Dear Colleagues, Please note the Higher Education news below, in particular. This is an excerpt from the NEC Washington Report. Best, Sarah NEOA Advocacy Co-Chair Begin forwarded message: From: New England Council <necouncil@newenglandcouncil.com> Date: December 16, 2024 at 9:06:03 AM EST To: Sarah Morrell <Sarah.Morrell@umb.edu> Subject: NEC's Weekly Washington Report Reply-To: necouncil@newenglandcouncil.com CAUTION: EXTERNAL SENDER Latest Updates from Capitol Hill & the Administration [https://lyi4jwdab.cc.rs6.net/on.jsp?ca=ebaf830f-f0c7-4303-bf92-a0e68e9260e4&a=1103481512715&c=9c8285dc-7d89-11ee-b2f7-fa163e4ddc15&ch=9c83854a-7d89-11ee-b2f7-fa163e4ddc15] View as Webpage<https://lyi4jwdab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YkeDjdSm7rsZodrGiB4WSY06-6SdGFWp_s9noYJMyjRtog8n1PG42OfzmBUbQtMbFBbPjSYfWqQXo0Klt8cvdAjJ_J16H1vYxpx1ElcHqaluVl3ofweMcR4YNEHTpjLgW_cufTW3izgH-b3f2FdaHQ==&c=bdl_SiwN9bf0yqBbaMBqnbGJyeLvL8ijQ2kK3S9Vuu_a7UY7Zey-lA==&ch=KCJf5B2X2L6IJn68ZkuUd4HaJPrThjM0TPRQQ8Bnn_pNhL42faIqfg==> [https://files.constantcontact.com/b03af9ce001/6f647e9d-56d2-42e0-a854-0c85f5e16d2b.png]   Weekly Washington Report [https://files.constantcontact.com/b03af9ce001/93015654-d62e-4726-bfce-42471230aa82.png]   December 16, 2024   Welcome to the December 16, 2024, edition of The New England Council's Weekly Washington Report. Upcoming in Congress The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives will both be in session for the week ahead. Both Chambers still hope to adjourn by the end of the week, which would conclude the 118th Congress. For the week ahead, the House is scheduled<https://lyi4jwdab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YkeDjdSm7rsZodrGiB4WSY06-6SdGFWp_s9noYJMyjRtog8n1PG42EV9zxjW0hJduaXphn_l6yIhArOWI6gYcJehMXrGVzqGDOjNM5hbzWO9QKT-90MyjmBuw4C-ZVGWfYJzPWfUcttTBCVgzYdax06n_9ff6Uj5qePKP-pCfE648pByDjcMZ6mb8gFDitU-zoS6_HvQsgs=&c=bdl_SiwN9bf0yqBbaMBqnbGJyeLvL8ijQ2kK3S9Vuu_a7UY7Zey-lA==&ch=KCJf5B2X2L6IJn68ZkuUd4HaJPrThjM0TPRQQ8Bnn_pNhL42faIqfg==> to convene on Monday and hold votes on thirty-three fairly non-controversial measures from the Suspension Calendar, including S. 4610<https://lyi4jwdab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YkeDjdSm7rsZodrGiB4WSY06-6SdGFWp_s9noYJMyjRtog8n1PG42OfzmBUbQtMbQaGhfqO3wolhevKsuT4vwiz8fh4CuiWcSjxPbycrL8Ab8ZyatnjlJU-5W-qa87FyGP7oOE51uTGQst6roVPCDRirkYqcFLgbRd2kXjdd1lJoAg_S7acNA3xjrjvTSVxBG8KZ3hibT4P_rc-DIQ7YHA==&c=bdl_SiwN9bf0yqBbaMBqnbGJyeLvL8ijQ2kK3S9Vuu_a7UY7Zey-lA==&ch=KCJf5B2X2L6IJn68ZkuUd4HaJPrThjM0TPRQQ8Bnn_pNhL42faIqfg==>, a bill to designate the bald eagle as the national bird. On Tuesday and throughout the rest of the week, the House will consider eighteen bills from the Suspension Calendar as well as two additional measures - the Midnight Rules Relief Act (H.R. 115) and legislation to fund the government through the early part of 2025. Further, the House intends to put forth a supplemental appropriations “pay-for” bill. The Senate will begin its week on Monday with a 5:30 vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur with respect to the House message accompanying H.R.5009<https://lyi4jwdab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YkeDjdSm7rsZodrGiB4WSY06-6SdGFWp_s9noYJMyjRtog8n1PG42OfzmBUbQtMbsg9lNobaRdw9LcNpxGRwSHbQVlNf8pQ1CaA2ZqA86502y60QWF8uFlraTQaKYEMy4lzO2pLDrH-u-in1V4A9OW4T20pcEqQBPg5W1mlHXaVk_cwp_Iv5mh4U2w-In1UR_xTzsvFUXUQ=&c=bdl_SiwN9bf0yqBbaMBqnbGJyeLvL8ijQ2kK3S9Vuu_a7UY7Zey-lA==&ch=KCJf5B2X2L6IJn68ZkuUd4HaJPrThjM0TPRQQ8Bnn_pNhL42faIqfg==>, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Assuming cloture is achieved on the NDAA, the Senate should be expected to finish up the bill during the week. Additionally, the Senate will look to hold a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to H.R.82<https://lyi4jwdab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YkeDjdSm7rsZodrGiB4WSY06-6SdGFWp_s9noYJMyjRtog8n1PG42OfzmBUbQtMbNaNlY4fpNWLw9T2VQho6NotoVhAuBkM_mqT0b9ysaZ_BwTROOPB_aNcGNkTefi7BrzNGGTs8P0RBu-dCDB5bca4vRr9QgzHJIMWidoA5zztWJQ9iYTpfW5xu84rYf12fU38-Xnavg6I=&c=bdl_SiwN9bf0yqBbaMBqnbGJyeLvL8ijQ2kK3S9Vuu_a7UY7Zey-lA==&ch=KCJf5B2X2L6IJn68ZkuUd4HaJPrThjM0TPRQQ8Bnn_pNhL42faIqfg==>, the Social Security Fairness Act. Further, if Congress is on-pace to adjourn by Friday, it can be expected that the Senate will look to clear a number of non-controversial measures prior to the end of the week. And, similar to the House, the Senate will need to take up and pass a funding extension prior to the current expiration of the December 20, 2024 deadline. Budget/Appropriations CBO