Congressional Branch activities of interest
Floor Activity
The House is in Session this week.
Hearings
On June 30, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government held an oversight hearing on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). During the hearing, OMB Director Russell Vought defended OMB’s proposed revisions to Uniform Guidance . Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) expressed concerns about the proposed changes and asked what criteria will be used to ensure grants will be awarded based on merit. Director Vought responded that OMB does not intend to closely control every grant, and that review of grant proposals will be done by the appropriate policy officials at each agency. Watch the hearing here.
On June 30, the House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing titled “The Growing Business of Sports: Reviewing Federal Tax Policy in the Multibillion-Dollar Industry.” In the hearing, Thaddeus Madden, an NIL tax consultant, discussed the tax implications of NIL income earned by collegiate athletes. Madden explained that because student-athletes are not employees of their institution, they must personally file their own taxes on NIL income—a process much more complicated than that of a typical wage earner. Madden went on to emphasize that as Congress considers college athletics legislation, it should address the tax issues within both the NIL andrevenue-share systems to better support student athletes. Watch the full hearing here.
On June 30, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade held a legislative hearing titled, “American Global Competitiveness at 250: Legislative Proposals to Secure U.S. Technology Leadership.” In the hearing, members discussed several technology bills, including the American Quantum Competitiveness Act, Biomanufacturing Excellence, Domestic Resilience, Output, andCompetitive Know-how (BEDROCK) Act, and the Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act. Members also questioned witnesses on how the Department of Commerce (DOC) can strengthen collaboration with key partners, including universities, to accelerate innovation in emerging technologies. Witnesses emphasized that universities are the primary drivers of scientific discovery and stressed the importance of continued federal investment and stronger partnerships between academia and the private sector to advance research and technological innovation. Watch the full hearing here.
Bills Introduced
On June 25, Reps. Erin Houchin (R-IN) and Ritchie Torres (D-NY) andSens. Todd Young (R-IN), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced the Outcomes-Based Financing (OBF) for Students Act (H.R. 9469 and S. 4943), The bill would establish a federal framework for education financing programs in which students repay based on their future income rather than fixed monthly loan payments. The bill also creates standardized consumer protections and clarifies how these financing agreements are treated under federal tax, bankruptcy, lending, and higher education laws. Read Rep. Houchin’s press release here. Read the bill text here.
On June 30, Reps. Greg Steube (R-FL) and Brendan Boyle (D-PA) introduced the Helping Undergraduate Students Thrive with Long-Term Earnings (HUSTLE) Act (H.R. 9568). The bill would create Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) investment accounts for student athletes and exclude NIL earnings from taxable income. The bill was previously introduced in the Senate by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA). Read Rep. Steube’s press release here. Read the bill text here.
Executive Branch activities of interest
Department of Defense Finalizes Report to Modernize R&D Enterprise
On June 24, the Department of Defense (DOD) released its recommendations to modernize the DOD’s research enterprise. The report includes 14 recommendations, including addressing Sensitive Compartment Information Facility (SCIF) accreditation challenges, strengthening partnerships across multiple sectors through initiatives like academic grant competitions, and enhancing University Affiliated Research Centers. Asst. Secretary of War for Science and Technology, Dr. Joseph Jewell said, “Our findings are reassuring, confirming that the research enterprise is fundamentally sound, with an unmatched concentration of world-class scientists, engineers and researchers who continue to drive capabilities to the tactical edge. But the findings also show the increasing drag that aging, costly infrastructure imposes on labs and test centers striving to tackle changing missions and pursue emerging technologies.” Read the full report here.
ED Issues Final Rule on Student Tuition and Earnings
On July 1, the Department of Education (ED) issued a final rule establishing the Student Tuition and Transparency System and Earnings Accountability framework. Under the rule, undergraduate programs must demonstrate that their graduates earn more than individuals with only a high school diploma, while graduate programs must show that their graduates earn more than individuals with a bachelor's degree. Programs that fail to demonstrate a positive return on investment in two of three award years will lose eligibility to participate in the federal Direct Loan program. Programs that fail to meet the standard for three consecutive years could also lose eligibility for Title IV federal student aid. Read ED’s press release here. Read the final rule here.
Judicial Branch activities of interest
Supreme Court Upholds State Bans on Transgender Student Athlete Participation
On June 30, the Supreme Court upheld bans in Idaho and West Virginia on transgender athletes playing on girls’ and women’s sports teams. Under the decision, universities and K-12 schools will determine eligibility for women’s sports teams based on biological sex. Read the Court’s decision here.