Good Morning, Please find below excerpts from the New England Council’s Weekly Washington Report, in particular Higher Education updates in the last section. Best, Sarah Sarah Morrell Chair, NEOA Advocacy Committee Begin forwarded message: From: New England Council <necouncil@newenglandcouncil.com> Date: February 12, 2024 at 9:07:05 AM EST Subject: NEC's Weekly Washington Report CAUTION: EXTERNAL SENDER Latest Updates from Capitol Hill & the Administration [https://r20.rs6.net/on.jsp?ca=9a183094-43f6-4820-b2b9-2cec2d6eb6bf&a=1103481512715&c=9c8285dc-7d89-11ee-b2f7-fa163e4ddc15&ch=9c83854a-7d89-11ee-b2f7-fa163e4ddc15] View as Webpage<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5DwFUw70rRdEqhRAPhetDAobU01AgBcKhW4oPGhopTrPrslzNHbS4VaVEwim3nm9Ef_BSee6iVCX1ZAmnS3D-NBw==&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> [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]   February 12, 2024   Welcome to the February 12, 2024, edition of The New England Council's Weekly Washington Report. Upcoming in Congress The House will be in session for the week ahead and the Senate is expected to be in session as well. The House convenes on Tuesday and will have eight bills and one resolution bills from the suspension calendar up for consideration, including H.R. 533, the Promoting a Resolution to the Tibet-China Dispute Act sponsored by Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA). Also on Tuesday, the House is expected to reconsider H. Res. 863, an impeachment resolution against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, which was not adopted in the previous week. On Wednesday and Thursday, the House is expected to take up H.R. 7176, the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024, and may turn to legislation related to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) reauthorization. The House may take up additional legislation during the week with possible votes until 3:00 p.m. on Friday. The Senate was expected to be out of session for the week, however the Senate Majority Leader has indicated that the Senate will take up and debate a $95.3 billion supplemental aid package for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan. The Senate will likely stay on the bill until completed. A number of Senators are scheduled to embark on various Congressional Delegations (CODEL) to areas across the globe later during the week. Budget/Appropriations Upcoming Hearings & Markups * Wednesday, February 14, 2024 (10:00) – House Budget Committee – Hearing: The Congressional Budget Office’s Budget and Economic Outlook<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5DtRWabAPdqkxIM1DNYYIuXe3nJXOpCgFkw9HWt_R1HvQ09zeW1e8OXaKM0EGOnH6dnNcd-c720I2TdHHya4eo4Pz6WsLL9lVstFMv78KYwsixwfT2ShDSccGYrNzFUxAxFAUhzBywGEWj_xifELoUm3-LVB46z06vtr_GNmvJa42LNNLWFIZ3jA==&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> Senate Debates Foreign Aid Supplemental – On Wednesday, the Senate failed to get cloture on a planned $118.3 billion supplemental package<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNd1itiy67iRDJmqOXxi72RwgAAB0SODi2cGtDulgEXDZ5kPVD23iwJJxzf4HsCWneajwfSEAO1ugJLH-d-deVmAgzIP1vehmf5v5qhc7AbClVoON7Ytc1avwAl137IE5qLCEApmG3QEWpLWUrwa017gUA-l-Dw6Yofwxiv2VGpu4C9Dg9-DbIW9WxVLf37rFp47CUpXeZCtVyZcB2YnGkFnLVpSXvCgZVQ==&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> for Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, military operations in the Middle East, and for U.S. readiness. The proposed legislation<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNd1itiy67iRDQ1Y5q3v4j4tyxij3S2SyrjjS2to4sedM0mKUTgoYL1lyM54Wq9t5mRhbtMtUUs7GabdpZ_ztHhUNOvRRVsZ_oRW-A90SN7nw8QP3klkoKZu4moyn9-3ID2_qzJbcRuuABMXPViIRQ7GJu_CN2BMoNkim2mj899PBV-VKTrRABOTNi5q0w1SF3StA99kCMyn0JXOJsCHq2HU=&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> included $60.6 billion to help support Ukraine; $14.1 billion for Israel; more than $2.4 billion to help address the situation in the Red Sea, $10 billion for humanitarian assistance for