This week’s Federal Update covers Congressional and Executive activities of interest in Washington, D.C.
Congressional Branch activities of interest
Floor Activity
The Senate is in session this week. The partial government shutdown continues. A compilation of agency contingency plans for the shutdown may be found here.
FY 2026 Appropriations
As the government shutdown wraps up its fifth week, Democrats are holding firm on their demand to pair stopgap funding with an extension of healthcare subsidies while Republicans are set on passing a “clean” Continuing Resolution (CR). However, there have been hints of movement in talks to reopen the government, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) telling reporters on October 29 that bipartisan conversations among Senators have been “picking up steam.”
Bills Introduced
The Correcting Opportunity and Accountability in Collegiate Hiring (COACH) Act (H.R. 5812) was introduced by Rep. Michael Baumgartner (R-WA). The COACH Act would cap the salary of any employee of an institution’s athletic department to no more than ten times the institution’s tuition for a full-time undergraduate student. Rep. Baumgartner said that the bill aims to address the high buyouts and contracts for coaches in recent years. Read the bill text here.
The Shutdown Student Loans for Feds Act (H.R. 5843) was introduced by Rep. Sarah Elfreth (D-MD) with a companion bill in the Senate from Sens. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). The bill requires the Department of Education to pause student loan payments for federal workers, including federal contractors and military personnel, in the event of a federal government shutdown lasting longer than two weeks. If passed, the legislation would take immediate effect for the current shutdown. Read the bill text here.
The Guaranteeing Retention and Aid During Shutdowns Act (GRAD) Act (H.R. 5850) was introduced by Rep. Shomari Figures (D-AL). The bill would prevent colleges and universities from terminating the enrollment status of a student due to a disruption in a student’s federal student aid because of a government shutdown. Read the bill text here.
Hearings
On October 29 the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing titled, “The Future of Biotech: Maintaining U.S. Competitiveness and Delivering Lifesaving Cures to Patients.” Committee Chair Bill Cassidy (R-LA) praised U.S. leadership in lifesaving medical discoveries, accounting for nearly 40% of the world’s biotech-related patents for pharmaceuticals. During the hearing, Indiana Senator Jim Banks (R) shared that Indiana is a thriving state for biotechnology, with more than 3200 life sciences companies. He noted that IU, Purdue, and Notre Dame bring in over $1.6 billion in research funding annually, and that Hoosier biotechnology companies are leading the way in orthopedics, radiology, cancer research, and more. Senator Banks noted that IU, Purdue, and Notre Dame are leaders in driving biotechnology innovation across the country, and that it is important to protect university research from intellectual property theft.
Watch the full hearing here. Sen. Banks’ remarks begin at 1:40.
Executive Branch Activities of Interest
Florida’s New College Becomes First Institution to Volunteer to Sign to Trump Administration Compact for Higher Education
Officials from the New College of Florida announced in a press release that the institution will “happily be the first college in America to formally embrace and sign President Trump’s vision for higher education.” New College leadership said that the institution is already adhering to many of the provisions in the compact and noted their commitment to keep costs low for students. Read the press release here.
Department of Education Announces Final Rule on Public Service Loan Forgiveness
On October 30, the Department of Education (ED) released its final rule amending the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. The final rule amends the definition of a “qualifying employer” to exclude organizations that engage in unlawful activities that have a substantial illegal purpose, including “supporting terrorism and aiding and abetting illegal immigration.” The Department's fact sheet on the final rule is here.