It is typical that as the month of July comes to an end, the busy period of legislative activity in Congress winds to a pause. This pause normally lasts until lawmakers return to Washington, D.C., in September to address federal funding deadlines and resume any unfinished legislative activities from the first half of the year that need to be addressed before the end of the year. 

However, in just the first half of the year, the 119th Congress has featured the passage of H.R. 1, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," into law; this bill took up most of the legislative oxygen for the past several months and includes wide-ranging changes in higher education and beyond. But final passage does not mark the end for this new law; now, attention will turn to implementation for the higher ed provisions.

Adding to the to-do list for the second half of the year are growing tensions on both sides of the aisle on Fiscal Year 2026 funding; with just about two months left before the end of the fiscal year and the first threat of a government shutdown, lawmakers are far apart in drafting appropriations legislation that can pass both chambers. On top of the disagreements for FY 26, funding freezes and potential recissions packages for FY 25 funding, which have already been signed into law, have left community colleges uncertain of the continuation of some of their programming.

While this period is usually characterized as a slowdown of federal activity, with appropriations being the only major item left pending at the end of July, this time around, we are poised for a very active second half of the year, with the recess period providing a timely opportunity to inform and influence lawmakers as they shape the outcome of FY 26 funding, decide how much to protect or pull back on existing FY 25 funding, and contribute to the implementation of the new law that will establish workforce Pell and shape the new federal student loan system.

During the August recess, as this period is known in DC, lawmakers return to their home states and districts to engage with their constituents, be it on the campaign trail or in their official capacity, to hear from constituents and to pitch the many accomplishments they have made throughout the Congressional session. In turn, community college leaders are presented with an optimal opportunity to either establish, strengthen, or renew relationships with the lawmakers that represent their campuses and impress upon them the importance of the many community college legislative priorities, such as federal investments in our institutions and our students; especially as the House Appropriations committee is still in the process of considering how it will fund programs community colleges leverage to build institutional strength and promote student success. 

Here are some strategies to foster a relationship with Congressional lawmakers:

• Offer space in your college for your Representatives and/or Senators to host community roundtables, host forums, and otherwise engage with community stakeholders. 
• Invite lawmakers to events the college is hosting. For instance, invite them to be a keynote speaker at a graduation ceremony/welcome assembly or to the opening of a new program or center that has been funded in part with federal funds.
• Meet with lawmakers and their staff in their district offices or invite them to meet on campus and offer a college tour to familiarize them with your programs. 

While the annual visits to Washington, D.C. during our National Legislative Summit are important opportunities to meet with lawmakers and their legislative staff as we share our most urgent priorities, and discuss the impact federal investments have on our programs. We cannot understate how impactful it can be to show lawmakers what a material difference our priorities can make back at home, and highlight areas where their support for additional investments could pay dividends for their constituents.

At ACCT, we have developed tools and guidance to help you host your elected officials on your campus, be a strong advocate for your community college. 

In addition, we produced a hands-on advocacy series meant to support community college leaders in sharing the positive impacts of their campuses, building relationships at the federal level, and considering the role of federal funding in their college’s budget. Here are the dates and times of the sessions comprising the series. 

• July 24th, 1:30 PM - 3 PM ET: Storytelling for Advocacy Meetings
• Aug 6th, 2:30 PM- 4 PM ET: Op-Ed How To on Community College Value 
• Aug 13th, 2:30 PM - 4 PM ET: Navigating the Federal Grant Landscape

If you’re unsure where to start, we also provide a resource to help you identify your elected officials’ contact information. Finally, ACCT’s government relations staff is at your disposal and can be reached at publicpolicy@acct.org to help answer questions or provide guidance as you prepare to meet or host your federal elected officials.

José Miranda is the Director of Government Relations at ACCT

Genesis Santiago is the Senior Government Relations Associate at ACCT

Photo Credit: Al Drago/CQ Roll Call file photo