those in Ukraine, Gaza and the West Bank; over $4.8 billion for Indo-Pacific efforts to “deter aggression by the Chinese government;” $2.3 billion for Ukrainian refugees; and more than $20 billion to address operational needs at the Southern border. In addition, the bill contained immigration policy reform language. It was this latter provision that caused many Republican Senators to balk at supporting the overall bill, though some disapproved of the overall funding level of the bill as well. In the end, the vote in the Senate was 49 to 50<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5DVilp2z6Jgnbw0gCMi2DXqSJ-2vPOCZSV_unLE8udqinuC5IvDOAtmCVrsZ_JI0USxy_R7x14rYvczNCCnKSiEy-vldFip43TiL37y5F5id4TMCS3tlpCHc7JZSHdRAyC6s_6nzb2IiJMD1pDg1rxbJJSAtHVh4t9Ehxt__JVYbA=&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> – far short of the 60 votes needed to attain cloture – with four Republicans, including Senator Susan Collins<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5Denn_oQxgklJ98EqvBVOgYwK0aPQKfX5VR2ZvVVD9bLV3sKfapNplaVbe4YiYg24I5e4_z5krqF4si1-lbYBSCrVGN9qKN2JWrdV7jVdMPvDqY7NANPNJZik4J89U8TDEyEloQ4VchzsjXE6cPx3Muz2PXX_BLObFxBAN8yfwpm1qWEyzctU0mXyw5ebDv89l9P7Rrt3P3pdgRsd2eRMP4yppf8vQJ-aU&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> (R-ME), joining most Democrats in favor and four Democrats joining most Republicans in opposition. Of the latter four, three were New Englanders – Senators Ed Markey<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5DHpUG63g_A3WVyenMvGt3W8ezlvqHE2S_fi1PfvxNgRsxl0ehn8nZ1x3IGTUEe0sBmqpxgWjcYu_sT-oJX9VjzrmokBxR7aWZpXcd_ZtfcIJC7x1MnEr10Vbu9txQc23f2ATk0bEy5A4C6XArvTtCxeUgxj1F8CTo4QHxNFK7bgrqeVkDTjtK9dPG8NNEQPQnG677iHvSH_01HJ_rRzHz0QaygbuaIigoC7lRZoJ4nRDcMxAD80IHcg==&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> (D-MA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bernie Sanders<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5DS1gm-rbGPNpq38LhScN54ZdVemZuV6sndxA89f_WfcIhVcE7U2L2k6bxlam6DpTJzU_6jF6X20dGJWQ6s5DxdhE3hQz9Og08SDk3yD0lqVnUJ0y6qF4JyntLSogDEzisn1ybg6Zm36nKK9wjQUVV-Gs1aMTvsFQ8ndm3Sl5B-sTQIZXWbrffVZvbL6HNIzjMNktKMZXHMYpkKboOQVuJlw==&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> (I-VT) – while Majority Leader Chuck Schumer voted “no” as a procedural maneuver to allow himself to reconsider the vote. Shortly after the failed effort, Senator Schumer revealed a new bill without the text of the immigration agreement and also with a lower price tag of $95.3 billion, with the lion’s share of the decreased price coming from over $20 billion that would have been used for border security. Separate procedural votes to move forward on this subsequent bill passed on Thursday (67 to 32<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5DeQIlGAsHwjjfqsMvs6fjISsP7x4U6JzLa37GdxfGdczON_PZ6hnS4uGTyyi2ob7obhRdTAnug4X50gS9yQpgJQKvIyqOmiXDsYYi6npLst5q4jOKNpc0kCAwhBtMoweAwec1WSWkVVSyZbF1CHzILWj5phSRI61_KLkRaBwpEaI=&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==>), Friday evening (64 to 19<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5DLPKDh1n6jfrFKthxaz4FfH8ZueHT19o2zZ2pEP-pXN4EpBO7tLKCaeesKAj-U7emA_cSnbw_jEZyVaanmd6veRtYq4SAE45jWOwhIim8nS-wvTiC-WOLEhrazoViGDS1ODLYHM1g58LYeWWqMnJHM0wDkedsEs60b_1ISETZRf0=&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==>), and Sunday afternoon (67 to 29<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5D3yShweZ_X-jolTYgyo8_T6L5uxVMHGphEiJg4R5ElpSOEfHAt-SSivbKklgcAQv2VVfcONHWLRuGuxYf9ZcEK86KXsdmTQCD0C_9RxoVayxPRU3XEP95BBrguuvOOXh_3owVi69SQxbspNNoX6G-2RP0Nq0vh1jd_pGaoyNqOdA=&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==>). House Fails to Pass Israel Aid Supplemental – On Tuesday, the House of Representatives did not pass the Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 