Below is an abridged version of RAMC’s weekly Washington Wrap Up. Find out more about Wrap Up and other RAMC resources here.

Last Week in Congress and the Administration
   
HOUSE

House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) notified Members that they must submit programmatic and language submissions for consideration in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Appropriations bill by March 24, 2016.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing on personal data held by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) on Tuesday, February 2.
 
SENATE

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) launched a tool for students and families to report their stories related to higher education costs and student debt.
 
ADMINISTRATION

ED announced James Cole Jr, current General Counsel to ED, will assume the duties of Deputy Secretary.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]

Donald Trump and Education: Five Facts to Know Before the Iowa Caucuses [Education Week]

Hillary Clinton and Education: Five Facts to Know Before the Iowa Caucuses [Education Week]

Ted Cruz and Education: Five Facts to Know Before the Iowa Caucuses [Education Week]

Bernie Sanders and Education: Five Facts to Know Before the Iowa Caucuses [Education Week]

Marco Rubio and Education: Five Facts to Know Before the Iowa Caucuses [Education Week]

Obama’s Budget Urges a Deeper Commitment to Computer Education [The New York Times]

Nation’s prominent public universities are shifting to out-of-state students [The Washington Post]

U of California faculty members object to new email monitoring [Inside Higher Ed]

Temple U offers grant in exchange for students agreeing to work less, study more [Inside Higher Ed]

Income for Recent Graduates the Highest in Over a Decade [The Wall Street Journal]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: College Affordability: Murray Launches New Tool to Hear Stories from Students, Families on Higher Education Costs, Student Debt

Senate Committee on the Budget
February 3: Committee Hearing: “Spending on unauthorized and expired programs”
Witnesses: Dr. Keith Hall, Director, Congressional Budget Office; Ms. Jessica Tollestrup, Specialist – Congress and the Legislative Process, Congressional Research Service (CRS); Dr. Paul Posner, Director – Center on the Public Service, School of Policy, George Mason University; Dr. James Thurber, Director – Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies, American University
10:00 a.m. in 608 Dirksen Senate Office Building or webcast

House Committee on the Budget
February 4: Committee Hearing: “CBO’s Budget and Economic Outlook”
Witness: Keith Hall, Director, Congressional Budget Office
9:30 a.m. in 210 Cannon House Office Building

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

White House

• Blog: Computer Science For All
• Blog: Giving Every Student an Opportunity to Learn Through Computer Science For All
• Blog: Make a Difference as a Public Servant

Department of Education:

• Letter: 2016-2017 Federal Pell Grant Payment and Disbursement Schedules. Summary: The attachments to this letter contain the 2016-2017 Award Year Federal Pell Grant Program Payment and Disbursement Schedules
• Press Release: Education Department Announces James Cole Jr. to Assume the Duties of Deputy Secretary
• Blog: Don’t Be Fooled: You Never Have to Pay for Student Loan Help

Department of Labor:

• Blog: Innovation and Opportunity in Silicon Valley
• Blog: Giving Students the Skills to Succeed in Chicago’s South Side
• Blog: Job Seekers and Employees with Disabilities Need Better Accessible Transportation Technology

Legislative Movement in Congress

S.2471: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to improve and expand Coverdell education savings accounts.
Sponsor: Sen Kirk, Mark Steven [IL] (introduced 1/28/2016) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Finance
Latest Major Action: 1/28/2016 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

S.AMDT.2984 to S.2012 To include water and wastewater treatment facilities among energy-intensive industries and to expand the role of the institution of higher education-based industrial research and assessment centers.
Sponsor: Sen Baldwin, Tammy [WI] (introduced 1/27/2016) Cosponsors (None)
Latest Major Action: 1/28/2016 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2984 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: eZ-Audit: Electronic Submission of Financial Statements and Compliance Audits. Comments due April 1, 2016.

ED Grant Notice: Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) Formula Grant Program. Deadline for Transmittal of Phase I of Applications: March 2, 2016. Deadline for Transmittal of Phase II of Applications: April 1, 2016.

DOL Comment Request: Implementation of the Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Provisions of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Comments due March 28, 2016.