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House committee votes to overhaul student aid programs

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House Education and Workforce Committee Republicans advanced draft legislation Tuesday to slash billions of dollars to student aid programs to help offset the cost of legislation to enact President Donald Trump’s domestic agenda.

Chair Tim Walberg’s plan, which advanced in a 21-14 party-line vote, would make major changes to federal student aid programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965 and is estimated to produce $351 billion in savings, according to a preliminary score from the Congressional Budget Office — exceeding the $330 billion in cuts the panel was tasked with finding to help pay for the larger package of tax cuts, border security investments, energy policy and more.

“Higher education is at an inflection point,” Walberg of Michigan said in his opening remarks. “We are on a fiscally unsustainable path, so we must deliver on the promise of economic mobility to our students and families.”

The measure, dubbed the “Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan,” includes significant changes to the Pell Grant like addressing the shortfall in funding and adjusting eligibility for the award. It also would place stricter limits on federal loans borrowers can take out,; repeal regulations related to gainful employment and borrower defense; and include a risk-sharing provision that would put schools on the hook for a portion of unpaid student loan balances.

It also would incorporate a risk-sharing provision that would put schools on the hook for a portion of unpaid student loan balances. Many of the plan’s provisions stem from Republicans’ signature higher education bill known as the College Cost Reduction Act, which has stalled on Capitol Hill.

In a major rebuke of former President Joe Biden’s student loan plans that Republicans have long criticized, the committee’s draft bill would repeal the last administration’s income-driven repayment plan known as SAVE, which offered an easier path to student loan debt forgiveness.

“The Biden-Harris administration’s foolish actions in the federal student loan program exacerbated this budgetary catastrophe,” Walberg said. “From their radical SAVE loan repayment plan to the never-ending repayment pause, Democrats are intent on forcing taxpayers to pay for free college.”

Democrats introduced a little over three dozen amendments that were all rejected during Tuesday’s markup.

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Congress

Senate GOP ready to move on elections bill

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Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso told reporters Monday the chamber will vote Tuesday to take up a House-passed elections bill known as the SAVE America Act.

The Wyoming Republican, whose job it is to help round up support, said he is “doing everything I can to make sure we get on this bill tomorrow.”

Republicans will need a simple majority to begin debate on the partisan legislation; they can lose three members and still let Vice President JD Vance break a tie.

So far, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has said he’s a “no,” while Republicans are also watching GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

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Jesse Jackson’s family withdraws posthumous endorsement in Illinois Senate primary

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The family of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson walked back a posthumous endorsement of Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s Senate campaign on Monday, after the family said Jackson’s endorsements for Tuesday’s primaries were not completed before his death.

On Saturday, Stratton’s campaign touted an endorsement from Jackson, who died last month, and his son Yusef. The announcement came after Stratton saw Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Jackson family’s organziation, passing out sample ballots — which were also obtained by Blue Light News — that recommended Stratton.

“[Jackson’s] example has been a north star for me, and I’m deeply honored to have received his trust, support, and endorsement before his passing,” Stratton said in a statement on Saturday.

But on Monday, Yusef Jackson, who is the organization’s COO, said the draft sample ballot was “released without authorization” and that the Jackson family and Rainbow PUSH Coalition are not making political endorsements this cycle.

His father “began the process of reviewing candidates and identifying those he intended to support in the upcoming primary election,” Yusef Jackson said in the statement. “However, given his passing just over a month ago, the process was never fully completed. Out of respect for my father, we decided not to publicly release his intended selections given the process had not been finalized.”

The Stratton campaign said on Monday that officials with Rainbow PUSH Coalition said she had been endorsed by Jackson.

“Juliana spoke on Saturday at Rainbow PUSH for a Women’s History Month event and officials told her she received the endorsements. Organizers shared the sample election ballot that was already being distributed and encouraged her to share the news,” the Stratton campaign said in a statement.

The endorsement mix-up draws further scrutiny on the split among Black Democrats in Illinois between Stratton and Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), who are both seeking to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. Some Democrats in the state have expressed concern that Stratton and Kelly could split the vote in Tuesday’s primary, creating a path for Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) to win the nomination.

Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.) told Blue Light News prior to the family’s statement that his father “never got in on Black-on-Black fights.”

Jonathan Jackson added that the races the late Jesse Jackson “was excited about” were himself and former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s comeback bid.

“He wouldn’t do that. He was always pushing the community forward,” Jackson said. “This smells of desperation.”

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Johnson on Trump’s Hormuz plan

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Speaker Mike Johnson said he supports President Donald Trump’s effort to build a global coalition ensure safe passage of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz — even if Trump “didn’t anticipate it” being necessary before launching airstrikes against Iran.

Speaking to reporters after attending a Washington event with Trump, Johnson said the president told him that “he anticipated the strait of Hormuz would be closed.”

“I don’t know that he didn’t anticipate it in the front end, but now it’s necessitated,” Johnson said. He added that the coalition is “a reasonable thing” for other countries to assist with and “it would be helpful.”

Asked about how much a potential supplemental package to fund the military action would cost, Johnson said, “We don’t know yet.” Estimates for the cost of the war have exceeding $1 billion per day.

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