Introduction by Barbara K. Mistick
Dear Colleagues,
With August fast approaching, Congress is entering its summer recess. The House adjourned on Wednesday, earlier than planned, while the Senate is expected to recess after it completes its work next week.
As NAICU continues its analysis of the provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, we report below on a Dear Colleague Letter and notice of negotiated rulemaking that the Department of Education published this week, thus setting in motion the implementation of key aspects of the reconciliation package.
To help us better understand the impact of the bill, we created a series of Frequently Asked Questions derived from those we received during our webinars and from direct communications from members. We expect more questions as the process moves forward, and further guidance is released. We will keep these FAQs current and let you know when new information is added.
The FAQs are housed in our reconciliation advocacy center, which also includes our bill summary and webinars, among other resources.
Washington Update Publishing Notes: Because many NAICU staff will be traveling next week to participate in the annual Summer Workshop convening of our state executives, there will be no Washington Update on August 1. Our next issue will be published on August 8. We will take a break from publishing until September 8, unless there is breaking news to cover.
Soundbites
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Neg-Reg Sessions Set for Higher Ed Provisions in Reconciliation Bill. The Department of Education announced two negotiated rulemaking sessions for the higher education provisions in the reconciliation bill. A hearing will be held on August 7, for the public to provide advice and recommendations for implementing these provisions. The first rulemaking committee, which covers student loans and repayment, will hold two sessions (Sept. 29-Oct. 3 and Nov. 3-7). The second rulemaking committee, which covers institutional accountability and Workforce Pell, will also hold two sessions (Dec. 8-12 and Jan. 5-9, 2026).
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Congress Rescinds Funding for Public Broadcasting. Congress approved a rescissions package, which includes the claw back of approximately $1.1 billion for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB distributes funding to local public radio and television stations to “support programs and services that inform, educate, and enrich the public.” Over half of the more than 1,000 public radio stations are licensed to colleges and universities, many of which are held by private, nonprofit institutions.
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JAG Update. The Joint Associations Group on Indirect Costs (JAG), in collaboration with ten national higher education and research organizations, including NAICU, proposed the Financial Accountability in Research (FAIR) model to modernize federal reimbursement for indirect research costs. The model replaces outdated terminology and improves transparency, equity, and efficiency in funding. This week JAG released an updated FAQ to address common questions on how the model impacts the cost of a federal research grant.
I hope you have a pleasant weekend,
BarbaraBarbara K. Mistick, D.B.A.President, NAICU
For more information, please contact:
Barbara K. Mistick, D.B.A.