The AAMC joined a June 7 letter (PDF) with 22 other higher education organizations opposing the Bipartisan Workforce Pell Act (BWPA, H.R. 6585) and the DETERRENT Act (H.R. 5933) as amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (NDAA, H.R. 8070). This letter was sent to members of the House Committee on Rules prior to a June 11 hearing during which amendments to the FY 2025 NDAA were considered. Neither the BWPA nor DETERRENT amendments were ruled in order.
The BWPA was originally scheduled for a Feb. 28 House vote under suspension of the rules. The AAMC opposed the BWPA due to its cost offset in a Feb. 28 letter [refer to Washington Highlights, March 1]. The DETERRENT Act would create strict foreign gift reporting requirements for institutions of higher education, establish a public searchable database of foreign gifts given to institutions and researchers, and prohibit institutions from entering into contracts with “countries of concern” without a waiver from the Department of Education. DETERRENT passed the House on Dec. 6, 2023, with bipartisan support but has not been considered in the Senate.
The June 7 letter urged Congress to address concerns with both bills in committee instead of moving them through the House as amendments to unrelated legislation without further discussion. “Given the concerns with these bills and that both amendments are non-germane to the National Defense Authorization Act, we believe they should move through the regular process, including consideration and hearings by the Senate HELP Committee. We have consistently opposed these amendments and urge you to vote against making them in order for the House floor.”