Introduction by Barbara K. Mistick

Dear Colleagues,

With the House’s work on its version of a reconciliation bill completed, all eyes are squarely focused on the Senate as it charts its legislative path forward. Although the Senate has not yet officially released any legislative text, NAICU anticipates floor activity beginning the week of June 16 with legislative language likely to be released shortly beforehand. The Senate also appears poised to bypass committee-level consideration and bring its reconciliation package directly to the Senate floor. Of course, the House and Senate will need to resolve any policy differences between the two chambers before a final bill can be enacted.

With Senate activity looming, it is as important as ever to engage with senators in the coming weeks to express strong opposition to the House-passed cuts to the federal student aid programs. In support of this advocacy, NAICU will soon release a 30-second digital advertisement urging the Senate to reject the House’s harmful provisions, especially those affecting healthcare professionals, teachers, and other vulnerable student populations who rely on the federal loan programs. Once finalized, the spot will be distributed widely throughout the NAICU community to help amplify its impact. The ad will link to the Student Aid Alliance Contact Congress page which can be shared with anyone in your campus community engaging in advocacy.

Please also visit the NAICU Reconciliation Advocacy Center for updated resources and materials to aid in your outreach.

Finally, I am pleased to share an upcoming opportunity to further educate policymakers about the distinctive role and value of our institutions. On June 12, the Congressional Independent Colleges Caucus will host the next installment in its Capitol Hill briefing series. The session will feature NAICU member presidents Brad Andrews of Brevard College (NC), Amy Bragg Carey of Friends University (KS), and Vincent Rougeau of College of the Holy Cross (MA), who will share insights with congressional staff on institutional financing and the business model of private, nonprofit colleges and universities.

Soundbites

• A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction halting the Trump Administration’s effort to abolish the Department of Education. Finding that the Administration’s “true intention is to effectively dismantle the Department without an authorizing statute,” the court prohibited the agency from carrying out President Trump’s various orders and directives to eliminate the Department and ordered the reinstatement of fired agency employees.  

• The Department of Education announced new oversight measures after uncovering nearly $90 million in federal student aid disbursed to ineligible individuals, including deceased recipients and those lacking proper immigration status. The Department has resumed certain preventative activities, such as the post-screening of aid records and identity verification to prevent further errors and fraud. The Department also shared their webpage on how to avoid student aid scams that can be found here. 

• NAICU, along with other higher education associations, signed onto a second amicus brief in support of a lawsuit challenging grant delays and terminations at the National Institutions of Health (NIH). Specifically, the lawsuit alleges that NIH’s actions violate numerous statutory and constitutional provisions related to procedural and spending requirements. Previously, NAICU signed on to an amicus brief in a separate case challenging the same issue. 

Regards

Barbara

Barbara K. Mistick, D.B.A.
President, NAICU