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 House Rules Committee announced that they will likely issue an amendment deadline prior to their return from the August recess for consideration of the remaining eight appropriations bills.

Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Patty Murray (D-WA), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Education (ED) Secretary Betsy DeVos and Federal Student Aid Chief Operating Officer A. Wayne Johnson urging them to appoint a Chief Enforcement Officer for Federal student assistance. The previous Chief Enforcement Officer, Robert Kaye, and his deputy, Laura Kim, resigned earlier this year.

50 Democratic Members of Congress sent a letter to ED Secretary DeVos urging her to nominate an Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at ED, as well as expressing their concerns with Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Candice Jackson.

ADMINISTRATION  

The Chronicle on Higher Education reported that ED responded to Senator Dick Durbin’s (D-IL) letter containing questions regarding the gainful employment rule and stated that they did not have any timetable to send completers lists to schools for 2017.

The Universal Service Administrative Company, which administers the E-rate program and other Federal universal-service funds, announced that it is transferring funds to the U.S. Department of Treasury.

ED published, in the Federal Register, a notice extending the public comment period for input on ED’s regulations. Comments are now due by September 20, a 30-day extension from the original August 21 due date.

Education News Headlines

In harassment cases, could institutions be cracking down on even big-name faculty members? [Inside Higher Ed]

DeVos regrets not ‘forcefully’ condemning racism in education policy [The Hill]

U.S. to Help Remove Debt Burden for Students Defrauded by For-Profit Chain [The New York Times]

Perspective | The real issue in the campus speech debate: The university is under assault [The Washington Post]

Wisconsin for-profit re-emerges with backing of state and Trump administration [Inside Higher Ed]

Men are dramatically underrepresented in higher ed [The Atlantic]

40% of 2-Year College Grads Earn a Bachelor’s [Inside Higher Ed]
National Student Clearinghouse Research Center Snapshot Report: “Certificate and Associate Degree Pathways”

Education Dept.’s Progress Is Stalled in Complying With Consumer Rule [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

At Long Last, Signs That College Tuition Might Come Down [National Public Radio]

Pearson’s Latest Financial Report Card: Another 3,000 Jobs To Be Cut [Education Week]

Cuomo to Give Colleges $7 Million for Courses in Prisons [The New York Times]

Unusual approach to tuition assistance for McDonald’s employees [Inside Higher Ed]

U.S. Department of Labor

Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Announces $1.3M for Women in Apprenticeships

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.3647 — To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act comprehensively to reform immigration law, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (Introduced 08/08/2017) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Judiciary, Homeland Security, Oversight and Government Reform
Latest Action: 08/08/2017 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities

ED Comment Request: Consolidated Annual Report (CAR) for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. Comments due September 7, 2017.

ED Comment Request: “Integrated Partner Management” (IPM) system (18-11-21), and a rescinded system of records entitled “Postsecondary Education Participants System” (PEPS). Comments due September 7, 2017.