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

July 31, 2018

HOUSE and SENATE
Both the House and Senate passed a reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act this week, sending the legislation to the President for signature. The bill, entitled the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21^st Century Act (H.R. 2353), passed both chambers by a voice vote.

House Democrats unveiled their version of a Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization, entitled the Aim Higher Act.

The House has adjourned for its August recess and is scheduled to return for legislative business on September 4. The Senate will be in session next week.

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) released its proposed borrow defense to repayment (BDR) rule. The proposed rule is scheduled to be published on July 31 and will be open for a 30-day comment period after publishing.

ED approved Louisiana as the first State to participate in the Innovative Assessment pilot authorized under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

ED debuted its revamped version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) website.

The Federal Commission on School Safety had a field visit at a middle school in Wisconsin and held a hearing on how to protect schools.

The New York Times reported that ED will issue a proposal to rescind gainful employment (GE) regulations as a follow-up to negotiated rulemaking sessions earlier this year. It was also reported that ED is likely to publish program level information on earnings as part of the College Scorecard.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Trump administration official describes plan to ‘rethink’ higher education through upcoming rule-making sessions [Inside Higher Ed]

Emails From Trump Education Official Reveal Tie to For-Profit Colleges [The Atlantic]

Department of Education sets September date for one to three OER grants from $5 million appropriation [Inside Higher Ed]

Perspective | What do top colleges have against transfer students? [The Washington Post]

Op-Ed: Fewer international students could become a problem for US universities [The Hill]

DeVos to Eliminate Rules Aimed at Abuses by For-Profit Colleges [The New York Times]

Republicans and Democrats Both Think Higher Ed’s on the Wrong Track — for Very Different Reasons [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Congress Sends Career-Technical Education Bill to President Trump [Education Week]

‘Stark pattern of discrimination’: Judge makes it easier for college students to vote [The Washington Post]

Are the Right Students Applying for Federal College Aid? [Education Week]

The 3 Questions Researchers Want Educators to Ask About Ed-Tech [Education Week]

How Republican and Democratic Wish Lists on Higher Education Stack Up [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Trump’s School Safety Commission Probes ‘Trauma-Informed’ Mental Health Supports [Education Week]

Students Seeking Equal Access To Education May Find Federal Help Harder To Come By [National Public Radio]

New pathway gives California community college students guaranteed admission to private colleges [EdSource]

Scott Walker would extend UW tuition freeze four more years, as Democrats back freezing or cutting tuition [Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]

Are Universities Training Socially Minded Programmers? [The Atlantic]

3 Things to Know About the New Bill Promising ‘Debt-Free’ Higher Education [Education Week]

DeVos Will Join Turning Point USA, Conservative Campus Group, at Conference [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Calls for universities to end their contracts with U.S. immigration agency [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
The House has adjourned for its August recess and is scheduled to return for legislative business on September 4.

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Alexander, Administration Exploring Ways to Modernize Apprenticeships for American Workers

Press Release: Scott, Murray, Butterfield, Casey: To Improve HBCU Campuses Direct Outreach and Loan Modification is Needed

Press Release: Alexander: Legislation Strengthening Career and Technical Education Heads to President’s Desk

Press Release: Alexander: Secretary DeVos Right to Propose New Safeguards for Students, Taxpayers

House Education and the Workforce Committee
Press Release: Committee Hosts Bipartisan Innovation Forum and Showcase

Press Release: Foxx, Scott Praise Final House Action on Bipartisan CTE Legislation

Press Release: Scott Statement on Final Proposed Borrowers Defense Rule

Press Release: Scott, Krishnamoorthi Praise Senate Passage of Workforce Development Bill

Press Release: All 17 Committee Democrats Unveil Debt-Free College Plan

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Shelby: Senate Takes Another Step Toward Regular Order in Appropriations Process

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
DOL Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Announces An Initial Training and Employment Notice To Expand High-Quality Apprenticeships

ED Press Release: U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Commends Passage of Perkins Act

White House Press Release: Statement from the President on the Passage of Legislation to Reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act

ED Media Advisory: Secretary DeVos to Highlight Reality-Based Hands-on Training in Appleton, Wisconsin

DOL Blog: The Department of Labor Celebrates National Hire a Veteran Day

IES Notice: IES Posts FY 2019 Research Funding Webinar: IES Application Process

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.2353 — Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-5] (Introduced 05/04/2017) Cosponsors: (40)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce | Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-164
Latest Action:  07/26/2018 Presented to President.

H.R.6543 — To amend and strengthen the Higher Education Act of 1965 so that every student has a path to a quality, debt-free degree or credential that leads to a rewarding career.
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Robert C. “Bobby” [D-VA-3] (Introduced 07/26/2018) Cosponsors: (16)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 07/26/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.6579 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide no interest deferment eligibility for certain small business concerns, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-31] (Introduced 07/26/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 07/26/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.6586 — To amend the Public Health Service Act to promote healthy eating and physical activity among children.
Sponsor: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (Introduced 07/26/2018) Cosponsors: (9)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 07/26/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Reps. Cohen, DeLauro and Schakowsky Introduce Bill to Address Childhood Obesity

H.R.6588 — To amend title 11 of the United States Code to modify the circumstances under current law to allow an individual debtor to discharge certain educational loans and educational benefits received by the debtor more than 5 years before the commencement of the bankruptcy case under such title.
Sponsor: Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (Introduced 07/26/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Judiciary
Latest Action:  House – 07/26/2018 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R.6623 — To advance STEM education, provide for improved worker, training, retention, and advancement, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13] (Introduced 07/26/2018) Cosponsors: (6)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce, Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Science, Space, and Technology, Natural Resources, Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign Affairs, Judiciary
Latest Action:  House – 07/26/2018 Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Transportation and Infrastructure, Science, Space, and Technology, Natural Resources, Oversight and Government…

