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

April 17, 2018
 

HOUSE and SENATE
House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) announced that he will be retiring at the end of this Congress, ending his term as Speaker after approximately 3 years.

It is being reported that the Administration, along with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), is considering use of procedures under the Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to cut anywhere from $30 billion to $60 billion from the recently passed fiscal year (FY) 2018 appropriations bill. Reports indicate the Administration may release the proposal around May 1. Senior Republican appropriators in both the House and Senate, including Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK), Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) and Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), have publicly indicated a lack of support for a rescission package and cautioned against moving forward in such a manner.

The House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations will accept written testimony from outside witnesses on FY2019 appropriations. The deadline to submit written testimony is Thursday, April 26, the same day as the public witness hearing.

The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations will accept written testimony from outside witnesses on FY2019 appropriations. The deadline to submit written testimony is Friday, June 1.

ADMINISTRATION
The Senate confirmed Patrick Pizzella as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor with a 50 to 48 vote.

The Administration nominated John P. Pallasch, of Kentucky, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training.

This week the National Assessment Governing Board announced the release of the 2017 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) fourth- and eighth-grade math and reading test scores.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has started an investigation into whether some colleges’ early-decision admissions programs violate Federal antitrust laws by sharing information about college applicants as part of their early decision programs.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]

Betsy DeVos Has Been Scarce on Capitol Hill; Why Is That? [Education Week]

Study analyzes where colleges recruit and where they don’t [Inside Higher Ed]

Why would the government stop states from helping student borrowers? [The Atlantic]

Battle over college course material is a textbook example of technological change [The Washington Post]

Facebook Says It Will Help Academics Use Its Data. Here’s How That’s Supposed to Work. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Perspective | Do high school dual enrollment courses mean college credit? Read the fine print. [The Washington Post]

From public housing to college: new national pilot helps low-income students in LA make that journey [EdSource]

Dept. of Ed. Approves First EQUIP Program [Inside Higher Ed]

Growing number of community colleges focus on diversity and inclusion [Inside Higher Ed]

Guaranteed transfer path from community college to University of California announced [EdSource]

Online programs can contribute to better outcomes, lower costs and more access, new report asserts [Inside Higher Ed]

Congressional Hearing Focuses on Espionage [Inside Higher Ed]

Elite colleges’ secretive, subjective admissions processes attract scrutiny—and lately, federal investigations [The Atlantic]

Speaker Ryan Will Leave ESSA Passage, New Tax Break for Choice as K-12 Legacy [Education Week]

Maryland’s Legislature Approves 2-Year Promise Scholarships [Inside Higher Ed]

Two state-backed loan agencies exit lobby group over opposition to regulations [Inside Higher Ed]

New Study on Income-Driven Repayment Plans [Inside Higher Ed]
National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper: “Framing Effects, Earning Expectations, and the Design of Student Loan Repayment Schemes”

With Its Model Under the Gun, an Online-Education Leader Makes the Case for Mentors [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Arizona Supreme Court strikes down in-state tuition for ‘dreamers’ [AZ Central]

City Colleges of Chicago discounts tuition for part-time students [Inside Higher Ed]

Op-Ed: Retooling apprenticeship for the 21st century [The Hill]

Op-Ed: Just Do It!: Modernize the Higher Education Act [The Hill]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Education and the Workforce Committee
Press Release: This Week: Hearing on the History of Failures of the Corporation for National and Community Service

Press Release: Foxx, Walberg Statement on Confirmation of John Ring to National Labor Relations Board

Press Release: Rep. McEachin, Ranking Member Scott Hosted Briefing on Protecting Students’ Civil Rights

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Senate Confirms Patrick Pizzella to Serve as Deputy Secretary of Labor

Press Release: Senator Murray Strongly Opposes Former Sweatshop Lobbyist for Number Two Spot at Labor Department

Press Release: Senate Confirms John Ring to National Labor Relations Board

Press Release: Citing Ethics Scandals and Unprecedented Nature of Jamming Through A Nominee at Critical Labor Board, Murray Votes Against Trump-Appointed, Pro-Business Nominee

Press Release: Alexander: Senate to Confirm Two Important Labor Nominees This Week

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Senate Appropriations Schedule for the Week of April 16, 2018

