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

HOUSE

The House Education and the Workforce Committee marked up H.R. 2353, the “Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act,” which the Committee favorably reported to the House, as amended, by voice vote. Committee Republicans and Democrats released statements on their priorities.

House Democrats launched their “Aim Higher” campaign, an effort to improve higher education through a series of bills related to access, affordability and completion.

The House Education and the Workforce Committee will hold a hearing entitled “Empowering Students and Families to Make Informed Decisions on Higher Education” on Wednesday, May 24. Witnesses have yet to be announced.

U.S. Department of Education (ED) Secretary Betsy DeVos will testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies on ED’s fiscal year (FY) 2018 budget on Wednesday, May 24.

SENATE

Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) introduced the College Transparency Act of 2017, which aims to simplify higher education data reporting for institutions and ensure that students and the public have access to accurate information on outcomes and other higher education metrics. The bill would eliminate the current statutory ban in the Higher Education Act (HEA) on a Federal student unit record.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) released a statement in opposition to the cuts to ED’s budget that are reportedly included in the Trump Administration’s FY2018 budget proposal.

Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent a letter to ED Secretary DeVos requesting information about the status of students’ debt-forgiveness claims, which were made under the “borrower defense to repayment” provision of the HEA.

ADMINISTRATION  

The Washington Post is reporting additional details on the Trump Administration’s FY2018 ED budget submission. The Trump Administration’s FY2018 budget proposal is scheduled to be released on Tuesday, May 23.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released a report analyzing student loan servicing practices relating to economically vulnerable borrowers as they transition from default into an income-driven repayment plan.

The Government Accountability Office reported that ED did not properly monitor more than $20 million in discretionary grants awarded in 2015.

President Trump delivered the commencement address to Liberty University’s graduating class.

EVENTS

Penn Hill Group plans to provide clients with summaries of the following events next week:

• May 24: House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing: “Empowering Students and Families to Make Informed Decisions on Higher Education”
• May 24: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing: “Department of Education Budget Hearing”

Education News Headlines

Campus child care made it possible for this young parent to graduate college. Now Trump wants to ax the program. [The Washington Post]

GAO: Education Department Should Improve Oversight of Competitive Grants [Education Week]

Reported details of Trump budget include big cuts to financial aid [Inside Higher Ed]

Trump’s Budget Could Eliminate Public-Service Loan Forgiveness. Here’s What to Know. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Data show small improvements in accessibility of course materials [Inside Higher Ed]

Senate Bill Aims to Give College Hopefuls More Data on How Grads Fare [Education Week]

Representative Virginia Foxx and the Center for American Progress both call for focus on nondegree career education [Inside Higher Ed]

CFPB: Highest-Risk Borrowers Not Enrolled in Income-Driven Repayment [Inside Higher Ed]
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Report: Update from the CFPB Student Loan Ombudsman

Report: Michigan Lawmaker to Be Tapped for Adult Education Post at Ed. Dept. [Education Week]

Bipartisan bill would overturn federal ban on student unit record database [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor
House Education and the Workforce Committee
Media Advisory: Foxx to Deliver Remarks at American Enterprise Institute on Strengthening #CTE

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Murray, Senate Dems Urge President Trump to Drop Damaging Proposed Cuts, Workforce Reductions at HHS

Press Release: Hirono, Murray, Davis, Scott Introduce Major Legislation to Secure Pell Grant Program and Make College More Affordable for Low-Income Students

Senate Committee on the Budget
Documents and webcast of yesterday’s Full Committee Hearing: “GAO Head and CBO Director to Discuss Ways to Run Government for Less”

Press Release: Enzi: Make Federal Government More Effective and Efficient for Taxpayers
 

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

• Report: Police Week: Appreciating Our Peace Officers and the Role of Career and Technical Education

U.S. Department of Labor

• Blog: High Cost of Education Sparks Bright Idea

Legislative Movement in Congress
S.1121 — A bill to establish a postsecondary student data system.
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] (Introduced 05/15/2017) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 05/15/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

H.R.2434 — To establish a postsecondary student data system.
Sponsor: Rep. Mitchell, Paul [R-MI-10] (Introduced 05/16/2017) Cosponsors: (6)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 05/16/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Mitchell and Polis Introduce The College Transparency Act of 2017

H.R.2449 — To repeal the Congressional Review Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] (Introduced 05/16/2017) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Judiciary, Rules
Latest Action: 05/16/2017 Referred to House Rules
Press Release: Cicilline, Booker Introduce Bill to Repeal Congressional Review Act

H.R.2451 — To improve the structure of the Federal Pell Grant program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53] (Introduced 05/16/2017) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce, Budget
Latest Action: 05/16/2017 Referred to House Budget
Press Release: Davis, Scott, Hirono, Murray Introduce Major Legislation to Secure Pell Grant Program and Make College More Affordable for Low-Income Students

H.R.2466 — To facilitate the expedited review of applications of aliens applying for admission to the United States under section 101(a)(15)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act who are coming to the United States to participate in a program under which they will receive graduate medical education or training, require the Secretary of State to provide relevant Foreign Service officers with training regarding such aliens, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (Introduced 05/16/2017) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Judiciary, Foreign Affairs
Latest Action: 05/16/2017 Referred to House Foreign Affairs

H.R.2482 — To extend temporarily the Federal Perkins Loan program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21] (Introduced 05/17/2017) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 05/17/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Bipartisan Group Introduces Perkins Loan Extension Act of 2017

H.R.2490 — To amend title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to increase the amount of financial support available for working students.
Sponsor: Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-7] (Introduced 05/17/2017) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 05/17/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Rep. Ami Bera and Sen. Tammy Baldwin Lead Effort To Support Working Students

S.1176 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a simplified income-driven repayment plan, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (Introduced 05/18/2017) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 05/18/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: King, Burr Renew Bipartisan Push to Simplify Student Loan Repayment Programs

S.1183 — A bill to establish a third-party quality system assessment program.
Sponsor: Sen. Donnelly, Joe [D-IN] (Introduced 05/18/2017) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 05/18/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

VA Comment Request: Conflicting Interests Certification for Proprietary Schools, VA Form 22-1919. Comments due June 16, 2017.

VA Comment Request: Certification of School Attendance or Termination (VA Form 21-8960 & 21-8960-1). Comments due June 16, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Application for the Language Resource Centers (LRC) Program. Comments due June 19, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Consolidated Annual Report for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Act of 2006. Comments due July 17, 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 June 19, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Veterans Upward Bound (VUB) Program Annual Performance Report. Comments due June 19, 2017.