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

April 9, 2019

HOUSE and SENATE
The House Budget Committee passed a budget bill that would raise the fiscal year (FY) 2020 and FY2021 discretionary spending caps by a vote of 19 to 17. The bill would provide a $34 billion increase to non-defense spending in FY2020 and an additional $15 billion increase for FY2021. The bill would also increase defense spending by $17 billion in FY2020 and by an additional $16 billion in FY2021.

The Senate did not pass its version of a bill that would provide $13.6 billion in disaster aid, including $165 million for schools and institutions of higher education (IHEs) affected by recent natural disasters.

The House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee will hold a public witness FY2020 hearing on Tuesday, April 9. The deadline to submit written testimony is Monday, April 8.

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) concluded negotiated rulemaking on a number of higher education issues. In the end, the negotiated rulemaking committee was able to reach consensus on all of the proposed areas of regulation.

ED released data showing that, of the 9,820 borrowers who re-applied for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) after they were initially denied PSLF because they selected the wrong repayment plan, only 262 were approved, while 8,374 were denied and 1,184 remain pending.

ED released data showing that, in the last half of 2018, ED did not adjudicate any of its roughly 158,000 pending Borrower Defense to Repayment (BDR) claims.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General (IG) Daniel Levinson will resign on May 31. Joanne Chiedi will serve as acting HHS IG starting June 1.

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) published its proposed priorities in Federal Register, which will be open for public comment until May 28.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Education Department Has Stalled on Debt Relief for Defrauded Students [The New York Times]

Attorneys general say Trump administration is withholding critical student loan information [The Washington Post]

Senators To Consumer Watchdog: Prove You’re Protecting Student Borrowers [National Public Radio]

Last Time DeVos Addressed State Chiefs, It Got Awkward. Here’s What to Expect Now [Education Week]

Colleges recruiting 2020 presidential candidates as commencement speakers [Inside Higher Ed]

How America’s College-Closure Crisis Leaves Families Devastated [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Maryland bills would tighten for-profit college regulation amid Trump rollback [The Washington Post]

Consensus or Chaos? Education Dept.’s Rule-Making Session Reaches Agreement [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Education Department Urged to Evaluate Second-Chance Pell [Inside Higher Ed]

Community Colleges Team Up to Improve Graduation Rates for Single Moms [Inside Higher Ed]

Even When College Is Free, It Can Be Hard For Adults To Stay In School [National Public Radio]

Buttigieg Rejects Free College [Inside Higher Ed]

Experts discuss uses of labor market data in postsecondary training [Inside Higher Ed]

Gillibrand, Grassley reintroduce campus sexual assault bill [The Hill]

Education Dept. rejects vast majority of applicants for temporary student loan forgiveness program [The Washington Post]

U.S. Data: More Education Equals Better Job Outcomes [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Education and Labor Committee 
Press Release: Strengthening Accountability in Higher Ed

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions 
Press Release: Alexander: Congress Must Bring Certainty, Stability to the Laws Governing How Colleges Respond to Accusations of Sexual Assault

Press Release: Murray Slams DeVos’ Proposed Title IX Rule, Urges Committee to Listen to Survivors’ Stories and Experiences As Committee Works to Address Campus Sexual Assault

House Committee on Energy & Commerce 
Press Release:  Pallone On Net Neutrality’s Passage Through Committee

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
ED Media Advisory: Secretary DeVos to Participate in Fireside Chat at State Education Leaders’ Conference

ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Applauds Consensus on Higher Education Reforms

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Announces New Tool to Help Employers Understand Mental Health Issues and Create Supportive Workplaces

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.2107 — To expand the use of open textbooks in order to achieve savings for students and improve textbook price information.
Sponsor: Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (Introduced 04/04/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 04/04/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Neguse Introduces Ninth Original Bill to Expand Access to Open Textbooks

S.1036 — A bill to expand the use of open textbooks in order to achieve savings for students and improve textbook price information.
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (Introduced 04/04/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 04/04/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Durbin, King, Smith, Sinema, Neguse Introduce Bicameral Legislation To Help Make College Textbooks More Affordable

H.R.2058 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to remove certain restrictions on advertising and public relations, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-31] (Introduced 04/03/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 04/03/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Aguilar Introduces JOBS Act to Connect Inland Empire Job-Seekers with Employment Resources

H.R.2065 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to increase usage of the Federal student loan income-based repayment plan and improve repayment options for borrowers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (Introduced 04/03/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor, Ways and Means, Financial Services
Latest Action: House – 04/03/2019 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Financial Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the…

S.1002 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to increase usage of the Federal student loan income-based repayment plan and improve repayment options for borrowers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (Introduced 04/03/2019) Cosponsors: (9)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 04/03/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Merkley, DeLauro Introduce Legislation to Guarantee Affordable Repayment to Every Student Loan Borrower

S.1009 — A bill to establish a demonstration program to explore effective practices to improve early detection and management of injuries indicative of potential abuse in infants under the age of 7 months, in order to prevent future cases of child abuse and related fatalities.
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] (Introduced 04/03/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 04/03/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Baldwin, Cassidy, Schrier, Stivers Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Measure to Help Prevent Infant Abuse

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL). Comments due on or before May 6, 2019. 

ED Comment Request: Fast Response Survey System (FRSS) 110: Use of Educational Technology for Instruction in Public Schools—Preliminary Activities. Comments due on or before May 6, 2019. 

VA Comment Request: Jobs for Veterans State Grant Budget Information Summary; Jobs for Veterans State Grant Expenditure Detail Report; Jobs for Veterans State Grant Staffing Directory. Comments due on or before June 4, 2019.

ED Final Priorities: Comprehensive Centers (CC) program.

ED Comment Request: Applications for New Grants under the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) (1894-0001).Comments due on or before May 6, 2019. 

ED Comment Request: Campus Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA) Survey. Comments due on or before June 3, 2019. 

ED Grant Notice: Comprehensive Centers (CC) program. Applications due May 24, 2019. 

DOL Comment Request: Allocating Grants to States for Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessments (RESEA) and Determining Outcome Payments in Accordance With Title III, Section 306 of the Social Security Act. Comments due on or before May 6, 2019. 

ED Comment Request: 2020-21 Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Comments due on or before June 3, 2019.

ED Comment Request: Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Career and Technical Institutions Program. Comments due on or before May 3, 2019.