"Higher education advocates are largely supportive of a new bipartisan amendment on federal funding for historically black colleges and universities, but some point to challenges in the road ahead," Inside Higher Ed reports. 

"'We’re hearing some rumblings that there could be some opposition from the tax community on the House side,' Carrie Warick, director of policy and advocacy at the National College Access Network, said

The bipartisan proposal, announced Tuesday by the U.S. Senate education committee, would amend legislation passed in September and make permanent $255 million in annual funding for historically black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions. The FUTURE Act, as the legislation is formally called, would also simplify the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and eliminate paperwork for the 7.7 million federal student loan borrowers currently on income-driven repayment plans by automating income recertification.

...

Some advocates also doubt that reauthorization will happen with this Congress.

'I think it’s unlikely at this time that the Democrats will be willing to do anything else in the piecemeal approach,' Warick said. 'I'm not anticipating other bills coming out before this Congress is over.'

Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, agreed that it's unlikely more will get done with the Higher Education Act, given the number of legislative days left on the calendar and congressional lawmakers' preoccupation with impeachment and funding for 2020-21 education grants."

NASFAA's "Notable Headlines" section highlights media coverage of financial aid to help members stay up to date with the latest news. Articles included under the notable headlines section are not written by NASFAA, but rather by external sources. Inclusion in Today's News does not imply endorsement of the material or guarantee the accuracy of information presented.

Publication Date: 12/5/2019