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Federal Updates
U.S. Department of Education
October 15, 2019 – The Department posted the Federal Perkins Loan Revolving Fund Distribution of Assets and Timelines for 2019–20.
October 16, 2019 – The Department requests an extension without change to the information collection tied to 34 CFR part 668.50 requiring institutional disclosures for distance education and correspondence courses. This regulatory action establishes requirements for institutional disclosures to prospective and enrolled students in programs offered solely through distance education or correspondence courses.
October 21, 2019 – The Department has posted the updated 2020-2021 EFC Formula Guide on the Information for Financial Aid Professionals (IFAP) website. The guide includes EFC worksheets and tables for the 2020-2021 processing cycle. The worksheets and tables in this guide can be used to calculate an estimated EFC for students. In the October 2019 update, the Department revised the note at the bottom of Table A3 on page 18 (Income Protection Allowance) to reference $4,570 as the amount for each additional household member. In the prior version, we incorrectly referenced $4,750 as the amount.
December 2, 2019 – The Federal Student Aid’s New Financial Aid Administrators Pre-Conference Training will take place on December 2, 2019 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
Looking Ahead – 2019 FSA Training Conference. The Federal Student Aid Office has opened registration for the 2019 FSA Training Conference scheduled for December 3 to 6 in Reno, Nevada. The FSA Training Conference is training provided for financial aid professionals by the government for those institutions receiving Title IV funds and is the largest training program in the United States serving the financial aid community. In 2018 more than 2,000 unique schools registered for the conference. Registration is free.
U.S. Congress – Newly Introduced Legislation of Note
H.R. 4760 – To bolster the domestic workforce by encouraging communication between career and technical education institutions and emphasizing potential employment opportunities, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat certain costs relating to career and technical education as qualified higher education expenses for purposes of section 529 programs, and for other purposes.
a. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means, 10/18/19
b. Sponsor: Rep. Kevin Hurn (R-OK) 0 Cosponsors
H.R. 4749 – To provide temporary authority to the Secretary of Education to reissue certain student loans to reduce interest rates paid by borrowers, and for other purposes.
a. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor, 10/18/19
b. Sponsor: Rep. Lacy Clay (D-MO) 0 Cosponsors
H.R. 4747 – To carry out an income-contingent repayment program for Federal Interest Free Education Loans for undergraduate students, and for other purposes.
a. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor, 10/18/19
b. Sponsor: Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) 3 Cosponsors
H.R. 4724 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make for-profit institutions ineligible for Federal student aid and to protect the integrity of nonprofit institutions of higher education.
a. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor, 10/17/19
b. Sponsor: Rep. Pramilia Jayapal (D-WA) 7 Cosponsors
H.R. 4706 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize competency-based education demonstration projects.
a. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor, 10/16/19
b. Sponsor: Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO) 0 Cosponsors
H.R. 4680 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to simplify the financial aid application process, and for other purposes.
a. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor, 10/15/19
b. Sponsor: Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) 62 Cosponsors
H.R. 4677 – To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a program to recognize high schools and local educational agencies for expanding high-quality dual credit programs.
a. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor, 10/15/19
b. Sponsor: Rep. Van Taylor (R-TX) 0 Cosponsors
H.R. 4674 – To amend and strengthen the Higher Education Act of 1965 to lower the cost of college for students and families, to hold colleges accountable for students' success, and to give a new generation of students the opportunity to graduate on-time and transition to a successful career.
a. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor, 10/15/19
b. Sponsor: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) 48 Cosponsors
S. 2640 – A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make for-profit institutions ineligible for Federal student aid and to protect the integrity of nonprofit institutions of higher education.
a. Status: Referred to the Senate HELP Committee, 10/17/19
b. Sponsor: Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) 1 Cosponsor
S. 2620 – A bill to bolster the domestic workforce by encouraging communication between career and technical education institutions and emphasizing potential employment opportunities, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat certain costs relating to career and technical education as qualified higher education expenses for purposes of section 529 programs, and for other purposes.
a. Status: Referred to the Senate Finance Committee, 10/17/19
b. Sponsor: Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK) 1 Cosponsor
S. 2608 – A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize competency-based education demonstration projects.
a. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor, 10/16/19
b. Sponsor: Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO) 0 Cosponsors