7217<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5D9t6FYKtCX4T-ByDZjkfHwVQpjR3g2qCGtYdsowHwusI0xRaGbv58Fn2KNIKg49rpf4FIjX2hmFcht2VHrD1LsUakssZrOmBH6fxnoG8aB2m8GGGXEEGRDQI7nWvidxJYS9Cx11TDRDY=&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==>), legislation<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNd1itiy67iRD96g4qTdxOkf9D4fzhcK09mA5vrENeZTM5Iy8hwRCC3FRRdRrzdpp1QOmMJwWp_91HmRwS8GhtCnMn1G1kRA0DrgxMNOryTSKUfIQFs_5UtxPMjr-tX9OnOyUoWLRe7iiiBaoI2PmmRsbBOcl29yMKRRtOYQX_wtg_xWgtPfrZQSMbkxK9P7Cpw==&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> crafted to provide $17.6 billion in military aid for Israel and funds to assist U.S. forces currently serving in the Middle East. Republican leaders sought to bring the bill up under the suspension of the rules process – which would bypass the House Rules Committee and allow for a straight up-or-down vote on the measure and no process for amendment. However, in order to pass, such bills require a two-thirds affirmative vote, or approximately 287 votes in favor given the current make-up of the House of Representatives. Tuesday’s vote was a bipartisan 250 to 180<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5D4Rol7_DTAGJBgfONZE6co9a4iihN3wvZuNE5ffLq4hiLNEGpcqqrtYGfGIFeyRWyVhchQS8w7UmcpWqpqQcLBYc8BhMChVbmh0auChQCokhLVNT4uDQZDA==&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==>, with forty-six Democrats joining all but 14 Republicans in favor of the bill, but still far short of the votes needed. Of the twenty-one members of the New England delegation, only three – Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Jared Golden (D-ME) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) – voted for the measure. Generally, Democrats who voted “no” held that the House should vote on a more inclusive package of aid for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan rather than singling out one nation. CBO Issues Report on Budget and Economic Outlook – On Wednesday, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a report<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5D0cMYL4aPdc0VbjBdiCTEcNJglVh5E0xyWYi_PCU3cXbf1dDDWPttFmByZxwbongxjuNLaBaRaM4pWdxz4mLx7CjkR0-E1_amFyHPlh0zLkmLSbFDCLqaj8jF6iP7Wv9iV5rqO0D4fgQ=&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> showing its latest baseline estimations of “what the federal budget and the economy would look like in the current year and over the next 10 years if laws governing taxes and spending generally remained unchanged.” In their latest report, the analysts at the CBO project that the budget deficit for fiscal year 2024 will be approximately $1.6 trillion. In fiscal year 2025, the deficit is projected to be $1.8 trillion and fall back to $1.6 trillion in fiscal year 2026. By fiscal year 2034, the budget deficit is projected by CBO to be $2.6 trillion. The cumulative deficit is expected to be $20 trillion from 2025 to 2034. In addition, the CBO said that when “measured relative to the size of the economy, the deficit equals 5.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024.” The CBO added that “annual deficits generally increase over the 2025-2034 period, averaging 5.7 percent of GDP per year, well above the average deficit over the past 50 years.” The CBO noted in their document that “over the past 50 years, the annual deficit has averaged 3.7 percent of GDP.” They add that in their projections, “deficits equal or exceed 5.2 percent of GDP in every year from 2024 to 2034,” and that “since at least 1930, deficits have not remained that large for more than five years in a row.” Further, the CBO states that “as a result of those deficits, federal debt held by the public increases each year in CBO’s projections, rising from 99 percent of GDP this year to 116 percent in 2034,” which the CBO said “would be the largest amount ever recorded in U.S. history.” As for debt held by the public, the CBO shows that at the end of fiscal year 2023, it was $26.240 trillion and CBO estimates that for fiscal year 2024, it will be $27.897 trillion. In fiscal year 2025, the CBO estimates it will be $29.749 trillion and in fiscal year 2034, estimates show it will be $48.3 trillion. While the CBO indicated that “economic growth is projected to slow in 2024, accompanied