionally Directed Spending is here.
A six page Labor-H bill summary from Senate Appropriations Committee Democrats is here.
A 10 page summary from the House Appropriations Committee Democrats on Labor-H is here.
A 24 page summary from the House Appropriations Committee Democrats on the six-bill package is here.
A press release from the House Appropriations Committee Republicans is here.
A 35-page summary from the House Appropriations Committee Republicans is here.
A press release and summary from the Senate Appropriations Committee is here and here.
Congress Releases FY 24 Spending Bills
On Thursday, congressional leaders released their second and final tranche of FY 24 fiscal bills. The six-bill $1.2 trillion package includes funding for the Labor-HHS-Education bill. The House is expected to vote on the funding package today under suspension of the rules, which requires a two-thirds majority for passage. A Senate vote on the six-bill, $1.2 trillion-plus measure may come later today, or Sunday or Monday. President Biden has said he will sign the legislation.
The package provides $117.4 billion for HHS. According to a summary from House Democrats, after adjusting for earmarks the HHS bill is an increase of $955 million (0.8 percent) above FY 23. The bill includes $8.9 billion for HRSA, an increase of $54 million above FY 23 (excluding earmarks). The agreement will provide $815,776,000 for the HRSA Title VII and Title VIII programs, which is $8 million (7%) above funding in FY 2023. The Title VII programs for healthcare providers include levels equal to FY 2023 funding for the Centers of Excellence, Health Careers Opportunity Program, Faculty Loan Repayment, Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students, and the Primary Care Training and Enhancement Program. The Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program is provided with a $1 million increase above FY 2023 funding.
The package provides $79.1 billion for ED. According to a summary from House Democrats, after adjusting for earmarks, the total amount is a decrease of $201 million (0.3 percent) compared to FY 23. The bill provides $7,395 for the maximum Pell Grant, same as in FY 23.
Earlier this month, Congress passed a six-bill FY 24 package to fund about 30 percent of the government for the remainder of the fiscal year, through September 30. The package passed 339-85 in the House, 75-22 in the Senate, and was signed by President Biden.
Text of the funding package is here. The Labor-H bill summary is here, the Labor-H explanatory statement is here, and the Labor-H Congressionally Directed Spending is here.
A press release and summary from the Senate Appropriations Committee is here and here. A press release and summary from the House Appropriations Committee is here, here and here.
President's FY 25 Budget Request Released
Today, the White House released the President’s FY 25 Budget Request. As the FY 24 appropriations process is still underway, the FY 25 proposal reflects funding levels in comparison to FY 23 enacted levels. The budget proposes to reduce the deficit by about $3 trillion over a decade. The budget does not provide the type of dramatic increases for domestic programs that was included in prior year budgets due to funding caps installed by the Fiscal Responsibility Act last year. As it’s an election year, there is little chance the FY 25 appropriations process will conclude until at some point after the November elections
The President is proposing $82 billion in spending for the Department of Education (ED), a $3.1 billion (3.9%) increase from the FY 23 enacted level. The Department describes its budget as providing targeted investments within the caps created by the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
The Budget would increase the discretionary maximum Pell Grant by $100, and increase the mandatory add-on by $650 for a total maximum award increase of $750 (from $7,395 for the 2024-25 award year to $8,145 for the 2025-26 award year), expanding access and making college more affordable for an estimated 7.2 million students students. Students attending public and non-profit institutions would be eligible to receive the increased mandatory add-on, but not those attending for-profit institutions where the Pell maximum would be $7,495. The Administration’s overall goal is to double the overall Pell maximum grant by 2029.
The budget also calls for eliminating origination fees that are charged to borrowers on new federal student loans.
The budget request proposes a $93 million funding increase above the FY 23 enacted level for HBCUs, TCCUs, and MSIs, as well as a $100 million to expand research and development infrastructure at these institutions. It also proposes offering two years of subsidized tuition to students from families earning less than $125,000 who are enrolled in a four-year HBCU, TCCU, or MSI.
The budget would expand free community college programs through a Federal-State partnership. The Administration proposes two years of free Community College through a $90 billion mandatory program that would create partnerships between the federal government and States, territories, and Tribes for first-time students and workers wanting to reskill. The proposal would provide funding for two years of subsidized tuition up to $4,500 per year for students from families earning less than $125,000.
The budget includes $12 billion mandatory Reducing the Costs of College Fund that would offer competitive grants to public institutions. It would also provide over $7 billion for states to provide access to at least 12 credits of transferable career-connected dual enrollment credits to high school students.
The President is proposing $130.7 billion in discretionary (a $2.2 billion increase from FY 23) and $1.7 trillion in mandatory proposed budget authority for FY 2025 for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
The President’s Budget proposes $636.3 million, a $57 million (9.8%) increase over FY 2023 for the Title VII health professions programs, primarily directed to increases for a consolidated set of behavioral health programs ($253.6 million, a $56.5 million or 28.7% increase) and a proposed new “Health Care Workforce Innovation” program ($10 million), that seeks to incentivize the development of innovative new ways to recruit and train health professionals in order to accelerate progress in addressing workforce shortages.