Issues Monthly Budget Review – On Tuesday, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued its monthly accounting of the federal budget<https://lyi4jwdab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YkeDjdSm7rsZodrGiB4WSY06-6SdGFWp_s9noYJMyjRtog8n1PG42OfzmBUbQtMbFFm0ngq_8emTfv6dbAWaA1VK0wDZ4j_MInH7UN0YP4Z105lYsPVrXQ4uGuIhCWNUtZtJeS7xw63PAgvOQtBQc3eAsACdmCZUHyRTssUiGzQ=&c=bdl_SiwN9bf0yqBbaMBqnbGJyeLvL8ijQ2kK3S9Vuu_a7UY7Zey-lA==&ch=KCJf5B2X2L6IJn68ZkuUd4HaJPrThjM0TPRQQ8Bnn_pNhL42faIqfg==> in which their experts estimate that the federal budget deficit for the first two months of the current fiscal year (October and November) was $622 billion. The CBO analysts stated that it is “$242 billion more than the deficit recorded during the same period last fiscal year,” noting that “revenues were $50 billion (7 percent) lower” while “outlays were $191 billion (or 18 percent) higher” during the same timeframe when compared to 2023. The CBO further indicated that the outlay level for the month of November was boosted due to some outlays occurring on December 1st (which was a Saturday), adding that if that shift had not occurred, “the deficit thus far in fiscal year 2025 would have been $541 billion, or $88 billion more than the shortfall at this point last year” while outlays would have been higher by $38 billion. The CBO showed that federal receipts were $628 billion in the first two months of fiscal year 2025, adding that it was $50 billion less – or seven percent – than during the same period for fiscal year 2024. The decrease is attributed to decisions made in fiscal year 2023 to postpone payments to fiscal year 2024 from those in disaster affected areas. As for outlays, the CBO indicated that in the same time period of fiscal year 2025, outlays totaled $1.25 trillion, which were $191 billion – eighteen percent – more than the same period in fiscal year 2024. The CBO estimates it would have been $38 billion higher if not for the aforementioned accounting shift. One of the largest reasons for the significant change in outlays was attributed to “the estimated $66 billion decrease in outlays of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)” citing that the “resolution of bank failures was significantly greater in the first two months of fiscal year 2024 than during the first two months of this fiscal year.” Additionally, costs for Social Security and Medicaid were up 7 percent ($17 billion) and nine percent ($9 billion), respectively. Higher Education Closures of Higher Ed Institutions Could Continue to Rise.— According to the CNBC article, “as many as 80 colleges and universities may close over the next five years, according to new research by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia” as “colleges and universities are facing unprecedented fiscal challenges in today’s economic climate.” From fewer higher school students applying to college, to the issue of a smaller population of college aged students, many higher education institutions are facing the enrollment challenge. The data quoted in this article found that “these days, only about 62% of high school seniors in the U.S. immediately go on to college, down from 68% in 2010,” and that “those that opt out are often low-income students, who increasingly feel priced out of a postsecondary education.” Another challenge facing both students and institutions is the issue of student loan debt. With the cost of many four year institutions reaching almost six figures, students across the country are finding alternative routes to higher education or avoiding it all together by immediately “joining the workforce or completing certificate programs or apprenticeships.” An additional factor contributing to the decline in students applying for higher education could be attributed to the FAFSA rollout last year that was fraught with confusion and delays. The economic impact of colleges and universities shutting down goes beyond just the campus as well as “each college or university that shuts down affects 265 jobs and $14 million in labor income.” Additional information can be found here<https://lyi4jwdab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001YkeDjdSm7rsZodrGiB4WSY06-6SdGFWp_s9noYJMyjRtog8n1PG42OfzmBUbQtMb9fa3Hyh3uXpxLaH_7ffOjj1bI7U5y5RowLDsOyjOavGECAJd__qOoMrWrnlR2BbQwr5AEVbX5m-mVUSE-o7jvoBiGefvcGfPPmMKmHsOLbUAe9NTdD1zPbTJOubRuQ_j2SSYZ8upEecBtf60PDzqqUMYYbP9LHZbvGUmNqzxZZbSMLg-xflAXX3-GBK8zU5czwJkVanA7BY=&c=bdl_SiwN9bf0yqBbaMBqnbGJyeLvL8ijQ2kK3S9Vuu_a7UY7Zey-lA==&ch=KCJf5B2X2L6IJn68ZkuUd4HaJPrThjM0TPRQQ8Bnn_pNhL42faIqfg==>.