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

HOUSE and SENATE 

The current continuing resolution that is funding the Federal government expires on Friday, April 28.

The House Education and the Workforce Committee will hold a hearing on strengthening accreditation on Thursday, April 27. Witnesses have yet to be announced.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) released a statement saying that the Senate will soon confirm U.S. Department of Labor Secretary nominee Alexander Acosta.

ADMINISTRATION  

President Trump signed the executive order (EO) “Buy American and Hire American,” which aims to support domestic products and bring jobs back to the U.S. Among its requirements, the EO directs Federal agencies to more strictly enforce H-1B visa laws and propose prioritizing the issuance of H-1B visas to those that are the “most-skilled or highest-paid.” U.S. Department of Education (ED) Secretary Betsy DeVos released a statement in support of the EO.

A Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) student claimed that he was sent to Mexico in February despite his active DACA status. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said that he cannot promise that DACA students will not be deported.

President Trump announced that he will select a former executive for HP Inc., Holly Luong Ham, to serve as assistant secretary for management at ED.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai sent a letter to Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), voicing his concerns about the group’s management of the application process for the E-rate and asking USAC to develop plans to change the application process by May 18.

ED issued final regulations to adjust ED’s civil monetary penalties for inflation.

EVENTS

Penn Hill Group plans to provide clients with a summary of the following event next week:

• April 27: House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing on “Strengthening Accreditation to Better Protect Students and Taxpayers”

Education News Headlines

At some colleges that recruit veterans and their GI Bill money, few graduate [The Atlantic]

Community college presidents surveyed on enrollment, recruitment, pipeline [Inside Higher Ed]

Panel endorses bill aimed at reducing number of college students in remedial classes [EdSource]

State support for higher education increased in 2016, not counting Illinois [Inside Higher Ed]

Students who attend college full-time for even one semester are more likely to graduate [Inside Higher Ed]

Number of Hispanic-Serving Colleges Grows [Inside Higher Ed]

Follett, Lumen Learning announce OER partnership [Inside Higher Ed]

New Hires Fill Some Empty Spots at Education Department [Education Week]

Government watchdog investigating discrimination in student loan servicing [The Washington Post]

Publishers and Open-Resource Advocates Square Off on the Future of Course Content [The Chronicle of Higher Education]
 

U.S. Department of Education

• Press Release: President Trump to Make Special Long-Distance Call to Record-Breaking American Astronaut

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.2100 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the authority to provide work-study allowance for certain activities by individuals receiving educational assistance by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41] (Introduced 04/14/2017) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: 04/14/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

H.R.2103 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to include the Frye Scholarship in the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program.
Sponsor: Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-4] (Introduced 04/17/2017) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: 04/17/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

H.R.1981 — Cyber Security Education and Federal Workforce Enhancement Act
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (Introduced 04/06/2017) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce, Science, Space, and Technology, Homeland Security
Latest Action: 04/19/2017 Referred to the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection.
 

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: 2018-2019 Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Comments due June 16, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Revision of the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Confidentiality Pledges under Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA) and Education Sciences Reform Act of 2002 (ESRA 2002). Comments due June 19, 2017.