The Council of Graduate Schools provides policy and legislative briefs to examine and expand on federal issues impacting graduate institutions and students.

• Policy brief: How Graduate Students Finance Their Education
• Policy brief: Grad PLUS Direct Loan Program
• Policy brief: International Graduate Students: Innovators, Researchers, and Entrepreneurs
• Policy brief: Optional Practical Training
  • Talking Points: Optional Practical Training
• Legislative brief: Expanding Access to Graduate Education Act of 2019 (H.R. 3334)

CGS Summary of Select Provisions in the HEROES Act (5/18/20)

On May 15, the House of Representatives passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (H.R. 6800) as a framework for a fifth COVID-19 relief package. CGS has complied a summary of certain higher education and research provisions as a member resource.

CGS Supports the HEROES Act (5/14/20)

On May 14, CGS joined a higher education community letter in support of the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (H.R. 6800). The bill provides approximately $3 trillion in economic relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

CGS Supports the American Opportunity Student Tax Relief Act (5/6/2020)

On May 7, CGS joined its higher education colleagues in supporting a bill introduced by Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) that would ensure emergency grants to students from the CARES Act are not taxed and makes improvements to the AOTC program.

CGS Letter to DHS and DOS on International Graduate Students (5/13/2020)

On May 13, CGS sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State with recommendations and seeking additional guidance on issues related to the international graduate student pipeline during COVID-19.

CGS Joins Community Letter to Agencies on Value of International Students (4/30/20)

On April 30, 2020, CGS joined 61 additional higher education associations on a letter to the Departments of Homeland Security, State, and Labor expressing the value international students bring to the United States. This letter follows President Trump’s executive order to temporarily suspend immigration.

CGS Joins Community Letters to House and Senate Requesting Relief for Student Loan Borrowers (4/20/2020)

On April 20, CGS joined the higher education community on letters to the House and Senate requesting relief for student loan borrowers. The letters urge relief for borrowers until June 30, 2021, or until the unemployment rates remain below 8 percent for three consecutive months. Among the proposals include requests to continue the zero-interest deferred payments for borrowers and the suspension of collection activities for borrowers who have defaulted on any type of federal loan provided under the CARES Act and to extend the post-graduation grace period for students leaving school.

On April 17, CGS sent letters to House and Senate leadership outlining policy recommendations and requests to be adopted in future legislation addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the association requests $46.6 billion to assist students and institutions, additional funding for federal research grants and extensions, suspending taxation on student grant aid and scholarship, making federal student loan and repayment terms more feasible, and outlining concerns related to the international graduate student community.

CGS Joins Higher Ed Community Letters to House and Senate with Requests for next COVID-19 Package (4/9/2020)

On April 9, CGS joined the higher education community on letters to the House and Senate requesting an additional $46.6 billion in emergency aid to institutions and students during the COVID-19 pandemic.