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 Republicans released a bill, the American Health Care Act, to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees held markups and passed the bill by a vote of 23—16 and 31—23, respectively.

The House Education and the Workforce Committee approved the Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 1101) by a vote of 22—17; the Self-Insurance Protection Act (H.R. 1304) by voice vote; and the Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act (H.R. 1313) by a vote of 22—17. Committee Democrats released a statement opposing these bills.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) spoke, on the House floor, in support of the American Health Care Act.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) released a statement in opposition to the American Health Care Act.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held its outside and public witnesses hearings. The documents and webcast can be found here.

The House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing on the overview and oversight of the National Science Foundation. The documents and webcast can be found here.

SENATE 

The Senate passed H.J.Res. 58, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to repeal the Obama Administration’s recently promulgated Title II Teacher Preparation and Title IV TEACH Grant regulations, by a vote of 59—40. This CRA resolution is expected to be signed into law by President Trump.

Chairman Alexander released a statement in support of the repeal of the teacher preparation regulations.

Ranking Member Murray spoke, on the Senate floor, and released a statement in opposition to the American Health Care Act.

HELP Committee Democrats sent a letter to Committee Chairman Alexander requesting hearings on nominees to “critical positions” at the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

Ranking Member Murray sent a letter to Secretary of Labor nominee Alexander Acosta asking him to provide three years of tax returns, as well as released a statement, following her meeting with Mr. Acosta, saying that she had serious concerns about his nomination.

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing on the oversight of the Federal Communications Commission. The documents and webcast can be found here.

ADMINISTRATION  

President Trump signed Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States, a new executive order (EO) on immigration. The EO, which will go into effect on March 16, will impose a 90-day travel ban on citizens from six designated countries. The EO exempts U.S. visa and U.S. Green Card holders and no longer offers preferential status to persecuted religious minorities.

The States of Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon and Washington have moved forward to challenge President Trump’s new EO on immigration in court.

ED published, in the Federal Register, that it is extending the deadlines, until July 1, 2017, for institutions to submit an alternate earnings appeal and to comply with the disclosure requirements in the gainful employment regulations.

The Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT), which students utilize to input information from their tax returns into the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is currently unavailable. ED and the IRS released a statement saying they anticipate that the IRS DRT will be unavailable for several weeks to address security concerns.

SUPREME COURT

The Supreme Court of the United States announced that it is sending Gavin Grimm’s case back to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, which is a case regarding transgender student rights.

Education News Headlines

Study Finds Gender, Race, Income Gaps in Dual-Enrollment Programs [Article 5 – Education Week]

Common Application announces it will keep questions on criminal background and disciplinary history [Article 7 – Inside Higher Ed]

Former Jeb Bush Foundation Staffers Working at Trump’s Ed. Dept. [Article 3 – Education Week]

177 Private Colleges Fail Education Dept.’s Financial-Responsibility Test [Article 6 – The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Why American universities need immigrants [Article 7 – The Atlantic]

Universities respond to new executive order on immigration with concern [Article 4 – The Washington Post]

What Happens to Education Spending if the Budget Stays in a Holding Pattern [Article 1 – Education Week]

Trump’s International Policies Could Have Lasting Effects On Higher Ed [Article 8 – The Atlantic]

New America releases guidelines on ethical use of data [Article 9 – Inside Higher Ed]
New America Report: “Predictive Analytics in Higher Education: Five Guiding Practices for Ethical Use”

Report on Adult-Serving Colleges and Alternative Credentials [Article 11 – Inside Higher Ed]
Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), the Presidents’ Forum and the Online Learning Consortium (OLC)
Report: Alternative Credentials: Prior Learning 2.0

Dream Act application numbers surpass last year’s after successful campaign to overcome fears [Article 12 – EdSource]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

Senate Committee on Appropriations 
March 15: Subcommittee Hearing: “STEM Education:  Preparing Students for the Careers of Today and the Future”
Witnesses: Sarah Tucker, Ph.D., Chancellor, West Virginia Council for Community & Technical College Education, Charleston, West Virginia; Larry Plank, Ed.S., Director, K-12 Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics Education, Hillsborough County Public Schools, Tampa, Florida; Neil Lamb, Ph.D., Vice President for Educational Outreach, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama; Caroline King, Chief, Policy and Strategy Officer, Washington STEM, Seattle, Washington
10:30 a.m. in 138 Dirksen Senate Office Building or webcast

House Committee on Appropriations 
Documents and webcast of yesterday’s Subcommittee Hearing: “Management Challenges at the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and the Social Security Administration: Views from the Inspectors General”

March 15: Subcommittee Hearing: “Budget Hearing: Corporation for Public Broadcasting”
Witnesses: Patricia de Stacy Harrison, President and Chief Executive Officer, Corporation for Public Broadcasting; Accompanied by William P. Tayman, Jr., CFO and Treasurer, Corporation for Public Broadcasting
10:00 a.m. in 2358-C Rayburn House Office Building or webcast
 

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration
U.S. Department of Education:

• Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces 2017 National Professional Development Grant Competition to Support Educators of English Learner Students

U.S. Department of Labor:

• Report: Office of Inspector General Audit: Job Training Grants To Community Colleges: Despite Participant Follow-Up Difficulties, Most Were Placed in Training-Related Jobs

Institute of Education Sciences:

• Report: Postsecondary education expectations and attainment of rural and nonrural students

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.1429 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to provide students with annual estimates of student loan borrowing costs.
Sponsor: Rep. Messer, Luke [R-IN-6] (Introduced 03/08/2017) Cosponsors: (6)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 03/08/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Rep. Messer Authors Bill Modeled After IU Program to Reduce Student Loan Debt

H.R.1432 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to repeal the suspension of eligibility for grants, loans, and work assistance for drug-related offenses.
Sponsor: Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37] (Introduced 03/08/2017) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 03/08/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Rep. Bass Reintroduces SUCCESS Act to Ban Priors Question on the FAFSA

H.R.1485 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide students with increased flexibility in the use of Federal Pell Grants, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21] (Introduced 03/09/2017) Cosponsors: (24)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 03/09/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Stefanik, Bustos, Curbelo Introduce Legislation to Expand Access to Critical Pell Grants

S.597 — A bill to increase Federal Pell Grants for the children of fallen public safety officers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] (Introduced 03/09/2017) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 03/09/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
 

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: ED-524 Budget Information Non-Construction Programs Form and Instructions. Comments due May 8, 2017.

ED Comment Request: EDGAR Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements. Comments due May 8, 2017.

ED Comment Request: U.S. Department of Education Grant Performance Report Form (ED 524B). Comments due May 8, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Annual Performance Reports for Title III, Title V, and Title VII Grantees. Comments due April 10, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Annual Vocational Rehabilitation Program/Cost Report (RSA-2). Comments due May 8, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Consolidation Loan Rebate Fee Report. Comments due May 8, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Financial Status and Program Performance Final Report for State and Partnership for the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). Comments due May 8, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Loan Rehabilitation: Reasonable and Affordable Payments. Comments due April 10, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Measuring Educational Gain in the National Reporting System for Adult Education. Comments due May 8, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Student Support Services Annual Performance Report. Comments due April 10, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Teacher Verification Form for Title II Scholarship Recipients. Comments due April 10, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) Program Annual Performance Report. Comments due May 9, 2017.

ED Grant Notice: Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). Applications due April 19, 2017.