Federal Policy

Latest from Washington

September 17, 2009

The House of Representatives passed the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA). SAFRA would replace the Federal Family Education Loan Program with direct federal government lending, increase the maximum Pell Grant award, and create the College Access and Completion Initiative Program and American Graduate Initiative. For more information about SAFRA, please see AASCU's advisory by clicking here . The Senate is expected to consider the measure later this session.

August 20, 2009

The U.S. Department of Education and the Centers for Disease Control released recommendations for colleges and universities in preparing for H1N1 flu virus during the upcoming school year. Click here to view AASCU's advisory, including additional information about these recommendations.

July 30, 2009

The Senate Committee on Appropriations approved the FY 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill. The Senate is expected to vote on the measure later this session.

July 24, 2009

The House of Representatives passed the FY 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill, including $67.8 billion for programs under the Department of Education. Click here to view AASCU's advisory about this bill and for additional information.

April 30, 2009

The House of Representatives and Senate passed the FY 2010 budget resolution, including an outline of funds that Congress is permitted to allocate during the annual appropriations process. Click here to view AASCU's advisory about the resolution.

April 2, 2009

Both the House of Representatives and Senate passed their respective versions of the fiscal year 2010 budget resolution. You can view the AASCU advisory here with links to other informational sources.

April 1, 2009

The Department of Education issued guidance and provided the application for states for the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund provided for in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. View AASCU's advisory here .

March 11, 2009

President Obama signed the $410 billion omnibus appropriations bill into law. View AASCU advisory here .

March 10, 2009

Senate passes omnibus appropriations bill that will fund federal government programs for the remainder of fiscal year 2009. It will now be sent to the President.

February 26, 2009

President Obama unveiled his fiscal year 2010 and beyond budget blueprint today. To view AASCU's advisory please click here .

February 25, 2009

Today the House of Representatives passed a measure that will fund federal programs for the remainder of fiscal year 2009. The measure, referred to as an omnibus appropriations bill as it contains nine separate funding bills, provides $410 billion. Of that amount, over $22 billion will go to higher education programs an increase of over $3.6 billion from fiscal year 2008 levels.

February 13, 2009

Today the House approved the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Senate is expected to vote on this measure later today or tomorrow. The text is divided in two parts. Division A can be found here and Division B can be found here . A summary of Division A can be found here and Division B here .

February 11, 2009

Negotiators for the House and Senate resolved differences and crafted the final version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The final measure comprises over $790 billion in tax cuts and spending. While not all of the details have been released yet, the measure includes increases for student aid, funds for building modernization, and other education spending. The priorities raised by AASCU in its letter can be found here .

February 6, 2009

The U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee has released an updated summary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act , which includes the Nelson-Collins amendment and other floor amendments currently under consideration in the Senate .

February 4, 2009

The Senate is deliberating over provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Funding for key higher education programs is at stake, including Pell Grants. AASCU urges its members to contact their U.S. Senators and request that Pell be included in the final bill

January 29, 2009

The House of Representatives has passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 . The Senate expects to take up its stimulus bill on Monday , February 2 . Democratic leaders still aim to get a completed bill to President Obama's desk before the start of the Presidents Day recess on Feb. 13. The Senate includes about $4 billion more in spending than the House-passed bill, but the biggest difference is on the tax side, where Senate Finance earlier this week added a $70 billion “patch” for the alternative minimum tax. Republicans are still hoping the final package will be modified more to their liking; President Obama earlier this week told Republicans they will have another opportunity to shape the measure during House-Senate negotiations on a final version.

January 27, 2009

The Congressional Research Service has released its analysis of the Proposed Funding for Education in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 .

January 16, 2009

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee has released its proposal for the economic stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009. The proposal involves $550 billion in new spending combined with $275 billion in tax cuts. Click here for more information.

December 3, 2008

AASCU has brought to the attention of the Department of Education two issues affecting students and borrowers. First, AASCU has requested that the Department change the effective date eliminating the use of veteran benefits in the determination of financial aid eligibility from July 1, 2010 to July 1, 2009. Secondly, AASCU has requested that the Department take steps to assist borrowers who will be facing difficulty in making scheduled loan payments. Click here for the letter.

October 3, 2008

AASCU will be working with AGB/NACUBO and with the other higher education associations who are signatories to this letter in order to assist our membership in providing clear, transparent information that adequately conveys how their institutions are operated and financed to all the various constituencies interested in colleges and universities' financial operations--including but not limited to state and federal lawmakers, policymakers, parents, and students.

September 30, 2008

AASCU releases a summary and analysis of the Higher Education Opportunity Act

August 14, 2008

President Bush has signed into law the Higher Education Opportunity Act- the first comprehensive bill to reauthorize the Higher Education Act since 1998. Congress passed the legislation on July 31, 2008.

July 30, 2008

Conferees for the reauthorization of Higher Education Act approved the bill's Conference Report. Floor action in both the House and the Senate is expected Thursday, July 31. In the meantime, Congress has approved another short-term extension to ensure the reauthorized version clears the President's desk before the current law expires.

Congress has provided a summary of the bill. AASCU will soon provide an analysis of the bill to members. AASCU sent a letter to Congress supportive of the bill's passage and informed its membership.

July 10, 2008

On June 30, the President signed into law his final war spending bill that provides not only one more year of funding for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also funding to expand veterans education benefits for those who served after September 11, 2001. This new law will have a significant and positive impact for student veterans and public colleges and universities. Bill summary.

June 25, 2008

Congress has passed another extension to the Higher Education Act- the 13th- which will expire at the end of July. The extension will allow lawmakers more time to finalize a conference report- which represents a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the reauthorization.

Congressional appropriators are moving forward with appropriations bills to fund federal programs, despite widespread understanding that the federal government will most likely operate under a continuing resolution at fiscal year 2008 funding levels at least until a new president takes office. Before recessing for the 4th of July holiday, Congressional committees will attempt to pass all- or most- of the dozen fiscal year 2009 spending measures- leaving floor action for July and the months leading up to the elections. After floor action, funding measures will be sent to the White House for signature- where the fate of most domestic spending will likely be a veto, which will send them back to Congress.

May 20, 2008

Congress has passed another short-term extension of the Higher Education Act that will expire at the end of June. The extension will allow lawmakers more time to finalize a conference report- which represents a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the reauthorization.

May 7, 2008

The President has signed into law student loan legislation to address shifts in the student loan markets. Congress has extended current Higher Education Act provisions through the end of May 2008.

April 16, 2008

In response to concerns in the student loan market, Congress has introduced legislation to ensure access to student loans (S. 2815 and H.R. 5715) . AASCU's analysis and recommendations.

March 2008

Congress has passed an extension of the Higher Education Act (HEA) that will expire at the end of April 2008 in order to allow more time for the House and Senate to reconcile the differences between their HEA bills. Read More

Congress is busy with efforts to reauthorize the Higher Education Act and with the 2009 Federal Budget Read More

The Senate budget resolution contains a "reserve fund" to allow for the increase of the federal student loan limit. AASCU opposes an increase to the federal student loan limit. Read More