Congressional Branch activities of interest
Floor Activity
The House and Senate are in Session this week.
Bills Introduced
The Keep Innovators in America Act (H.R. 8013) was introduced by Reps. Sam Liccardo (D-CA), Jay Obernolte (R-CA), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL). The bill would codify the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program, an employment authorization for international students who are educated at American higher education institutions. The stated goal of the bill is to retain talented students to grow and improve small businesses, startups, and research institutions. Read the bill here. Read the press release here.
The Workforce and Innovation Act (H.R 8039) was introduced by Reps. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) and Sara Jacobs (D-CA). The bill would establish workforce development partnerships with institutions of higher education to strengthen the pipeline of workers entering high-demand occupations. Read the bill here.
The Student Loan Interest Elimination Act (H.R 8045) (S. 4169) was introduced by Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) and Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT). The bill would allow all borrowers to refinance their current and future federal student loan interest to 0%. The bill would also create a trust fund within the Treasury Department to offset the loss of loan interest. Read the bill here. Read the press release here.
The Educational Visa Transparency Act (S. 4165) was introduced by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR). The bill would expand the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to include all student, faculty, and staff visa holders in higher education and provide this information to other federal agencies. Read the bill here. Read the press release here.
The Student-Athlete Act (S. 4177) was introduced by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL). The bill would clarify student athlete eligibility rules by allowing athletes to have five consecutive years of eligibility to play in five consecutive seasons. The bill would also establish a guardrail to allow for one transfer without penalty. Read the bill here. Read the press release here.
Executive Branch activities of interest
National Institutes of Health Announces Public Feedback Session on 2027-2031 Strategic Plan
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced a webinar on April 8, 2026, to seek public input on a new strategic plan for fiscal years 2027-2031. NIH leadership plans to present a high-level framework for the agency-wide strategic plan and take questions from attendees. Register to attend here.
White House Announces National Policy Framework for Artificial Intelligence
On March 20, the White House unveiled a national policy framework for artificial intelligence with legislative recommendations for Congress to establish “one consistent federal policy for AI.” The framework lays out six recommendation areas, which include:
- Protecting Children and Empowering Parents
- Safeguarding and Strengthening American Communities
- Respecting Intellectual Property Rights and Supporting Creators
- Preventing Censorship and Protecting Free Speech
- Enabling Innovation and Ensuring American AI Dominance
- Educating Americans and Developing an AI-Ready Workforce
Read the full framework here.
Department of Education Announces Shift of Student Loan Portfolio to Treasury Department
On March 19, the Department of Education (ED) announced that it is shifting its student loan portfolio responsibilities to the Treasury Department through a new interagency agreement (IAA), with the subsequent goal of phasing out other Federal Student Aid functions to Treasury. See the fact sheet from ED here.