July 16, 2021

Higher Ed Policy Roundup: Vol. 5 - Issue 25

Policy and Advocacy

 

This Week in Washington

On Sunday, the House Appropriations Committee released its fiscal year 2022 proposal to fund the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The bill provides a total of $102.8 billion in discretionary funding to the Education Department (ED), which is an increase of $29.3 billion from current levels. Within that funding, the bill provides:

  • $27.2 billion in funding for Federal Student Aid programs
  • An increase of $400 to the maximum Pell Grant award for a total of $6,895
  • $1.43 billion in funding for Federal Work Study
  • $1.13 billion in funding to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions

News You Can Use

A blog post published by the Bipartisan Policy Center highlights some challenges and possible solutions for students to successfully transition back into repayment following the student loan payment freeze. Among other things, it emphasizes the benefit students gain by enrolling in income-driven repayment plans.

One of the nation’s biggest student loan servicers will stop servicing federal loans – where does that leave borrowers?

ED wiped out student loans for borrowers defrauded by their schools.

Recent Legislation

No relevant student aid bills were introduced this week for consideration by the 117th Congress (2021-2022).