Veterans Package Passes Both Chambers

Posted on December 16, 2020

The Senate and House have now both passed the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 (H.R.7105). The legislation provides assistance to veterans during the COVID-19 crisis and also includes provisions from the Protect GI Bill making certain changes to education benefits. Specifically, a new dual certification process, risk-based surveys, and monthly reporting for schools would be implemented. Although changes would aim to reduce overpayment risks, colleges would assume liability for such overpayments. Public colleges would also have to provide in-state tuition rates to all GI Bill students.

Now the bill will go to President Trump to be signed into law.

The full text of the bill is available here.

DACA Reinstated

Posted on December 4, 2020

A federal court has ordered US Citizenship and Immigration Services to accept new DACA applications and restore two-year work permit validity. Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the US District Court for the Eastern District of New York issued the ruling today. USCIS is required to update information on their website by Monday, as well as develop a mechanism to notify eligible applicants. The Administration has the option to appeal the decision.

Senate Hearing on FAFSA Simplification

Posted on September 10, 2020

The US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) will hold a hearing on simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Witnesses are from the National College Attainment Network, University of North Carolina, HCM Strategies, Harvard University, and Columbia University.

Title: Time to Finish Fixing the FAFSA
Date and Time: Thursday, September 17th, 2020 at 7:00 am PT/10:00 am ET
Link to watch live is here.

Dept. of Education Publishes Final Rule on Religious Liberty

Posted on September 9, 2020

In a press statement, the US Department of Education announced the publication of the final rule Improving Free Inquiry, Transparency, and Accountability at Colleges and Universities. The rule will be effective 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

The final rule intends to “ensure that public institutions of higher education uphold fundamental rights guaranteed by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and that private institutions of higher education adhere to their own policies regarding freedom of speech, including academic freedom”.

Among other things, the press statement outlines major aspects of the rule, including :

Requires that public institutions must comply with the 1st Amendment as a requirement to receive Department grants.
Clarifies how private institutions may demonstrate they are controlled by a religious organization for the purposes of Title IX.
Ensures equal treatment of religious student organizations at public colleges and universities.
Revises regulations governing some discretionary grant programs under Titles III and V of the Higher Education Act of 1964, as amended. The rule more narrowly tailors the prohibition on the use of these grants to religious instruction, religious worship, or proselytization.

The full press statement and link to fact sheet is available here.

DHS to Reject Initial DACA Applications

Posted on July 28, 2020July 28, 2020

The US Department of Homeland Security has announced it will reject initial DACA applications, and will “thoughtfully consider the future of the DACA policy, including whether to fully rescind the program”.

The following changes will take effect immediately:

Reject all initial requests for DACA and associated applications for Employment Authorization Documents;
Reject new and pending requests for advanced parole absent exceptional circumstances; and,
Limit the period of renewed deferred action granted pursuant to the DACA policy after the issuance of this memorandum to one year.

Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf said in a press statement that “Congress should act on this matter”.

The full memorandum is available here.