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

HOUSE 

Last week, the House and Senate passed a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR) (H.J.Res. 99) to continue funding for Federal programs and services until May 5, 2017. This week, the House Appropriations Committee released the fiscal year (FY) 2017 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which would provide discretionary funding for the Federal government for the current fiscal year. Included in the proposed FY17 Omnibus Appropriations bill is the restoration of Summer Pell Grants.

House Republican leadership unveiled the MacArthur Amendment, which largely allows States to waive certain provisions of the Affordable Care Act, such as which benefits must be covered under insurance sold through State and Federal exchanges. House Republican leadership intends to propose this amendment when the House considers the American Health Care Act.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) released a statement congratulating Alexander Acosta on his confirmation to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL).

136 Democrat and Independent Members of Congress sent a letter to U.S. Department of Education (ED) Secretary Betsy DeVos urging her to reverse ED’s decision to rescind memos issued by the Obama Administration pertaining to student loan servicing.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) and House Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Ranking Member Susan Davis (D-CA) sent a letter to the Government Accountably Office, asking for more information on how ED implements the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing on data breaches connected to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT) on Wednesday, May 3.

The House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing on strengthening accountability in higher education by improving the accreditation system. Committee Republicans and Democrats released statements on the hearing.

SENATE

The Senate confirmed Alexander Acosta as DOL Secretary by a vote of 60—38.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) released a statement supporting the confirmation of Alexander Acosta to serve as DOL Secretary.

Peter Oppenheim, the Senate HELP Committee’s education policy director and counsel, is a top contender for assistant secretary for legislation and congressional affairs at ED.

ADMINISTRATION  

White House officials announced the main points of the Trump Administration’s tax plan, which focuses on cutting individual and business tax rates and calls for a repeal of the estate tax. The plan also eliminates nearly all individual deductions, except for the mortgage interest and charitable deductions.

Judge William Orrick, a judge for the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, blocked President Trump’s executive order (EO) to withhold Federal funding from local jurisdictions that have promised to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation.

ED Secretary DeVos announced new means that institutions can use in verifying FAFSA information in response to the outage of the IRS DRT.

National Labor Relations Board Acting Regional Director for Region 5 Sean Marshall ruled that resident advisers at George Washington University have the right to unionize. Marshall’s ruling could apply to other private colleges and universities but not public colleges or universities, as collective bargaining for such institutions is determined under State law.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai announced his proposal to repeal regulations on broadband service providers. Pai released a public notice on filing comments on his proposal.

ED Secretary DeVos announced the hiring of Liz Hill as ED’s press secretary.

EVENTS

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

• May 3: House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on “Reviewing the FAFSA Data Breach”

Education News Headlines

Purdue’s Purchase of Kaplan Is a Big Bet — and a Sign of the Times [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

New study demonstrates rise of tuition discounting and diminishing returns [Inside Higher Ed]

Advocates for HBCUs Aim to Keep Pressure on Lawmakers [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Expelled for sex assault, young men are filing more lawsuits to clear their names [The Washington Post]

DeVos Urged to Restore Loan Servicing Protections [Inside Higher Ed]

Biden calls on students to ‘change the culture’ to fight college sexual assault [The Washington Post]

Purdue Buys Kaplan University, Will Create New Nonprofit Chain [Inside Higher Ed]

Dozens of Colleges’ Upward Bound Applications Are Denied for Failing to Dot Every I [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Supreme Court Ruling on Vacancies Is One More Snag for Trump Appointments [Education Week]

Rising Stars 2017: Advocates [Roll Call]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation
Press Release: Bicameral Leaders Comment on Pai’s Internet Regulations Announcement

Senate Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Statement of Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On One-Week Continuing Resolution

Press Release: Statement of Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On One-Week Continuing Resolution

Press Release: Cochran Statement on Short-Term Continuing Resolution

Press Release: Cochran Presses for Passage of FY2017 Omnibus Appropriations

Press Release: Summary of the FY2017 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

House Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Comprehensive Government Funding Bill Released

Press Release: Short-Term Continuing Resolution to Maintain Government Operations Released

Press Release: Chairman Frelinghuysen Floor Statement on H.J. Res. 99

Press Release: Short-Term Continuing Resolution to Maintain Government Operations Approved by House
 

The Administration
White House

• Press Release: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Personnel to Key Administration Posts

U.S. Department of Labor

• Blog: All About Skills: Tapping the Power of Neurodiversity

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.2151 — To prevent harassment at institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (Introduced 04/26/2017) Cosponsors: (34)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 04/26/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.2207 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to support community college and industry partnerships, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (Introduced 04/27/2017) Cosponsors: (14)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 04/27/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.2208 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to provide funding, on a competitive basis, for summer and year-round employment opportunities for youth ages 14 through 24.
Sponsor: Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (Introduced 04/27/2017) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 04/27/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

S.954 — A bill to prevent harassment at institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (Introduced 04/27/2017) Cosponsors: (18)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 04/27/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
 

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: Federal Direct Loan Program and Federal Family Education Loan Program Teacher Loan Forgiveness Forms. Comments due June 26, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Loan Discharge Applications (DL/FFEL/Perkins). Comments due June 26, 2017.