IRS Solicits Comments on Guidance Priorities
The IRS is seeking public input on its 2022-2023 Priority Guidance Plan. The Priority Guidance Plan details the tax issues the IRS and the Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Policy intend to address through regulations or other published administrative guidance in the upcoming year.
Public comments are due by June 3, 2022. The Council on Foundations intends to submit comments to the IRS; if you or your organization have suggestions for comments, please email Jenn Holcomb, Director of Government Affairs at the Council.
Federal Actions to Fix Failures in Student Loan Programs
On April 19, the Department of Education announced actions that will result in immediate debt cancellation for at least 40,000 borrowers under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program, and up to 3.6 million borrowers will receive credit toward income-driven repayments (IDR).
These actions are part of the Department’s commitment to address historical failures in the administration of the federal student loan program and to support student loan borrowers through the pandemic. The actions include addressing forbearance steering, IDR forgiveness, and tackling student debt to make college more affordable. On April 26, at a meeting with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, President Biden is reported to have signaled he is not only prepared to extend the current federal moratorium when it expires in August but also is looking into forgiving at least $10,000 in debt for students who are paying back their loans.
HRSA Initiative Will Build the Pipeline of Public Health Workers
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will provide grants through the American Rescue Plan Act to local and Tribal governments, public higher ed institutions, and nonprofits to train 13,000 new community health workers. Community health workers are also known as promotores de salud, community health advisors, outreach workers, patient navigators, and peer counselors; and can include individuals with lived experience whose experience helps inform their work. This effort will support training and apprenticeship programs to help more people enter the health workforce and serve as trusted messengers to connect people to care and support that can improve an individual’s health and well-being. The application deadline is June 14.
IRS Taxpayer Clinics Available for Low-Income Filers
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that more than $12.1 million in matching grants were awarded to 131 organizations across the country for the development, expansion, or continuation of qualified Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics for the 2022 calendar year. View the list of clinics to learn more.
Cross-Government Initiative Engages Rural Communities
Last week, the White House launched the Rural Partners Network (RPN), a new whole-of-government effort led by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to transform the way federal agencies partner with rural places to create economic opportunity. The program will place new federal field staff in more than 25 rural communities in multiple states, Tribal Nations, and territories to help local leaders navigate and access the federal resources. USDA Rural Development (RD) is leading the RPN in collaboration with 16 federal agencies and regional commissions through the Rural Prosperity Interagency Policy Council, co-led by the White House Domestic Policy Council, and USDA. Funders can reach USDA Rural Development to discuss leveraging their rural work or to explore potential partnerships by emailing RuralPartnersNetwork@usda.gov.
Funder Input Sought on FEMA Disaster Recovery Framework
The National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) lays out the nation’s approach to disaster recovery and addresses complex immediate and long-term disaster challenges. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is currently seeking input to update the Framework, last updated in 2016. Collaboration with state, tribal, and territorial leaders, volunteer organizations, philanthropy funders, nonprofits, and professional organizations are seen as central partners in the nation’s disaster recovery capacity. The NDRF task team is hosting stakeholder listening sessions on May 3, 1:00 p.m. EDT and May 19, 3:00 p.m. EDT to get input in five focus areas: Equitable Outcomes, Climate Resilience, Resource Alignment, Roles & Responsibilities, and Mission Integration. Any Council on Foundations members interested in participating in a special funder focus group for this purpose should email govt@cof.org for details.
