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

HOUSE

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) announced that House and Senate Leadership have decided not to move forward with fiscal year (FY) 2017 Appropriations bills in calendar year 2016 and that the Committee is working on a Continuing Resolution (CR) for FY2017 that would go through March 31, 2017.

The House Democratic Caucus announced that leadership elections for Minority Leader and other positions will be delayed until the week of November 28^th. Elections were originally scheduled to take place last week. Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH) announced that he will challenge current House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for that position.

SENATE

Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) issued a statement opposing the decision to not to move forward with FY2017 Appropriations bills in calendar year 2016 and, instead, work on a CR.

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that she will continue serving as Ranking Member of the Committee in the 115^th Congress. Senator Murray was also elected, by the Senate Democratic Caucus, to serve as Assistant Democratic Leader, the third-ranking position in Senate Democratic leadership.

Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) was elected, by the Senate Democratic Caucus, as Minority Leader in the 115^th Congress. Senator Richard Durbin (D-IL) will remain the Whip for Senate Democrats in the coming Congress, the second-ranking position in Senate Democratic leadership.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) was selected, by the Senate Democratic Caucus, to serve as Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Committee for the 115^th Congress. He will replace Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), who is retiring at the end of this Congress.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) released data on the earnings of graduates of career college programs and some other schools, which will be used to calculate the debt-to-earnings rates under the standards of ED’s gainful employment regulation.

ED released a Fact Sheet on new Federal guidance and resources to support completion and success in higher education, which includes data on the average 4-year graduation rates and cohort default rates from 2012—2014, by State.

ED released a Dear Colleague letter calling for more high-quality education and reentry support programs within correctional facilities.

ED released a Dear Colleague letter calling on institutions to do all they can to eliminate
harassment and discrimination.

ED released a report, “Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in Higher Education,” on expanding college opportunity by advancing diversity and inclusion.

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

Who Could Be Donald Trump’s Education Secretary? [Education Week]

Did the idea of free public higher education go down with the Democrats? [The Washington Post]

Rep. Messer Excited for Trump Agenda, Would Be ‘Honored’ to Serve as Ed. Sec. [Education Week]

Virginia Foxx weighs in on the GOP’s higher education priorities [Inside Higher Ed]

How the 2018 Elections Could Impact Education in Congress [Education Week]

Advocacy group warns fellow Democrats: Don’t become Trump’s education secretary [The Washington Post]

110 college presidents issue letter to Trump urging him to speak out against harassment and hate [Inside Higher Ed]

Education Department releases gainful employment data for vocational programs [Inside Higher Ed]

When it comes to career-training programs, for-profit schools don’t measure up, feds say [The Washington Post]

Trump to Meet Michelle Rhee as Education Secretary Search Continues  [Education Week]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

House Education and the Workforce Committee
Blog: Not So Fast… House Republicans demand regulatory accountability from administration

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
Press Release: Led by Murray, Senators Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Commemorating National Apprenticeship Week, Renew Efforts to Ensure Our Workforce Leads in 21^st Century Economy

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Mikulski Applauds Announcement that Senator-Elect Van Hollen Will Serve on the Appropriations Committee in the 115^th Congress
 

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

Department of Education

• Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Awards $104 Million to Support Minority Serving Institutions

Department of Labor

• Blog: Apprenticeship Gives Veteran Another Chance to Serve
• Blog: #ApprenticeshipWorks as a Pathway to a Federal Career
• Blog: Marking the 5^th Anniversary of the VOW Act

White House

• Blog: Over 350 Campuses Join in the Healthy Campus Challenge

Institute of Education Sciences

• Report: “Highlights from the U.S. PIAAC Survey of Incarcerated Adults: Their Skills, Work Experience, Education, and Training”
• Report: “Postsecondary Institutions and Price of Attendance in 2015-16; Degrees and Other Awards Conferred: 2014-15; and 12-Month Enrollment: 2014-15: First Look (Provisional Data)
• Report: Upward Bound at 50: Reporting on Implementation Practices Today

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.5047 — Protecting Veterans’ Educational Choice Act of 2016
Sponsor: Rep. Hice, Jody B. [R-GA-10] (Introduced 04/25/2016) Cosponsors: (24)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: 11/14/2016 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 637.

H.Res.923 — Supporting the goals and ideals of American Education Week.
Sponsor: Rep. Joyce, David P. [R-OH-14] (Introduced 11/14/2016) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Action: 11/14/2016 Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

H.R.6094 — Regulatory Relief for Small Businesses, Schools, and Nonprofits Act
Sponsor: Rep. Walberg, Tim [R-MI-7] (Introduced 09/21/2016) Cosponsors: (76)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 11/15/2016 Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 662.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2016-2019. Comments due January 17, 2017.

ED Correction: Teacher Preparation Issues.

DOL Comment Request: Evaluation of Strategies Used in TechHire and Strengthening Working Families Initiative Grant Programs. Comments due January 17, 2017.