by increased unemployment and lower inflation,” the budget analysts expect “the Federal Reserve to respond to slowing economic activity by reducing interest rates, starting in the middle of the calendar year.” Further, the CBO projects that “economic growth is expected to rebound in 2025 and then moderate in later years.” In addition, “CBO projects that a surge in the rate of net immigration that began in 2022 will continue through 2026,” and that the “rise in the number of people who enter the United States minus the number who leave is projected to expand the labor force and increase economic growth.” Top Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill reacted quickly to this new CBO report and provided their perspectives based on what they felt were important takeaways to them. To see their reactions, please click on the following links for Senate Budget Committee Chairman Sheldon Whitehouse<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5D_4_JcO1CVJniGWe2X2cuMzGGTg0lu75tQTUFPZsjCsS0OVHDGyXDQ0ERiLThmYzQSFzt8wk_tQZ99MmY2CDUUlGJyXZHHtSi48Z3iy8jlzY2QE9OZlHhCTP-OcJSccVZhNYbBlax9ZlW_qQdBwZwY2SeI6OZCG3n4CoNIsl6E3XRpe8CZW_oyFNaLjeS4Phq&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> (D-RI), Senate Budget Committee’s Ranking Republican, Chuck Grassley<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5D-qWjuoS9ud7gSPsBlK73vp4w11yYVlgz5hiwAqRljg51YrZJYa2POL79LZyhpkEzjGwQjjpqMNdoDjTk2i_hxURSlQERp9IAZf-xno6NEegZMtikEuxQ-c03TEnxQT2kPaxwwZjPv1gjbcez1MgZ9cXfsNcS0zTTPTDFhOmEFb0ca7ZIt9NQnLobvPFW3GsVaIpW4o2YDUU=&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> (R-IA), House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5DwbKpSmeRuIZJ_Efk_OM484-KriQ98fkZefFSG1Jpj1ywa_SJxtr0ZFXdzjnzLSrxntkYgLF-f3IFLoOq3Nv28Ro-3RKX2XzFZuo8bEZR9RVNJz1QStgIriM1YrSxratdLE-BuKuecGBBmoV3vDPxnqP8xYeQn5Uo3LElmhqbKPrU-Fc1Egftt4O8N5wRmwKXz3mxOEudvmmdABk173r_xA==&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> (R-TX), and the House Budget Committee’s top Democrat, Brendan Boyle<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5DoTdEcrbRiokLLH4608xrSPXouv0NBkXs5LjKgE0kpeeMK6V6VtAqDYifHEQxCS2mZSGwCbYARflLUmZnG3HdVpevVqr7FcRn__IeQzkhr5XWuYRy9JsuVA_FDki7NMfBaAWA6jBU-ZJX_ZttkRjdPXe5DeMthdpT3xpOE_jm4ZM=&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> (D-PA). House Budget Committee Passes Trio of Bills – At a Tuesday markup<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5DHsgK3sFvLpwU_w0JGdzomvWz1lGDPuE310_ktvzUJN0YZdL6om4uHvHhYCKm0qAtUcEYnWaOXByOfogr2Cgn7Oxmel-RpDYz9QNRWAIkhD2mxulIVFtnd8kSRGHUl8TF9x1Iyckaq5KcMAqvqneecdAr5M9WDtOEfacRvQvQ9Dj--q-qMVOCriIQ_LKrdOKKUQHNWmEIrLA=&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==>, the House Budget Committee passed several measures designed to identify budget savings, address paperwork requirements, and reduce duplication in the federal government. All three bills passed by unanimous votes. The first bill, the Preventive Health Savings Act (H.R. 776<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5DF4C2g5eYZB7PD4uAXkB7jFUW9OCo40sCfnzkAQTIYdOuZAk8Ast6G2JRaHu0TeKQbYwjmLURaAFTFuFwnKu8Vsp0JeCF6vLIIvt75K0vwkLRJfsxlwSNxA3asaQL6AME9tJOzz4go7z8v0fkIVb61qOclsT8laMq&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==>) would require the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), if requested, to inform Members of Congress if a particular piece of health care-related legislation would provide long-term budget savings. If CBO makes a determination that preventative health measures could achieve such savings, “a description and estimate of the spending reductions must be included in CBO projections.” Also adopted was the Congressional Budget Office Data Sharing Act (H.R. 7032<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5D_Wb-BcYA5DbzuLmZ5gyJimKha5rzAcYQ7rG2cnR1vjHkT-x4ywO_CMfnk6XM3Cgy4M2_SY0YCjz9Kcnjt6IuF_qPnWp6dFxsA7pFCcNHOT4zEEHoGNR7Ko7cQYoDzwzjJtVps6J6fE8=&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==>), which would give the CBO “necessary authorities to expedite