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 House and Senate will be in recess until after the September 4^th Labor Day Holiday.

The Senate confirmed Peter Oppenheim as Assistant Secretary of Education for Legislation and Congressional Affairs.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) introduced S.354, the Reforming American Immigration for a Strong Economy, or RAISE Act, which is backed by President Trump. The bill aims to reduce overall legal immigration by half while putting in place a new points-based system for applicants for employment-based green cards that would favor graduates of American universities.

The Senate will convene several times during recess in pro forma sessions. No legislative business is expected, but keeping the Senate in session will prevent President Trump from making recess appointments.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it is canceling an existing student loan servicing procurement and intends to issue a new procurement for Federal student loan servicing in the future.

ED Secretary Betsy DeVos released a statement following the Senate confirmation of Peter Oppenheim as Assistant Secretary of Education for Legislation and Congressional Affairs.

Education News Headlines

Wait for selection of HBCU initiative leader drags on [Inside Higher Ed]

Study: Many community college students struggle with access to food [Inside Higher Ed]

Colleges say they could lower tuition — if only they could talk to each other about it [The Washington Post]

Department of Education scraps single-servicer plan but keeps one portal for borrowers [Inside Higher Ed]

Justice Dept. to Take On Affirmative Action in College Admissions [The New York Times]

Trump-backed bill would halve legal immigration, create points-based system privileging educational attainment [Inside Higher Ed]

Experts consider where colleges could face the most scrutiny over affirmative action [Inside Higher Ed]

Panelists take on the hot topic of tuition resets [Inside Higher Ed]

The campus-speech debate is spending summer break in statehouses [The Atlantic]

Little appetite for rollback of Obama guidelines on campus sexual assault [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor
Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Transportation
Press Release: Commerce Approves Eight Bills and 10 Nominees

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

ED Speech: Remarks by Secretary DeVos to the Michigan Community College Association Summer Conference

ED Media Advisory: U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to Visit Grands Rapids Community College

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.3630 — To establish student loan borrowers’ rights to basic consumer protections, reasonable and flexible repayment options, access to earned credentials, and effective loan cancellation in exchange for public service, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (Introduced 07/28/2017) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce, Ways and Means, Judiciary, Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Action: 07/28/2017 Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, the Judiciary, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions

H.Res.487 — Urging all Universities to designate and maintain a sexual assault coordinator on staff who can be accessed by student victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking on campus and in the surrounding community.
Sponsor: Rep. Poe, Ted [R-TX-2] (Introduced 07/28/2017) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: 07/28/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

S.1675 — A bill to promote quality student loan servicing by improving the borrower experience for borrowers of Federal Direct Loans.
Sponsor: Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO] (Introduced 07/31/2017) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 07/31/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1690 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide greater support to students with dependents, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (Introduced 08/01/2017) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 08/01/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Duckworth, Murray, Gillibrand, Casey, Durbin Introduce Legislation to Expand Campus Child Care and Help Student Parents Graduate

H.R.3634 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that individuals may access documentation verifying the monthly housing stipend paid to the individual under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4] (Introduced 08/01/2017) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: 08/01/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

H.R.3218 — Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017
Sponsor: Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] (Introduced 07/13/2017) Cosponsors: (121)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs, Armed Services Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-247
Latest Action: 08/02/2017 Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.

S.1598 — Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017
Sponsor: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA] (Introduced 07/20/2017) Cosponsors: (63)
Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: 08/02/2017 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 200.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities

ED Comment Request: Loan Discharge Applications (DL/FFEL/Perkins). Comments due August 31, 2017.

VA Comment Request: Application for Work Study Allowance; Student Work-Study Agreement (Advance Payment); Extended Student Work-Study Agreement; Student Work-Study Agreement VA Forms 22-8691, 22-8692, 22-8692a, and 22-8692b. Comments due October 2, 2017.