The budget proposes nearly $72 billion in funding for mental health care over the next 10 years, including funding for the behavioral health workforce and technological infrastructure for behavioral health clinics.
The budget proposes $9.683 billion for the CDC.
The President’s FY 25 budget request may be accessed here. Details on the FY 25 budget request for ED and HHS may be accessed here and here. A funding chart from the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) may be accessed here.
Negotiated Rulemaking Committee Fails to Reach Consensus On State Authorization, Distance Education, and Accreditation
This week, the Department of Education concluded its third and final negotiated rulemaking session on Program Integrity and Institutional Quality, concerning state authorization, distance education, accreditation, return of title IV funds, cash management, and the TRIO programs. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) covered the negotiations on state authorization, distance education, accreditation.
Details from NASFAA may be accessed here.
ED Concludes Negotiated Rulemaking on State Authorization, Accreditation, and More
This week, the Department of Education concluded its third and final negotiated rulemaking session on Program Integrity and Institutional Quality, concerning state authorization, distance education, accreditation, return of title IV funds, cash management, and the TRIO programs. The committee only reached consensus on opening up some of the federal TRIO programs to undocumented students. Thus, ED may put forward its own regulatory language on the various topics.
From Inside Higher Ed:
“The Biden administration can now move forward with its plans to give states greater authority over online programs after an advisory rule-making committee rejected a compromise proposal Thursday.
The Education Department said last week that it wants to change the terms of state authorization reciprocity agreements to give state regulators more authority to enforce their own laws on out-of-state institutions that enroll their residents. Currently, reciprocity agreements allow colleges to enroll out-of-state students online without getting direct approvals from the individual states—and they exempt institutions from some laws in the states where the students are located.
Department officials have said that the current structure fails to protect students and taxpayers by limiting states’ oversight.”
Details are here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed may be accessed here. NC-SARA provides a “Status of State Authorization Reciprocity at Conclusion of 2023-2024 Negotiated Rulemaking Session 3”, here.
House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee Hearing on DEI
On Thursday, the House Education and the Workforce Committee’s Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, chaired by Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), held a hearing entitled, “Divisive, Excessive, Ineffective: The Real Impact of DEI on College Campuses”. The hearing was starkly partisan. Republicans primarily directing questions to their three witnesses, while Democrats primarily directed questions to their sole witness, Dr. James Murphy of Education Reform Now. More details are here, the House Republican recap is here, and a recording of the hearing may be viewed here.
ED Negotiated Rulemaking on Student Debt Relief Reaches Consensus
The Department of Education (ED) held a virtual negotiated rulemaking session last week regarding student loan forgiveness for those with financial hardship. The negotiated rulemaking session was the fourth and final round of negotiated rulemaking on student debt relief, following three rulemaking sessions on student loan debt relief last year, aimed at debt relief for several categories of borrowers.
Ahead of this week’s session, the Department of Education released draft regulatory text on Thursday, February 15. The proposal listed numerous factors that the Secretary could use to determine if a borrower is eligible for forgiveness due to hardship. It also included language allowing ED to offer immediate relief for those at least 80 percent likely to default within the next two years.
Some language from the proposal was tweaked, and ED added language clarifying that an application for debt relief is not required. Consensus was reached, as there was no dissent among members of the negotiated rulemaking committee. While most representatives on the negotiated rulemaking committee gave a thumbs up, the representative for for-profit institutions gave a sideways thumb, and the representative for servicers abstained.
The Department has previously said it aims to release the plans for public comment in May. Rules finalized by November 1 go into effect July 1 of the following year. ED could take action to implement provisions of the final rule earlier, using its authority under the Higher Education Act (HEA). Legal challenges are expected. ED’s negotiated rulemaking page may be accessed here.
NC-SARA to Host Webinar on U.S. Department of Education Negotiated Rulemaking
On Thursday, March 21, from 2-3pm Eastern, the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA) will host a webinar on the implications for SARA-participating institutions as well as SARA member states and territories of the 2021-2022 negotiated rulemaking final regulations published by the U. S. Department of Education in October 2023, with a particular focus on certification procedures related to institutional closure. Presenters will also provide an update on the 2023-2024 negotiated rulemaking, again focusing on topics that may have the greatest impact on SARA.
More details and a link to register may be accessed here.
House Education Committee Democrats Announce their HEA Reauthorization Roadmap
Today, House Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) announced Committee Democrat’s Roadmap to College Student Success, their legislative blueprint for Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization. Currently, the roadmap consists of six previously introduced bills addressing college affordability, access, and student support. Committee Democrats plan to introduce additional related legislation in the coming months. Tomorrow, the Committee, under Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC), will markup the College Cost Reduction Act, an HEA reauthorization bill from Committee Republicans.
The announcement may be accessed here.
