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

Several House Republican Members, including Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) and House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN), launched the Task Force on Poverty, Opportunity, and Upward Mobility. The task force seeks to strengthen America’s social safety net to better help those in need, including by improving education and training.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Member Matt Salmon (R-AZ) announced his plans to retire from Congress in January 2017, at the end of his current term.

SENATE

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation will hold a committee hearing on oversight of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday, March 2. Tom Wheeler, FCC Chairman, and Mignon Clyburn, Michael O’Rielly, Ajit Pai and Jessica Rosenworcel, FCC Commissioners, will testify.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on Acting Secretary John King’s nomination to be U.S. Secretary of Education. The HELP Committee announced that a vote on King’s nomination would take place as part of an executive session on March 9.

ADMINISTRATION

The White House announced that Open eBooks, an application and curated eBook collection, is being launched nationwide through a coalition of literacy, library, publishing and technology organizations.

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

13 States Join Federal Open Resource Initiative [Education Week]

Greatest Hits: What Are the Most Popular Sections of the Ed. Department’s Website? [Education Week]

Trump University’s Checkered Past Haunting Candidate [The New York Times]

U of Maryland University College’s ‘extended transcript’ a new type of student record [Inside Higher Ed]

Trapped in the Community College Remedial Maze [The Atlantic]
Center for Community College Student Engagement Report: “Expectations Meet Reality: The Underprepared Student and Community Colleges”

Why 2 U. of Houston Professors Won’t Change Their Teaching for Campus Carry [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

When People of Color Are Discouraged From Going Into the Arts [The Atlantic]

John King Gets Collegial Confirmation Hearing As Ed. Secretary Nominee [Education Week]

Republicans Push Education Department to Defend its Handling of Secual education secretary to defend college sexual assault investigations [The Huffington Post]

Marco Rubio came out swinging at Trump, and one punch really landed: Trump University [The Washington Post]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Murray Calls for Strong Leadership at the Department of Education, Urges Confirmation of Dr. John King

House Education and the Workforce Committee
Blog: Task Force on Poverty, Opportunity, and Upward Mobility Releases Mission Statement

Senate Committee on Appropriations
March 3: Subcommittee Hearing: “Fiscal Year 2017 budget request and funding justification for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services”
Witness: The Honorable Sylvia Burwell, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
10:00 a.m. in 138 Dirksen Senate Office Building

March 3: Subcommittee Hearing: “Fiscal Year 2017 budget request and funding justification for the U.S. Department of Commerce”
Witness: The Honorable Penny Pritzker, Secretary, U.S. Department of Commerce
10:30 a.m. in 192 Dirksen Senate Office Building

House Committee on Appropriations
Documents and webcast of last week’s Hearing: Department of Health and Human Services

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Budget Bulletin: President’s FY 2017 Budget – Budget Process Proposals

Press Release: Budget Bulletin: President’s FY 2017 Budget – Domestic Policy Proposals

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportations
March 2: Hearing: “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission”
Witnesses: The Honorable Tom Wheeler, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission; The Honorable Mignon Clyburn, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission; The Honorable Michael O’Rielly, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission; The Honorable Ajit Pai, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission; The Honorable Jessica Rosenworcel, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
10:00 a.m. in 253 Russell Senate Office Building or webcast

House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
March 2: Research and Technology Subcommittee Hearing: “Smart Health: Empowering The Future of Mobile Apps”
Witnesses: Mr. Morgan Reed, Executive Director, The App Association; Dr. Bryan F. Shaw, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Baylor University; Mr. Howard Look, President, CEO and Founder, Tidepool; Dr. Gregory Krauss, Professor of Neurology, The Johns Hopkins Hospital; Mr. Jordan Epstein, CEO & Founder, Stroll Health
10:00 a.m. in 2318 Rayburn House Office Building

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

White House:

• Blog: Summer opportunities: Here’s how you can help more young Americans land that first job
• Blog: Now Available: A Library of Opportunity
• Blog: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is Paying Off

Department of Education:

• Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Recognizes 14 States and 40 Districts Committing to #GoOpen with Educational Resources
• Press Release: Historic Investment: $17.4 Million in Grants Available to Help Native Youth
• Blog: Meet John King, Acting Secretary of Education

Department of Labor:

• Blog: Second Chances in Alabama
• Blog: Building a Global Apprenticeship Movement
• Blog: Celebrating and Expanding the Legacy of Black History for All Americans

Institute of Education Sciences:

• Resource: NAEP Technical Documentation

Legislative Movement in Congress

S.2560: A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make college affordable and accessible.
Sponsor: Sen Peters, Gary C. [MI] (introduced 2/22/2016) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 2/22/2016 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Sens. Peters & Cassidy and Reps. Polis & Reed Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Make College More Affordable & Accessible

H.R.4598: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to improve the H-1B visa program, to repeal the diversity visa lottery program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Brooks, Mo [AL-5] (introduced 2/24/2016) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Judiciary; House Education and the Workforce
Latest Major Action: 2/24/2016 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Press Release: Brooks Introduces Significant Cruz/ Sessions Immigration Legislation in the House

H.RES.624: Directing the Committee on the Budget to hold a public hearing on the President’s fiscal year 2017 budget request with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget as a witness.
Sponsor: Rep Van Hollen, Chris [MD-8] (introduced 2/24/2016) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Rules
Latest Major Action: 2/24/2016 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Rules.

H.R.4583: To promote a 21st century energy and manufacturing workforce.
Sponsor: Rep Rush, Bobby L. [IL-1] (introduced 2/23/2016) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce; House Energy and Commerce
Latest Major Action: 2/23/2016 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

H.R.4594: To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make college affordable and accessible.
Sponsor: Rep Polis, Jared [CO-2] (introduced 2/23/2016) Cosponsors (1)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
Latest Major Action: 2/23/2016 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Polis, Peters, Cassidy, Reed Introduce Bill to Improve College Access, Reduce Costs

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: Part 601 Preferred Lender Arrangements. Comments due April 29, 2016.

ED Grant Notice: Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions (ANNH) Program. Applications due April 26, 2016.

ED Comment Request: Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loan and Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Stafford/Ford Loan Master Promissory Note. Comments due March 24, 2016.

Penn Hill Group provides a list of grant opportunities and summaries for select grants. Please visit our website for more information.