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 Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing on President Trump’s fiscal year (FY) 2018 budget request for the Department of Labor (DOL), where DOL Secretary Alexander Acosta testified. During the hearing, Secretary Acosta announced that DOL is in the process of drafting a request for information that will be filed in the next “two to three weeks” asking for public information and public comment on the overtime rule.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on President Trump’s FY2018 budget request for the National Science Foundation (NSF), where NSF Director Dr. France Cordova testified.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) sent a letter to DOL Secretary Acosta to express concerns over challenges facing the Federal Job Corps program, as well as to request information on steps DOL is taking to improve the health and safety of those who participate in the program.

Chairwoman Foxx and Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Chairman Bradley Byrne (R-AL) released a statement applauding DOL’s rescission of regulatory guidance that narrowed the definition of independent contractor and expanded the definition of joint employer, which were promulgated during the Obama Administration.

SENATE

The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing on President Trump’s FY2018 budget request for the U.S. Department of Education (ED), where ED Secretary Betsy DeVos testified.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) released a statement on President Trump’s selection of Peter Oppenheim to serve as Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs at ED.

Chairman Alexander released a statement applauding DOL’s rescission of regulatory guidance that narrowed the definition of independent contractor and expanded the definition of joint employer, which were promulgated during the Obama Administration.

Chairman Alexander released a statement supporting President Trump’s decision to retain Francis Collins as the director of the National Institutes of Health.

HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) released a statement in opposition to ED’s hiring of Adam Kissel as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs.

Ranking Member Murray released a statement on ED making available the Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval Tool for borrowers applying for an income-driven repayment plan.

ADMINISTRATION  

ED Secretary DeVos announced the hiring of Adam Kissel as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs. Also, Peter Oppenheim was nominated as Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs at ED, and Carlos Muniz was nominated as General Counsel at ED.

During a scheduling hearing in the case of California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools (CAPPS) against ED, ED announced that they are considering delaying the borrower defense regulations. In this lawsuit, CAPPS, a group of for-profit colleges, is seeking to block implementation of the borrower defense regulations.

Politico reported that the Trump Administration is considering delaying the gainful employment regulations.

It has been reported that the White House will make an announcement designed to encourage use of apprenticeships in higher education as soon as next week.

EVENTS

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

• June 15: House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development hearing: “Helping Americans Get Back to Work: Implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act”
• June 15: Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing: “Review of the FY2018 Department of Health & Human Services Budget Request”

Education News Headlines

NIH Abandons Plan to Limit Per-Person Grant Awards [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Lawsuit claims Chipotle owes overtime pay to thousands of workers [The Washington Post]

CEOs See Apprenticeships as Wave of Future for Workforce Skills [Education Week]

Trump Will Push Apprenticeships, Using Accreditation and Student Aid [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

White paper explores management-based approach to accreditation [Inside Higher Ed]

Education Dept. Gives Firm Hint at Rollback of Gainful-Employment Rule [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Republican senators raise doubts about White House budget proposal [Inside Higher Ed]

Koch Foundation Officer, a Critic of Title IX Guidance, Will Join Education Dept. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Honing a Vision for Higher Education [The New York Times]

The long-term downside to a bipartisan education initiative [The Atlantic]

Colleges’ Message on Upholding Paris Climate Accord: ‘We Are Still In’ [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

House Education and the Workforce Committee
Press Release: Democrats Introduce New Legislation to Improve Access to College, Make College More Affordable

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.2353 — Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-5] (Introduced 05/04/2017) Cosponsors: (40)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 06/07/2017 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 109

H.R.2845 — To direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to support early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (Introduced 06/08/2017) Cosponsors: (27)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 06/08/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.2859 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish demonstration projects for competency-based education.
Sponsor: Rep. Polis, Jared [D-CO-2] (Introduced 06/08/2017) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 06/08/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.2867 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish a pilot program to facilitate education and training programs in the field of advanced manufacturing.
Sponsor: Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35] (Introduced 06/08/2017) Cosponsors: (9)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 06/08/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Torres Introduces Bill to Grow Advanced Manufacturing Workforce

S.1330 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize a dependent to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Education Assistance in cases in which the dependent received the transfer of such entitlement to assistance from an individual who subsequently died, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD] (Introduced 06/08/2017) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: 06/08/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Press Release: Rounds, Blumenthal Introduce Legislation to Provide Flexibility Regarding Post-9/11 GI Bill Benefits for Family Members
 

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

ED Comment Request: The College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) Annual Performance Report (APR). Comments due July 7, 2017.

ED Comment Request: Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) Program: Lender’s Application for Insurance Claim Form and Request for Collection Assistance Form. Comments due August 7, 2017.

ED Grant Notice: Presidential and Congressional Academies for American History and Civics (Academies) Program. Deadline for Notice of Intent To Apply: July 10, 2017. Date of Pre-Application Webinars: Information about pre-application webinars will be posted at https://innovation.ed.gov/​what-we-do/​american-history-and-civics-academies/​. Applications due July 24, 2017.