ASAHP Joins HPNEC Joint Letter to Congressional Appropriators on FY 24 Funding
ASAHP joined the HPNEC coalition in a letter sent today to congressional appropriators, urging them to work in a bipartisan manner to provide the highest possible funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs for fiscal year (FY) 2024. At a minimum, HPNEC members recommended that appropriators start with the $877.8 million funding level proposed in the Senate's FY 24 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill.
The letter may be accessed here.
Department of Education Request for Information Regarding Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Needs in Higher Education
On Friday, the U.S. Department of Education released a request for information in the form of written comments that may include information, research, and suggestions regarding supporting student mental health and/or substance use disorder (behavioral health) needs in higher education. Comments must be received no later than February 25.
The request may be accessed here.
College Cost Reduction Act House Committee Markup Scheduled for Wednesday
The House Education and the Workforce Committee has scheduled a markup of the College Cost Reduction Act for Wednesday, January 31 at 10:15am Eastern. The bill addresses accreditation, Pell grants, student loans, regulatory relief, and more. The bill is one of several expected in the Committee to address Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization. It was introduced by House Education and the Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC) earlier this month.
The markup may be viewed live here.
College Cost Reduction Act Introduced in the House
On Thursday, House Education and the Workforce Committee Chair Virginia Foxx (R-NC) introduced The College Cost Reduction Act, a bill that addresses accreditation, Pell grants, student loans, regulatory relief, and more. The bill is one of several expected in the Committee to address Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization.
The Committee press release, and links to the bill text, fact sheet, and summary may be accessed here. A summary from ACE may be accessed here and a summary from NAICU may be accessed here.
ASAHP Urges Congressional Leaders to Adopt Senate Funding Framework
ASAHP was one of 850 organizations to urge Congressional leadership finish the FY24 appropriations process and adopt the bipartisan Senate funding framework as a starting point for final negotiations.
The letter may be accessed here.
Department of Education Takes Next Steps on Negotiated Rulemaking for State Authorization, Distance Education, and Accreditation
On Tuesday, the Department of Education released six issue papers on topics for negotiated rulemaking. The topics include the following issue areas: Cash management, Return of Title IV Funds, Accreditation, State Authorization, Distance Education, and TRIO. Negotiators will meet virtually on January 8-11, February 5-8, and March 4-7. Sessions will be open to the public and include opportunities for public comment. ED also announced the list of the individuals who will serve on the negotiating committee and subcommittee.
The Department of Education’s press release may be accessed here. More details may be accessed here. An article from Inside Higher Ed may be accessed here.
ASAHP and CDC Coalition Urge Robust CDC Funding for FY 24
ASAHP was one of 139 organizations that are members of the CDC Coalition and joined in sending a letter to congressional appropriators urging at least $11.581 billion in funding for the CDC’s programs in FY 2024.
The letter may be accessed here.
ASAHP and Friends of HRSA Urge Robust HRSA Funding for FY 24
ASAHP was one of 86 members of the Friends of HRSA coalition and other supporting organizations that urged congressional appropriators to prioritize HRSA funding and to oppose the inclusion of any cuts or partisan policy riders related to any of the agency’s programs. Earlier this year, the Friends of HRSA coalition wrote to the leaders of the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations subcommittees urging them to provide at least $10.5 billion for HRSA in FY 2024. Strong funding for HRSA is critical to supporting all of HRSA’s activities and programs, which are essential to protect the health of our communities.
The letter to Congressional appropriators may be accessed here.
House Committee Advances Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act
On Tuesday, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce advanced, in a 37-8 vote, the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act. The bill would expand the use of Pell funding for short term, high quality credentials. Currently, Pell grants can only be used for programs with a 15-week minimum, but the bill would allow its use for programs offered during a minimum of eight weeks, but less than 15 weeks. To pay for the expansion, the bill would end federal student loans, starting next July, at the 50-60 institutions that are subject to the federal endowment tax, a controversial proposal not included in the Senate’s workforce Pell bill, the JOBS Act, which does not yet have a Committee markup date scheduled.
On Tuesday, the Committee also advanced, in a 44-1 vote, A Stronger Workforce for America Act, which would reauthorize the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The bill would codify the Strengthening Community Colleges Workforce Development Grant Program to improve and expand high-quality workforce development programs at community colleges, and would authorize the program for each of the Fiscal Years 2025 through 2030 at $65 million.
The bills and and a recording of the markup may be accessed here. Coverage from Inside Higher Ed may be accessed here and here.
Senate Committee Markup to Reauthorize Mental and Behavioral Health Education and Training Program
On Tuesday, the Senate HELP Committee will hold a mark up of four bills, including S. 3393, the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act. The bill would reauthorize the Mental and Behavioral Health Education and Training Program at $50 million for FY 24, $55 million for FY 25, $60 million for FY 26, $65 million for FY 27, and $75 million for FY 28.
The bill text and summary, as well as the markup, may be accessed here.