S.3286 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a program on children and the media within the National Institutes of Health to study the health and developmental effects of technology on infants, children, and adolescents.
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (Introduced 07/26/2018) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 07/26/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Senators Markey, Sasse, Blunt, Schatz, Bennet, and Collins, and Reps. Delaney and Budd Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation to Study Impact of Technology and Media on Children

S.3294 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support innovative, evidence-based approaches that improve the effectiveness and efficiency of postsecondary education for all students, to allow pay for success initiatives, to provide additional evaluation authority, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT] (Introduced 07/26/2018) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 07/26/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Hatch, Bipartisan Senators Introduce Innovation Grants Higher Education Bill

H.R.2353 — Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-5] (Introduced 05/04/2017) Cosponsors: (40)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce | Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-164
Latest Action:  House – 07/25/2018 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Press Release: House Unanimously Approves Thompson’s Bill to Reauthorize, Strengthen Career & Technical Education

H.R.5538 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for the inclusion of certain additional periods of active duty service for purposes of suspending charges to veterans’ entitlement to educational assistance under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs during periods of suspended participation in vocational rehabilitation programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-52] (Introduced 04/17/2018) Cosponsors: (10)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs | Senate – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action:  Senate – 07/25/2018 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Press Release:  House of Reps Passes Peters’ Bipartisan Bill to Provide Education and Career Counseling for All Deployed Troops

H.R.6512 — To authorize the Attorney General to establish a five-year pilot program to make grants to local educational agencies for the hiring of school resource officers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-FL-12] (Introduced 07/25/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce, Judiciary
Latest Action:  House – 07/25/2018 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 of the…

H.R.6516 — To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish a permanent, nationwide summer electronic benefits transfer for children program.
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53] (Introduced 07/25/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 07/25/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Representative Davis and Senator Murray Introduce Legislation to Bring New Momentum to Fight Summer Hunger

H.R.6525 — To prohibit discrimination in higher education against certain undocumented students on the basis of immigration status, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lewis, John [D-GA-5] (Introduced 07/25/2018) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce, Judiciary
Latest Action:  House – 07/25/2018 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 of the…

H.R.6526 — To establish an Office of Rural Education Policy in the Department of Education, make other modifications to Federal law to improve rural schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Loebsack, David [D-IA-2] (Introduced 07/25/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce, Ways and Means
Latest Action:  House – 07/25/2018 Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the..

H.R.6535 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prevent certain alcohol and substance misuse.
Sponsor: Rep. Shea-Porter, Carol [D-NH-1] (Introduced 07/25/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 07/25/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Shea-Porter Introduces Legislation to Combat Opioid Crisis on Campuses

H.R.6537 — To require the Secretary of Education to annually report on the Federal civil rights violations of educational institutions, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43] (Introduced 07/25/2018) Cosponsors: (20)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 07/25/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.6485 — To direct the Secretary of Labor to carry out a Federal subsidized employment program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (Introduced 07/24/2018) Cosponsors: (8)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 07/24/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Khanna, Watson Coleman Focus on Jobless Workers with New Bills

H.R.6486 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to exclude certain post graduation scholarship grants from gross income in the same manner as qualified scholarships to promote economic growth.
Sponsor: Rep. LaHood, Darin [R-IL-18] (Introduced 07/24/2018) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Ways and Means
Latest Action:  House – 07/24/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Press Release: Reps. LaHood, Sewell Introduce Legislation to Boost Post-Graduation Scholarships and Promote Economic Growth

H.R.6464 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase transparency and reporting on campus sexual violence, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14] (Introduced 07/23/2018) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce, Judiciary
Latest Action:  House – 07/23/2018 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 of the…
Press Release: Reps Speier, Poe, Kuster & Fitzpatrick Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Combat Campus Sexual Violence

H.R.6467 — To require the Secretary of Labor to establish a pilot program to provide grants for job guarantee programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (Introduced 07/23/2018) Cosponsors: (32)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce, Ways and Means
Latest Action:  House – 07/23/2018 Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the…
Press Release: Watson Coleman, Khanna Focus on Jobless Workers with New Bills

H.R.6470 — Making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Cole, Tom [R-OK-4] (Introduced 07/23/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations
Latest Action:  House – 07/23/2018 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 667.

H.R.6473 — To increase transparency with respect to loan repayment options for Federal student loan borrowers.
Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (Introduced 07/23/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 07/23/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarship Performance Report Form. Comments due on September 28, 2018.

ED Grant Notice: Open Textbooks Pilot program conducted under the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE). Applications due on August 29, 2018.

ED Grant Notice: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE)—Pilot Program for Cybersecurity Education Technological Upgrades for Community Colleges. Applications due on August 29, 2018.

ED Notice: Arbitration panel decisions under the Randolph-Sheppard Act issued in October, November, and December 2017.

DOJ Comment Request: 2019 School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). Comments due on September 28, 2018.

ED Comment Request: High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS: 09) Panel Maintenance 2018 and 2021. Comments due September 24, 2018.

ED Meeting Notice: National Assessment Governing Board. The Quarterly Board Meeting will be held on the following dates: August 2, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; August 3, 2018 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; August 4, 2018 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Park Hyatt Washington, 1201 24th Street NW, Washington, DC 20037.