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

September 4, 2018

HOUSE and SENATE
The House was in recess last week and the Senate adjourned after being in session on Tuesday. Both chambers will return this week after the Labor Day holiday.

ADMINISTRATION
The New York Times reported that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is preparing new Title IX regulations that would bolster the rights of students accused of assault, harassment or rape, reduce liability for institutions of higher education and encourage schools to provide more support for victims.

Seth Frotman, the Student Loan Ombudsman at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), resigned over differences between the priorities of CFPB’s political leadership and career staff, saying that leadership had “repeatedly undercut and undermined career CFPB staff working to secure relief for consumers.”

ED further delayed its decision on whether to continue to recognize the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) until September 28. The decision was originally set to come out by July 30.

The Federal Commission on School Safety held its final listening session in Alabama.

ED announced $63 million in Federal assistance under the Emergency Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education program for institutions affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, or Maria or the 2017 California wildfires.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) officially launched its new digital platform apprenticeship.gov.

DOL announced a series of listening sessions across the country concerning the salary threshold under which employees who work more than 40 hours a week must be paid overtime. The Obama Administration had issued final regulations raising the salary threshold (increasing the number of workers eligible for overtime pay), but a Federal court enjoined the regulation.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
The DNC Says ‘Education Is on the Ballot.’ Here’s What That Does and Doesn’t Mean [Education Week]

Justice Department Sides Against Harvard In Racial Discrimination Lawsuit [National Public Radio]

Here’s The Most Alarming Part Of Betsy DeVos’ Proposed Sexual Misconduct Guidelines [The Huffington Post]

Op-Ed: Higher education needs a new approach to finance [The Hill]

New U.S. Sexual Misconduct Rules Bolster Rights of Accused and Protect Colleges [The New York Times]

DeVos Again Delays Decision on For-Profit Accreditor [Inside Higher Ed]

The Lifelong Cost of Getting a For-Profit Education [The Atlantic]

Colleges challenge California’s suspension of their GI Bill eligibility [Inside Higher Ed]

Pollster: Half of young people say higher education is a gamble [The Hill]

Arming School Staff Is ‘Incredibly Dangerous,’ Advocates Tell School Safety Commission [Education Week]

The Trump administration’s renewed interest in prison education [Inside Higher Ed]

Disaster-Stricken Colleges Will Get $63 Million in Aid From the Education Dept. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

A California community college adopts a New York model that doubled graduation rates [EdSource]

Higher Ed Groups Back Lawsuit in Defense of Open Internet [Inside Higher Ed]

Survey: Business leaders believe students are learning skills but not those needed to advance [Inside Higher Ed]

Do College Librarians Have Academic Freedom? Amid Push, California’s ‘Will Not Be Silent’ [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Texas A&M Overhauls Sex Assault Policies [Inside Higher Ed]

GOP Senator Attacked for Casting Decisive Vote for Betsy DeVos. But Did She? [Education Week]

3 Ways Education Is Influencing Arizona’s Midterms [National Public Radio]

The School Shootings That Weren’t [National Public Radio]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Education and the Workforce Committee
September 5: Subcommittee Hearing: “On-The-Job: Rebuilding the Workforce Through Apprenticeships”
Witnesses: Dr. Sharon Johnson, CEO, Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board, Inc., Harrisonburg, VA; Ms. Carol Reynolds, Chief Executive Officer, United Industrial Services, LLC, Louisville, KY; Mr. Mark Kessenich, President, Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership, Milwaukee, WI; Mr. B.J. Dernbach, Assistant Deputy Secretary, Department of Workforce Development, Madison, WI
10:15 a.m. in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building or webcast

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott: Draft DeVos Proposal on Sexual Misconduct is a Major Step Backwards

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Reacts to Resignation of CFPB’s Student Loan Watchdog

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Senate Democrats Condemn DeVos Proposed Rule As Another Giveaway to Predatory For-Profit Colleges

Press Release: Murray, Senators Urge DeVos to Abandon Proposal to Use Taxpayer Dollars to Arm Teachers

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Statement Of Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The Decision Not To Submit A Second Rescission Package

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation 
September 5 (Postponed from August 29): Full Committee Markup: Executive session to consider several legislative measures and nominations including “H.R. 4323, Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act”
10:00 a.m. in 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building or webcast

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Nine Nominations Sent to the Senate Today

ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Announces Emergency Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Announces Apprenticeship.gov

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.6685 — Expanding Access to the Workforce Through Dual Enrollment Act of 2018
Sponsor: Rep. Brown, Anthony G. [D-MD-4] (Introduced 08/28/2018) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action:  House – 08/28/2018 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

S.3391 — A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to expand access to school-wide arts and music programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] (Introduced 08/28/2018) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 08/28/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Tester Celebrates First Week of School By Pushing For More Music and Art Education

S.3395 — A bill to promote veteran involvement in STEM education, computer science, and scientific research, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Heller, Dean [R-NV] (Introduced 08/28/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action:  Senate – 08/28/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

H.R.6157 — Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, 2019
Sponsor: Rep. Granger, Kay [R-TX-12] (Introduced 06/20/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations Committee Reports: H. Rept. 115-769
Latest Action:  Senate – 08/27/2018 Message on Senate action sent to the House.

S.3390 — A bill to establish an Education Recoupment Trust Fund to recover misused elementary and secondary education funds for the benefit of the affected students.
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH] (Introduced 08/27/2018) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 08/27/2018 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Brown Introduces Bill to Return Stolen Ecot Money Back to Ohio Students

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Correcting Amendment: Outdated or Superseded Regulations: Title I, Parts A Through C; Christa McAuliffe Fellowship Program; and Empowerment Zone or Enterprise Community-Priority; Correction.

ED Notice of Cancellation: 2019-20 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS:20) Field Test Institution Contacting and Enrollment List Collection.

ED Comment Request: Income Based Repayment Notifications. Comments due by October 29, 2018.