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 and SENATE 

The House and Senate are in recess. The House will return on Tuesday, April 12, and the Senate will return on Monday, April 4.

BUDGET 

The House Budget Committee filed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 budget resolution and the accompanying committee report.

The Congressional Budget Office released its new Pell Grant Baseline projections. The Pell Grant Program is projected to have a $7.754 billion surplus going into FY2017. Based on these projections, the Pell Grant Program is expected to start running a shortfall in FY2025.

ADMINISTRATION  

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has named Kim Hunter Reed as a Deputy Under Secretary. Reed will be replacing Jamienne Studley who left ED at the end of 2015.

ED released a report, Fulfilling the Promise, Serving the Need: Advancing College Opportunity for Low-Income Students, highlighting higher education institutions that promote access, opportunity and success for Pell-eligible students.

ED announced a determination that between 2010–2014, former Corinthian Colleges’ Everest Institute, Everest College, Everest University and WyoTech misrepresented job placement rates for many of their programs of study. This determination has lead ED to create a attestation form that allows borrowers who enrolled in those institutions during that time period to apply for a discharge of their student loans without having to show specifically how their institution violated state law (as is normally required).

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

Bill Clinton speechifies on Hillary Clinton’s plans for debt-free public college [Inside Higher Ed]

Debate grows over pro-Trump chalkings at Emory [Inside Higher Ed]

Corinthian students may have a clearer path towards debt relief [The Washington Post]

It looks as if the government can afford to revive year-round grants for needy college students [The Washington Post]

UC Berkeley chancellor unveils new plan to fight sexual misconduct on campus [The Los Angeles Times]

Education Department Highlights College Access, Success for Low-Income Students [Education Week]
U.S. Department of Education Report: “Fulfilling the Promise, Serving the Need: Advancing College Opportunity for Low-Income Students”

Education Secretary John King to speak on inequity in higher education, will call on elite colleges to do more to help low-income students [Inside Higher Ed]

Federal Grants Boost N.C.’s ‘Early College’ High School Push [Education Week]

Judge eliminates for-profit Decker College’s $31 million debt to Education Department [Inside Higher Ed]

Corinthian Colleges must pay nearly $1.2 billion for false advertising and lending practices [The Los Angeles Times]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

The House and Senate are in recess. The House will return on Tuesday, April 12, and the Senate will return on Monday, April 4.

House Education and the Workforce Committee
Documents and webcast of last week’s Full Committee Hearing: “Strengthening Education Research and Privacy Protections to Better Serve Students”

Press Release: Witnesses: Must Find Balance Between Education Research and Student Privacy

House Committee on Appropriations
Documents and webcast of last week’s Subcommittee Hearing: “Budget Hearing-Department of Education”

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: House Budget Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2017 Committee Report

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

Department of Education:

• Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces Path for Debt Relief for Students at 91 Additional Corinthian Campuses
• Press Release: New U.S. Department of Education Report Highlights Colleges Increasing Access and Supporting Strong Outcomes for Low-Income Students
• Blog: Students Share College Completion Journeys

Department of Labor:

• Blog: DOL in Action

Institute of Education Sciences:

• Report: Alaska students’ pathways from high school to postsecondary education and employment

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.3446: Simplifying Financial Aid for Students Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-35] (introduced 9/8/2015) Cosponsors (10)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
Latest Major Action: 3/23/2016 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.

H.R.3474: Christopher Bryski Student Loan Protection Act
Sponsor: Rep Pascrell, Bill, Jr. [NJ-9] (introduced 9/10/2015) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Financial Services; House Education and the Workforce
Latest Major Action: 3/23/2016 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.

H.R.3512: Pell Grant Restoration Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep Scott, Robert C. “Bobby” [VA-3] (introduced 9/16/2015) Cosponsors (54)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
Latest Major Action: 3/23/2016 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.

H.R.3551: Ravi Thackurdeen Safe Students Study Abroad Act
Sponsor: Rep Maloney, Sean Patrick [NY-18] (introduced 9/17/2015) Cosponsors (10)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
Latest Major Action: 3/23/2016 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.

H.R.3554: Jobs Now Act of 2015
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Frederica S. [FL-24] (introduced 9/17/2015) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
Latest Major Action: 3/23/2016 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Meeting Announcement: National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation (NCFMEA). The meeting will be held on April 21-22, 2016, from 9:00 a.m. until approximately 5:00 p.m. both days, at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town, 1767 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. 

ED Comment Request: Federal Perkins Loan Program Regulations. Comments due May 23, 2016.

DOL Grant Notice: Reentry Demonstration Projects for Young Adults. Applications due April 19, 2016.