the sharing of data from executive branch agencies.” Finally, the Committee passed the Eliminate Useless Reports Act of 2023 (H.R. 5301<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5DYrk2D_VKdJIbEHSthGAx8bwcNo0Izxul1njaiQTI5cbqUv_pjZYxr_N0CL-sawixiBlf4Zl2cxM9JvbEJISrmkItpbRRxSzpKBP1HboY6Dz9hjA5Fr-HmyZWbaR1Ov-D-KwG_ECOaXQ=&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==>), which would require federal departments and agencies to “include a list of outdated or duplicative reporting requirements in annual budget justifications.” With passage, all three bills are now eligible for consideration by the full House of Representatives. Higher Education After FAFSA backlash, ED has a plan to help colleges.— In January, the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA), faced a bumpy rollout that was littered with technical difficulties and mistakes. These errors have resulted in numerous delays in financial aid offers from colleges and universities, with the Education Department announcing last week that students’ FAFSA data would not be sent to schools until March. The department had previously said that the data would be sent by late January. Though the Education Department has said it would fix the errors made in the original rollout, the agency has faced extensive backlash from college access and aid groups over the delays. However, on February 5, the department announced a “FAFSA College Support Strategy” to support colleges struggling with FAFSA delays. This strategy includes a $50 million allocation to non-profit groups specialized in financial aid support and services and the creation of a “concierge service” which will help connect colleges with direct contacts to financial aid experts to provide them with personalized support. The department will also release test versions of Institutional Student Financial Aid Information Records (ISIRs) within the next two weeks to help colleges prepare their systems for the new forms and dispatch financial aid experts and advisors to “under-resourced campuses”, specifically focusing on minority-serving institutions. “We are in constant dialogue with our partners, schools and the vendors that serve them about how to help them get through,” a senior department official said. “The steps that we’re taking today arose out of those conversations that we’ve had with the community.” Despite the new measures, many college and university administrators have been left disappointed and overwhelmed. Some administrators and financial aid experts were expecting the department to waive income verification requirements, as it did at the start of the pandemic in 2020, or a firm commitment to the March deadline for submitting ISIR forms to schools. Most agreed that the financial aid consultants and concierge service were too little, too late. In addition, the department has still not given any updates on when technical issues with the new FAFSA will be resolved. Currently, college financial aid officers are asking the Education Department to communicate realistic time frames and next steps to students, as well as increase the availability of customer support. Additional information can be found here <https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5DSAcnna3P0gmY86Fhtb1dPEjKdT4ET6DWQFHHCp_YGV7gFVXFtMcfChLp_yasu1NkFa62ggr1QdBdRaIKdgMFNozk_44tQDI0o9EtBY1NM2oN9I1mr9YisTZR7e7KNI0a2ROc4sOmLk5I-O-VDgbhxdRcdlQcyLp5KnhlYk-OJ6q6_3bKONlLfleQdvN46VOvXq_CnOIqtFZjr_WsMCNQJZOlclTzXPxfRbGzPHqNmRo=&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==> and here<https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uF9axz0WgG6bgw2iMCx0L_lkgJ4AjGV13YXjl9KrrlU_7H0vLbLWNXxTwPvEdg5DIe8mDJo0WVEy8wcao4FNlmMVwnhimihnBMduac2jgK93wK5rhQlcDUVjwOz5BmpD1LCVoUBP6f6DRuJn8OXgzH-4EDO0avQvQclY_I4euO53vKdl_VsCyrSfxNKjf154cgesCjh2Dd_oxUlCZsMAuCcznce8d4DszIB6nywUajrdTNSNKbYd-UGia9un9L7R8gsw4obldNDA9D6gC-wScg==&c=IWwa_ne3WyQGtz14HT7yCtidtJ5ZiMk6Q2QmvMnFmfT_mAEYjg7y3g==&ch=c3zVCtzqZWFROU66KRU4ncMy_SHnZFj-Rpc28f2SU37XMm3LdoZK-Q==>.