Broadband And The Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Bill

On August 10th, in a major show of bipartisanship, the United States Senate passed the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on a vote of 69-30. This historic investment in infrastructure provides $550 billion in new funding for roads, bridges, public transit, water systems, and broadband among other things. As part of the bill, the Affordable Connectivity Program, an extension of the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (EBB) was created as a permanent program.

This program will provide Pell Grant eligible recipients with $30 each month to help pay for high-speed internet. The Senate also included $14.2 billion in funding for the program, up from the $3.2 billion provided for EBB. Pell Grant recipients will also be automatically verified by the Department of Education, rather than having to submit proof, as they did under EBB, making it easier for students to access support for broadband funding.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act also included $65 billion to expand broadband access across the country. This massive investment, combined with the Affordable Connectivity Program will help address the major educational barriers faced by rural and low-income students across Minnesota when pursuing a post-secondary education in the 21st century. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act is now awaiting a vote in the House of Representatives.

Read more here: https://higherlearningadvocates.org/news/statement-on-the-senates-passage-of-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill/
 

Student Loan Relief Extended Until January 31st, 2022

The Biden Administration has extended student loan relief that was set to expire in what the Department of Education is calling the “final extension” of its federal student loan forbearance. This action is considered one of a series of steps the Department of Education will take to make higher education more affordable. In addition to student loan forbearance, this move also means the approval of $1.5 Billion in borrowers’ defense claims and will help 30,000 small business student owners with student loans who may be seeking help from the Paycheck Protection Program. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona hopes that “this final extension will give students and borrowers the time they need to recover from a deep hole.”

Read more here: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/08/09/biden-administration-extends-repayment-pause-january-2022

Senate Hearing on Student Loan Debt Cancelation

The Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Policy held its second hearing to discuss the student loan debt crisis and how a backlog on Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program applications could have a negative impact on numerous borrowers after the student loan repayment moratorium ends. In addition, concern was voiced over PHEAA, a student loan servicer with a history of mismanaging PSLF applications. PHEAA announced they would not renew their contract with the Education Department, leaving over 9 million borrows in limbo. Senator Elizabeth Warren called on the administration to offer loan forgiveness, citing a previous proposal she has teamed up on with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
 

Bi-Partisan Legislation on Higher Education Access and Affordability 

U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jack Reed (D-RI) introduced the Partnerships for Affordability and Student Success Act (PASS Act). The legislation seeks to reestablish a federal-state partnership for increasing need-based aid. The PASS Act would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, aiming to provide grants to institutions that promote attainability by reducing college costs. Both Senators Collin and Reed acknowledged the rising costs associated with earning a college degree, and hope that by providing a certain level of public accountability, institutions will be more inclined to maintain their investments in higher education.
 

Second Chance Pell Experiment Expanded for 2022-23

Since its launch in 2015 by the Obama-Biden Administration, the Second Chance Pell Experiment has provided Pell Grants to 22,000 unique incarcerated students in up to 67 programs through postsecondary education programs in state and federal prisons across 30 states. In December 2020 the program was expanded to include 67 more programs once again allowing incarcerated students enrolled in an approved program to receive this aid. By expanding the Second Chance Pell, the Department of Education will continue to allow eligible students enrolled in college-in-prison programs through the 2022-2023 Award Year. The intent of the Department of Education is to pass legislation that would allow eligible incarcerated students in all 50 states to apply for a federal Pell Grant beginning July 1, 2023.