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

May 1, 2018

HOUSE and SENATE
The House passed the Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act (H.R. 5086) by a vote of 379-16. The bill provides several updates to the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program, including a requirement that the NSF develop a course to support commercialization-ready research ventures.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee voted unanimously to approve the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018. The bill would increase access to mental health services in schools and community-based settings and to substance use disorder services in underserved areas. In addition, the bill would authorize the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to address the economic and workforce impacts for communities affected by the opioid crisis through grants targeted at workforce shortages for the substance use and mental health treatment workforce, and to align job training and treatment services.

The Senate confirmed Jon Parrish Peede as the Chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) by unanimous consent.

Senate leaders have reached agreement to consider the nomination of Mitchell Zais to be deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education (ED).  Floor debate has not yet been scheduled.

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
ED sent a proposal to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to delay the implementation of the State authorization rule, likely pertaining to institutions of higher education’s distance education programs.

ED’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has begun dismissing hundreds of civil rights complaints under a newly adopted protocol that focuses on multiple complaints filed by single individuals.

ED’s OCR released the 2015-16 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC).

A third Federal judge issued a decision against the Administration’s justification for ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. While the decision was stayed for 90 days, it is the first decision by a Federal judge that called for allowing new DACA enrollment in addition to renewals.

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

DeVos Announces $693 Million in Disaster Aid for Calif., Puerto Rico, Texas Schools [Education Week]

Senate Democrats question the role of a former for-profit college lobbyist at the Education Department [The Washington Post]

Success of part-time students is key to closing achievement gap [Inside Higher Ed]

The best ways to fix college admissions are probably illegal [The Atlantic]

Ivanka Trump talks skills training legislation with senators, CEOs [The Hill]

Survey of community college presidents’ views on range of issues [Inside Higher Ed]

GAO finds colleges manipulating loan default rates to keep access to federal aid [Inside Higher Ed]

AG lawsuit against regents dismissed [AZ Capitol Times]

Senators Make Bipartisan Push to Boost Career and Technical Education Teachers [Education Week]

High-Paying Trade Jobs Sit Empty, While High School Grads Line Up For University [National Public Radio]

Pentagon opposes GOP bill over loan forgiveness [Inside Higher Ed]

U.S. Must Keep DACA and Accept New Applications, Federal Judge Rules [The New York Times]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Education and the Workforce Committee
Press Release: House Democratic Leaders Unveil A Better Deal: Tools to Succeed in the 21^st Century

Press Release: GAO Report: Shadowy Industry is Manipulating Student Loan Borrowers, Default Rates

Press Release: Subcommittee Discusses Need to Modernize Outdated Labor Laws

House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Press Release: SST Committee Questions FBIs Disbanding of National Security Higher Education Advisory Board

Press Release: House Approves Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Alexander: Senate Health Committee Unanimously Passes Bipartisan Bill to Take Next Step in Helping States Fight Opioid Crisis

Press Release: Murray Praises Committee Passage of Major Opioids Bill, Calls for Continued Bipartisan Work

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Announces New Federal Disaster Assistance for California, Puerto Rico and Texas

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces STEM, Computer Science Education Grant Opportunities

ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Welcomes New Leadership to IES, NCES

ED Blog: Honoring MLK Jr.’s Drum Major Legacy: Innovative Pathways to Success

ED Blog: Bank Accounts, Student Loans, Credit Cards, Oh My!

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.5661 — To improve access by Indian tribes to support from the Schools and Libraries Universal Service Support program (E-rate) of the Federal Communications Commission, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3] (Introduced 04/27/2018) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
Latest Action:  House – 04/27/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Press Release: Luján, Mullin Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Improve Broadband Access For Tribal Communities

H.Res.860 — Supporting the goals and ideals of GLSEN’s 2018 national “Day of Silence” in bringing attention to anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) name-calling, bullying, and harassment faced by individuals in schools.
Sponsor: Rep. Engel, Eliot L. [D-NY-16] (Introduced 04/27/2018) Cosponsors: (41)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce, Judiciary
Latest Action:  House – 04/27/2018 Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: Engel Marks 2018 GLSEN Day of Silence To Raise Awareness of LGBTQ Bullying

H.R.5639 — To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the Federal Communications Commission to carry out a grant program to make grants for the establishment or expansion of job training programs for communications tower service, construction, and maintenance.
Sponsor: Rep. Loebsack, David [D-IA-2] (Introduced 04/26/2018) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce, Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 04/26/2018 Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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

S.2775 — A bill to award career pathways innovation grants to local educational agencies and consortia of local educational agencies, to provide technical assistance within the Office of Career, Technical, and Adult Education to administer the grants and support the local educational agencies with the preparation of grant applications and management of grant funds, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support community college and industry partnerships, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN] (Introduced 04/26/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 04/26/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.2754 — A bill to establish a grant program to address the impact of substance use-related trauma on children and youth in public schools.
Sponsor: Sen. Manchin, Joe, III [D-WV] (Introduced 04/25/2018) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 04/25/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Manchin, Capito, Kaine Introduce Legislation To Care For Children Impacted By Opioid Abuse

S.2737 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the preparation of career and technical education teachers.
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (Introduced 04/24/2018) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 04/24/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Kaine, Portman, Baldwin, Capito Introduce Bill To Expand Teacher Training To Prepare Students For Technical Jobs

S.2728 — A bill to protect the privacy of users of social media and other online platforms.
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (Introduced 04/23/2018) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action:  Senate – 04/23/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: Klobuchar, Kennedy Introduce Bipartisan Privacy Legislation to Protect Consumers’ Online Data

S.2730 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a pilot program to help individuals in recovery from a substance use disorder transition from treatment to independent living and the workforce, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. McConnell, Mitch [R-KY] (Introduced 04/23/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 04/23/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Senator McConnell Unveils Bill to Address Devastating Impact of Opioid Epidemic on Kentucky’s Workforce

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Meeting Notice: National Assessment Governing Board. On April 25, 2018, the Nominations Committee will meet via teleconference in closed session from 5:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST. The Committee will discuss nominees for the position of Chief State School Officer, whose term will begin October 1, 2018.

ED Comment Request: Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Capital Financing Program Deferment Request. Comments due May 9, 2018.