Rep. Pete Stauber

Maddy summary# Summary of Proposed Higher Education Act Amendments This document outlines significant proposed amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965, primarily as part of the "College Cost Reduction Act." The key elements include: ## Accreditation Reform - Major overhaul of accreditation standards, requiring accrediting agencies to demonstrate independence from trade associations - New requirements for accrediting agencies to assess student achievement outcomes, including median value-added earnings relative to median total price charged - Introduction of an "Alternative Quality Assurance Experimental Site Initiative" to test non-accredited institutions - Protections for religious institutions, including a new process for appealing accreditation decisions related to religious mission - Removal of "litmus tests" that would require institutions to support specific political viewpoints ## Student Success Initiatives - Establishment of "Postsecondary Student Success Grants" to increase participation, retention, and completion rates for high-need students - Focus on evidence-based practices, with tiered requirements (tier 1, 2, and 3 reforms) - Mandatory inclusion of high-need student populations (low-income, first-generation, military-connected, etc.) - Requirements for institutions to report on completion rates, retention rates, and student demographics ## Regulatory Changes - Repeal of numerous existing regulations including: * Closed school discharges * Borrower defense to repayment * Pre-dispute arbitration * False certification requirements * Ability-to-benefit rules * Financial responsibility regulations - New restrictions on incentive compensation for recruiters - Changes to third-party servicer definitions and regulations ## Transfer and Credit Policies - New requirement that institutions cannot deny transfer credit based solely on the source of accreditation - Requirements for transparent transfer policies - Changes to reverse transfer policies ## Other Key Provisions - Modifications to the National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) - New definitions for "total price" and "value-added earnings" - Changes to the process for institutions to change accrediting agencies - New requirements for institutions to report on student outcomes The overall focus of these proposed amendments is to reduce regulatory burden on institutions, promote transparency, improve student outcomes (particularly for high-need students), modernize accreditation processes, and protect religious institutions' rights in accreditation decisions.

Maddy summaryHR 10143 requires the FEMA Administrator to transfer unspent funds from COVID-19 relief acts and funds that have passed their initial performance period for past disaster declarations into the Disaster Relief Fund. This bill directly affects FEMA's budget management by redirecting leftover government funds that were originally allocated for specific purposes. The key mechanism is a mandatory transfer of these unobligated amounts to the central Disaster Relief Fund, which is used to respond to future disasters. The bill does not create new spending but reallocates existing, unused funds to strengthen the Disaster Relief Fund's available resources.

Maddy summaryThe Fix Our Forests Act creates a new system for managing wildfire risk on federal lands by designating "firesheds" (landscape-scale areas with high wildfire risk) and establishing a central coordination center called the Fireshed Center. It streamlines environmental reviews for vegetation management projects in these areas, requires public tracking of wildfire risk and management activities through a Fireshed Registry, and limits legal challenges to these projects. The bill affects federal land management agencies (like the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management), communities in wildfire-prone areas, and utility companies managing vegetation near power lines. It also includes provisions for community wildfire risk reduction programs and research on new wildfire management technologies, aiming to accelerate risk reduction while maintaining transparency about where and how these projects are implemented.

Maddy summaryHRES 1566 is a symbolic House resolution honoring all U.S. veterans on Veterans Day 2024. It recognizes the service and sacrifice of the estimated 15.8 million veterans living in the U.S. as of 2023, including those who served in conflicts from World War II to post-9/11. The resolution calls on the American public to observe Veterans Day to acknowledge veterans' role in preserving national freedom. As a non-binding resolution, it has no direct policy impact but formally expresses congressional recognition of veterans' contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends a tax credit for producers of second-generation biofuels (made from non-food sources like agricultural waste) through 2026, directly affecting eligible biofuel manufacturers. It updates the Internal Revenue Code to delay the credit's expiration from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2026. The bill also prevents producers from claiming both this credit and a separate clean fuel production credit for the same fuel. The extension applies to qualified biofuel production occurring after December 31, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides one-time financial assistance to U.S. farmers growing specific crops (like corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, and rice) during the 2024 crop year if their expected costs exceed expected returns. Payments equal 60% of the difference between the expected cost of production per acre (based on USDA cost forecasts) and the expected gross return per acre (based on projected farm prices and yields). Payments are calculated using actual planted acreage plus 50% of acreage prevented from planting due to natural disasters, with annual caps of $175,000 or $350,000 depending on the farm’s primary income source. The program uses existing USDA data sources and applies standard farm payment limits.

Maddy summaryThe COACH Act requires the Small Business Administration to create and regularly update a multilingual resource guide for small childcare businesses. This guide provides practical help on operations, finances, safety, compliance, and quality standards - covering topics like marketing, payroll, and eligibility for federal childcare funding. The guide must be published in English and 10 major U.S. languages (including Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, and Korean) and distributed through SBA offices, women’s business centers, and other partner organizations. It directly affects small childcare providers, sole proprietors, and organizations with limited administrative capacity.

Maddy summaryThe Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act would allow tribal law enforcement officers working under federal contracts or compacts (via the Indian Self-Determination Act) to enforce federal law on tribal lands, provided they complete equivalent training, pass background checks, and receive Bureau of Indian Affairs certification. It designates these officers as federal law enforcement officers for legal protections under specific federal laws, such as the Federal Tort Claims Act. The bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to establish a credentialing process within 24 months and directs the Attorney General to coordinate federal public safety efforts in Indian communities through improved data collection and training. This policy change directly affects tribal officers and communities by expanding their enforcement authority and legal recognition.

Maddy summaryHR 9950, the "Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act," authorizes three gold medals to be awarded to the members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic men's ice hockey team for their historic victory over the Soviet Union during the Winter Olympics. The medals, designed by the Treasury Secretary, will be presented by Congress to honor the team's achievement, which revitalized American morale during the Cold War. One medal will be displayed at the Lake Placid Olympic Center, one at the USA Hockey Hall of Fame in Eveleth, Minnesota, and one at the U.S. Olympic Museum in Colorado Springs. The bill also permits the sale of bronze duplicates to cover production costs. This is a ceremonial honor, not a policy change, directly recognizing the team members and their legacy.

Maddy summaryHR 9920 (the BE GONE Act) amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand the definition of "aggravated felonies" by adding "sexual assault and aggravated sexual violence" as a specific category. This change directly affects non-citizens convicted of these offenses, as it triggers mandatory deportation under existing immigration law. The bill does not create new penalties or enforcement procedures but alters the legal definition that determines deportation eligibility. It is a definitional amendment to existing immigration law, not a new enforcement measure.