Press Release: Shelby Selected as Senate Appropriations Chairman

Press Release: Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.): Statement

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Chairman Enzi: CBO Report Shines Spotlight on Nation’s Unsustainable Fiscal Outlook

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Chairman Womack Statement on CBO’s Budget and Economic Outlook

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:

White House Press Release: Remarks by President Trump on Tax Cuts for American Workers

White House Press Release: Twenty-Nine Nominations Sent to the Senate Today

ED Press Release: Expanding Pathways to Success After High School, U.S. Department of Education Approves First Innovative EQUIP Experiment

ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos on the National Assessment of Educational Progress: “We can and we must do better for America’s students”

ED Media Advisory: U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to Speak at the Reagan Institute Summit on Education

ED Blog: 5 Ways to Cut the College Price Tag

DOL Press Release: Statement By U.S. Secretary of Labor Acosta Regarding President Trump’s Executive Order On Reducing Poverty In America By Promoting Opportunity and Economic Mobility

IES Report: “Projections of Education Statistics to 2026”

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.5509 — To direct the National Science Foundation to provide grants for research about STEM education approaches and the STEM-related workforce, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. McCarthy, Kevin [R-CA-23] (Introduced 04/13/2018) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action:  House – 04/13/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

H.R.5516 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit for employer-provided worker training.
Sponsor: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (Introduced 04/13/2018) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: House – Ways and Means, Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 04/13/2018 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction
Press Release: Congressman Krishnamoorthi Introduces The Investing In American Workers Act To Establish A New Worker Training Tax Credit For Small And Mid-Sized Businesses

H.R.3336 — Employ Young Americans Now Act
Sponsor: Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13] (Introduced 07/20/2017) Cosponsors: (6)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 04/12/2018 ASSUMING FIRST SPONSORSHIP – Ms. Velazquez asked unanimous consent that she may hereafter be considered as the first sponsor of H.R. 3336, a bill originally introduced by former Representative Conyers, for purposes of adding cosponsors and requesting reprintings

H.R.5481 — To reform the GEAR UP program.
Sponsor: Rep. Hurd, Will [R-TX-23] (Introduced 04/12/2018) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 04/12/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Hurd Champions Educational Opportunities through GEAR UP Reauthorization

H.R.5486 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide child care assistance to veterans receiving certain training or vocational rehabilitation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (Introduced 04/12/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action:  House – 04/12/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Press Release: Rep. Correa Introduces Bill To Help Homeless Veterans & Their Children

S.2664 — A bill to reform the GEAR UP program.
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (Introduced 04/12/2018) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 04/12/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Press Release: Cornyn, Manchin, Tillis, Harris Introduce Bill to Improve GEAR UP College Success Program

H.R.1206 — Reducing Barriers for Veterans Education Act of 2017
Sponsor: Rep. Messer, Luke [R-IN-6] (Introduced 02/21/2017) Cosponsors: (73)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action:  House – 04/11/2018 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

H.R.4835 — Job TOOLS for Veterans Act
Sponsor: Rep. Esty, Elizabeth H. [D-CT-5] (Introduced 01/18/2018) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs, Armed Services
Latest Action:  House – 04/11/2018 Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

S.2646 — A bill to establish a pilot program administered by the Secretary of Labor, in collaboration with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to award competitive grants to counties (or other equivalent entities) and Tribal entities to administer combined workforce training and drug addiction treatment and recovery programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH] (Introduced 04/11/2018) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 04/11/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Brown, Capito Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Workforce Shortage Created By Opioid Epidemic

H.R.5460 — To authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible entities to carry out educational programs about the Holocaust, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12] (Introduced 04/10/2018) Cosponsors: (8)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 04/10/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: During Holocaust Remembrance Week, Rep. Maloney Announces Bipartisan Legislation on Holocaust Education

S.2640 — A bill to require operators that provide online and similar services to educational agencies, institutions, or programs to protect the privacy and security of personally identifiable information, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT] (Introduced 04/10/2018) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action:  Senate – 04/10/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: Daines Introduces Bill to Protect Kids’ Privacy

S.2642 — A bill to require the Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to establish a pilot program for Jobs Plus Recovery programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (Introduced 04/10/2018) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 04/10/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Kaine, Young, Jones Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Ensure Addiction Recovery Programs Include Job Training

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Applications for Emergency Impact Aid for Displaced Students and Assistance for Homeless Children and Youths. Comments due April 16, 2018.