Dear Colleagues:

With the Georgia senate race decided on Tuesday night, the basic composition of the House (with one congressional district still not called) and Senate are complete. In the weeks ahead, we will be paying very close attention to who gets named to lead the committees in both chambers. These leadership decisions will shape the priorities and direction that key committees may take on issues relevant to private, nonprofit higher education.

But before we can focus on that, we must continue to concentrate on the final few weeks of the lame duck Congress. You’ll recall that last week I urged you, via an Action Alert, to reach out to your Members of Congress to encourage them to support the FY 2023 appropriations bill that includes the proposed $500 increase to the Pell Grant maximum award and the proposed increases in the other major federal student and institutional aid programs.

The good news, depending on how you look at it, is that it appears Congress will extend its stop-gap funding agreement beyond December 16. This will allow additional time for you to connect with your representatives. As a reminder, we created talking points and a sample letter that you can tailor and use in your advocacy efforts. Thank you to those of you who have already reached out to your members.

This week’s Washington Update includes stories on a bill introduced in the House that responds to a recent GAO report concerning financial aid award letters and efforts by Congressional Democrats to push for greater regulation of online program managers.

Soundbites

• NAICU’s Negotiated Rulemaking Webinar: Thank you to those who were able to attend our webinar this week regarding the final rules issued by the Department of Education that resulted from earlier negotiated rulemaking sessions and the effects these rules will have on institutional risk. You can access the recording, presentation slides, and NAICU’s summary of the final rules on our Advocacy Resources

• Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC) received a waiver that will allow her to seek the position of Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee when the new Congress convenes in January. Rep. Foxx has already served three consecutive terms as either the committee chair or ranking member. Due to term limits established by House Republicans, Rep. Foxx would have been ineligible to run for the position in the absence of the waiver. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) supported the waiver for Rep. Foxx but is challenging her for the opportunity to lead the committee in the 118^th

• NAICU joined other higher education associations in sending a letter to the House and Senate Veterans Affairs Committees asking them to finalize action on the Student Veteran Emergency Relief Act before Congress adjourns for the year. This Act: 1) makes permanent pandemic flexibilities at the Department of Veterans Affairs that prevent the disruption of GI Bill benefits during a national emergency; 2) extends the use of GI Bill benefits for study abroad for five years; and 3) corrects a burdensome dual certification process institutions with flat tuition structures have had. This bill passed the House in September and needs Senate passage for final action.

“Maximum Pell grant amounts have continued to fall behind the rising cost of college, covering a smaller proportion of average attendance costs over time. Earlier this year, Congress passed a significant $400 increase to the Pell grant — but still fell short of Biden’s campaign pledge to double the value.”

Excerpted from a recent CNN analysis of college costs, borrowing, and grant aid.