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 passed the Senate-approved fiscal year 2018 budget resolution by a vote of 216—212. The bill provides reconciliation instructions that allow $1.5 trillion in deficit spending over 10 years for the purpose of passing tax cuts. The passage of this budget resolution provides a path for Congress to begin moving a tax reconciliation bill, which could be publicly released in the House as early as this week.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) released a statement opposing the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) decision to rescind guidance for individuals with disabilities served under the Rehabilitation Act.

The House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development and the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection held a joint hearing on public- and private-sector solutions to educating a cyber workforce. Subcommittee Republicans and Democrats released statements on their priorities.

SENATE

Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX) announced a legislative measure to provide two years of cost sharing payments to health insurers, as well as repeal certain elements of the Affordable Care Act. This bill provides an alternative to the bipartisan deal announced by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA).

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a hearing on free speech on college campuses. Committee Republicans and Democrats released statements on their priorities.

Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) released a statement opposing ED’s decision to rescind guidance under the Rehabilitation Act.

Ranking Member Murray released a statement opposing ED’s decision to delay the Borrower Defense to Repayment (BDR) regulations.

Nine Democratic Members of the Senate HELP Committee sent a letter to ED Secretary Betsy DeVos urging her to address the issues of harassment, bullying and intimidation in schools.

ADMINISTRATION  

President Trump nominated Kenneth Marcus to serve as Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at ED. Marcus is the founder and president of the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law.

ED published, in the Federal Register, two rules related to the BDR regulations: (1) an interim rule delaying the BDR regulations until July 1, 2018; and (2) a proposed rule that would further delay the BDR regulations until July 2019. Comments on the proposed rule are due by November 24.

ED formally announced the members of the negotiated rulemaking committee on the BDR regulations.

ED announced that it will withdraw nearly 600 pieces of subregulatory guidance across ED’s different program areas as part of the ongoing Administration-wide effort to review regulations and guidance for possible repeal, modification or replacement. The rescinded guidance documents under the Rehabilitation Act, which ED subsequently announced their reasoning for rescinding, are included in the 600 pieces.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a statement of interest in a lawsuit involving a student alleging that Pierce College in California violated his First Amendment rights by preventing him from handing out copies of the U.S. Constitution on campus.

Education News Headlines

DeVos rescinds 72 guidance documents outlining rights for disabled students [The Washington Post]

New Delay on Borrower-Defense Rule [Inside Higher Ed]

Report: Risk Sharing, ‘Flexible’ Pell on White House Wish List [Inside Higher Ed]

State-funded student financial aid totaled $12.5 billion in 2015-16 [Inside Higher Ed]

Mainland Colleges Offer In-State Tuition To Students Affected By Hurricane Maria [National Public Radio]

Likely end of Perkins Loans sets off scramble by aid administrators [Inside Higher Ed]

Western accrediting agency picks unconventional new leader [Inside Higher Ed]

College Board Report: Trends in Higher Education

Education Dept. officials debate partial debt relief for student borrowers [Inside Higher Ed]

Candice Jackson on Campus Sex Assault: ‘We’re Not Asking Schools to Step In as Courts of Law’ [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

U.S. Department of Education

Press Release: Secretary DeVos Convenes Parent Roundtable to Mark National Learning Disabilities and Dyslexia Awareness Month

Legislative Movement in Congress

H.R.4093 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to strengthen prevention and response measures for hate crimes on college campuses by establishing robust accountability measures, providing needs-based grants, and amending the Clery Act.
Sponsor: Rep. Brown, Anthony G. [D-MD-4] (Introduced 10/23/2017) Cosponsors: (11)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 10/23/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.4125 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for comprehensive student achievement information.
Sponsor: Rep. Love, Mia B. [R-UT-4] (Introduced 10/25/2017) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce Latest Action:  House – 10/25/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

S.2007 — A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the exclusion for educational assistance programs.
Sponsor: Sen. Flake, Jeff [R-AZ] (Introduced 10/25/2017) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Finance Latest Action:  Senate – 10/25/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

H.R.4135 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase the exclusion for educational assistance programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Jason [R-MO-8] (Introduced 10/25/2017) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House – Ways and Means Latest Action:  House – 10/25/2017 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

S.2028 — A bill to provide for institutional risk-sharing in the Federal student loan programs.
Sponsor: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI] (Introduced 10/26/2017) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 10/26/2017 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.