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 Higher Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training will hold a subcommittee hearing on accountability at the Corporation for National and Community Service on Tuesday, May 24. Witnesses have yet to be announced.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report, “Better Use of Information Could Help Agencies Identify Disparities and Address Racial Discrimination,” indicating that the percentage of U.S. schools in which students are mostly black and Hispanic and come from low-income backgrounds has risen in the last several years. The report also stated that compared with other schools, these schools offered disproportionately fewer math, science and college preparatory courses and had disproportionately higher rates of students who were held back in 9th grade, suspended or expelled.

ADMINISTRATION 

The U.S. Department of Labor released final rules on overtime pay, as well as guidance on these rules. The new regulations increase the pay level below which almost all salaried employees are presumed to be eligible for overtime from $23,660 to $47,466. Chairman Alexander released a statement indicating that he will introduce a Congressional Review Act resolution to block this rule.

ED announced the 44 colleges invited to participate in the Dual Enrollment Pell Experiment, which will allow students taking college-credit courses to access Pell Grants as early as high school.

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

Op Ed: American technology leadership: We can’t take it for granted [The Hill]

What Obama’s Overtime Rule Could Mean for Colleges [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Many community college presidencies are in upheaval [Inside Higher Ed]

Looking to change schools? These top universities take the most transfer students. [The Washington Post]

A University That Prioritizes the Students Who Are Often Ignored [The Atlantic]

Gov. Brown’s push for more undergraduates to get teaching credentials [EdSource]

GAO on Barriers to College for Homeless and Foster Youth Students [Inside Higher Ed]
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Report: Higher Education “Actions Needed to Improve Access to Federal Financial Assistance for Homeless and Foster Youth”

2U hopes to lower risk with program selection algorithm [Inside Higher Ed]

2 For-Profit Universities Will Cut Arbitration Clauses From Enrollment Agreements [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Study Links student loans with lower net worth, housing values after college [Eurekalert.org]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

House Education and the Workforce Committee
Documents and webcast of last week’s Full Committee Hearing: “Helping Students Succeed by Strengthening the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act”

Press Release: #CTE Graduate: I Am The American Dream

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Press Release: New GAO Report Release Highlights Persistent Barriers to Higher Education Access and Completion for Homeless and Foster Youth

Press Release: Alexander: Administration’s Final Overtime Rule Could Increase Annual Tuition at Just One Tennessee Independent College Nearly $850 per student

Press Release: Murray, Hatch Introduce EARNS Act to Help More Students, Workers, and Employers Compete in the Global Economy

House Committee on the Budget
May 25: Full Committee Hearing: “Reclaiming Congressional Authority Through the Power of the Purse”
Witnesses: Philip G. Joyce, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean and Professor, University of Maryland School of Public Policy; Matthew C. Spalding, Ph.D., Associate Vice President and Dean of Educational Programs, Hillsdale College, Allan P. Kirby, Jr. Center for Constitutional Studies and Citizenship; Stan Collender, Executive Vice President, Qorvis MSLGROUP
9:30 a.m. in 210 Cannon

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

Department of Education:

• Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Awards $530,000 to Umpqua Community College to Help Recovery From Campus Shooting

Department of Labor:

• Blog: DOL in Action
• Press Release: US Labor Department Announces Availability of $80M in Grants To Provide Job, Leadership Skills Among Disadvantaged Youth

Institute of Education Sciences:

• Report: The Nation’s Report Card: Technology and Engineering Literacy
• Report: Developmental Education and college readiness at the University of Alaska”

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.5274: To provide for the refinancing and recalculation of certain Federal student loans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Garamendi, John [CA-3] (introduced 5/18/2016) Cosponsors (29)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
Latest Major Action: 5/18/2016 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.5275: To protect the authority of States and local governments to enact and enforce policies regarding the use of sex-segregated bathrooms and sex-segregated locker rooms of educational institutions on the basis of gender identity.
Sponsor: Rep Messer, Luke [IN-6] (introduced 5/18/2016) Cosponsors (10)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
Latest Major Action: 5/18/2016 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Messer files bill to protect public school students from the Obama Administration’s school bathroom mandate

H.RES.740: Congratulating Dr. and Mrs. David and Valerie Hodge on a successful 10-year tenure as President of Miami University.
Sponsor: Rep Latta, Robert E. [OH-5] (introduced 5/18/2016) Cosponsors (None)
Committees: House Education and the Workforce
Latest Major Action: 5/18/2016 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

S.AMDT.3934 to H.R.2577 To authorize the use of funds to carry out a matching program with the Department of Education to identify veterans who are unemployable due to a service-connected disability and who are also borrowers of Federal student loans in order to streamline and expedite the process through which such veterans may discharge their Federal student loans.
Sponsor: Sen King, Angus S., Jr. [ME] (introduced 5/17/2016) Cosponsors (2)
Latest Major Action: 5/17/2016 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 3934 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.

S.2945: A bill to promote effective registered apprenticeships, for skills, credentials, and employment, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 5/18/2016) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 5/18/2016 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.2948: A bill to plan, develop, and make recommendations to increase access to sexual assault examinations for survivors by holding hospitals accountable and supporting the providers that serve them.
Sponsor: Sen Murray, Patty [WA] (introduced 5/18/2016) Cosponsors (8)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 5/18/2016 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.