Editor’s note: This weekly update from the government relations office at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) provides the latest on what’s happening in Washington and how AACC is advancing policies to support community colleges and students. Send questions, feedback and more to: kgimborys@aacc.nche.edu.
- Senate Republicans unveil their Farm Bill framework
- Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act excluded from NDAA
- Application open for Basic Needs Grants
Senate Republicans unveil their Farm Bill framework
Last week, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry Republicans, led by Ranking Member John Boozman (R-Arkansas), released a high-level “framework” detailing their priorities for reauthorizing the Farm Bill.
As a reminder, the Farm Bill is the governing legislation for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, including nutrition programs, agriculture research programs and rural development initiatives. Last reauthorized in 2018, the current Farm Bill – the Agriculture Improvement Act – was set to expire in 2023 but received a one-year extension. Lawmakers are now working to deliver a 2024 Farm Bill before the end of the 118th Congress.
The American Association of Community College’s (AACC) top Farm Bill priority is inclusion of the Community College Agricultural Advancement Act (CCAAA), which authorizes a new competitive grant program to support agriculture programs at community colleges. While the bill is not mentioned by name in the materials released by Senate Republicans, the summary document on research items includes a reference to expanding agriculture workforce training grant opportunities for junior and community colleges. Sen. Boozman has indicated they intend to release bill text in the coming weeks.
The CCAAA was included in full in the Senate Democrats’ proposal released last month. A program “inspired” by the CCAAA was included in the House’s Farm, Food, and National Security Act, which passed out of the House Agriculture Committee. AACC is excited to see momentum building for this new funding and is eager to work with policymakers in both chambers to secure its inclusion in a final Farm Bill.
Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act excluded from NDAA
This week, the House Rules Committee marked up the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and excluded the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act (BPWA) as an amendment. As AACC’s David Baime covered in the Washington Watch, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-New York) and Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Virginia) offered the BPWA as an amendment to NDAA last week.
As a “must-pass” bill, the NDAA typically garners hundreds of potential amendments. The House Rules Committee decides which amends are made “in order,” or are germane to the underlying bill and receive a floor vote. Most education-related amendments are typically stripped from NDAA as not germane, so the BWPA amendment was a bit of a long shot for the offering members and for supporters of the bill. The amendment also faced opposition from the American Council on Education (ACE) and others who objected to the bill’s offset.
AACC will continue working with policymakers to find a viable vehicle for legislation to expand Pell Grant eligibility to students in short-term workforce programs.
Application open for Basic Needs Grants
The application for the fourth round of the Department of Education’s (ED) Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program grants is now open. ED anticipates funding twelve awards during this cycle, with awards ranging from $500,000 to $900,000 per selected applicant. Colleges can use these grants to promote students’ basic needs, including food and housing, transportation, health care, childcare, technology, and emergency expenses. Community colleges receive priority in the grant review process and are strongly encouraged to apply. In the previous three award cycles, community colleges received twenty-two of the thirty grants. The application deadline is August 5, 2024.