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

May 7, 2019

HOUSE and SENATE
The House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) Appropriations Subcommittee markedup and passed its fiscal year (FY) 2020 appropriations bill by a voice vote (a summary of the bill can be found here).

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) met with the President to begin negotiations on a potential $2 trillion infrastructure bill.

The deadline to submit written testimony to the Senate LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee on the FY2020 budget is June 3.

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) has hired consultants to review the costs of ED’s $1.5 trillion student loan portfolio and is reportedly considering selling some of the Federal student loan debt to private investors.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reached a settlement with student loan servicer Conduent Education Services (previously ACS Education Services) that requires the company to pay a $3.9 million fine after the company failed to properly adjust the balances of Federal student loan borrowers after borrowers had applied for deferment, forbearance or income-based repayment.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Betsy DeVos to the Media: Don’t Use Me as ‘Clickbait.’ [Education Week]

Warren plan puts spotlight on racial disparities in student debt [Inside Higher Ed]

New ‘Holistic’ Center on School Safety at Johns Hopkins Aims to Arm a Nation Anxious Over Shootings With Evidence, Best Practices [The74million.org]

U of Iowa requiring suicide prevention training for all students [Inside Higher Ed]

Mike Enzi announces he’ll retire from Senate after 2020 [The Hill]

Washington State Legislature votes to restore affirmative action [Inside Higher Ed]

Another Big Move Hits Higher-Ed Publishing, as Wiley Buys Knewton [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

13 Yale Professors Threatened to Resign From Ethnic Studies. The University Listened. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Tuition or Dinner? Nearly Half of College Students Surveyed in a New Report Are Going Hungry [The New York Times]

Changing How You Think Helps The Transition From Prisoner Back To Citizen [National Public Radio]

Poll: Support for free college among young people [Inside Higher Ed]

The science divide: Why do Latino and black students leave STEM majors at higher rates? [The Washington Post]

‘Do They Kick Out Pregnant People?’ Navigating College With Kids [National Public Radio]

Former Denver Schools Chief Michael Bennet Running for President [Education Week]

4 Things You Need to Know About ‘Free College’ Proposals [Education Week]

Community college picks courses for students in bid to boost completion [Inside Higher Ed]

Planned Merger of Cengage and McGraw-Hill Could Remake College-Textbook Market [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Report Calls for Scrutiny of College Access Programs [Inside Higher Ed]
New America Report: “Closing the Evidence Gap: Doing More of What Works in Higher Education”

Here’s How Education Budget Plans From Trump and House Democrats Stack Up [Education Week]

Emerging career education tracks may mask struggles of students in traditional programs [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Appropriations Committee Releases FY 2020 Subcommittee Allocations, Labor-HHS-Education Bill Report Ahead of Wednesday Markup

House Education and Labor Committee 
Press Release: A Snapshot of the American Workforce

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:

White House Press Release: Executive Order on America’s Cybersecurity Workforce

ED Speech: Prepared Remarks by Secretary DeVos at the Education Writers Association 72nd National Seminar

ED Blog: The Value of Financial Literacy and Self-Advocacy

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Announces Job Corps Scholars Grant Program

WWC Report: Facilitating Long-term Improvements in Graduation and Higher Education for Tomorrow (FLIGHT)

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.2518 — To direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to award grants for, and support research on, the development of makerspaces, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13] (Introduced 05/03/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action:  House – 05/03/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Press Release: Congressman David Scott Introduces Bipartisan Legislation Supporting Development of Makerspaces at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions

H.R.2486 — To reauthorize mandatory funding programs for historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions.
Sponsor: Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (Introduced 05/02/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 05/02/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Reps. Adams and Walker Introduce the FUTURE Act

H.R.2494 — To amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to improve nutrition in tribal areas, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Haaland, Debra A. [D-NM-1] (Introduced 05/02/2019) Cosponsors: (9)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 05/02/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Haaland, Luján, Grijalva Introduce House Bill to Increase Access to Nutritious Meals for Native Kids

H.R.2499 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide the work opportunity tax credit with respect to hiring veterans who are receiving educational assistance under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs or Defense.
Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3] (Introduced 05/02/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Ways and Means
Latest Action:  House – 05/02/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Press Release: Reps. Susie Lee and Steve Watkins Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Encourage Hiring Veterans

S.1279 —  A bill to reauthorize mandatory funding programs for historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions.
Sponsor: Sen. Jones, Doug [D-AL] (Introduced 05/02/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 05/02/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1281 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide grants for institutions of higher education to prevent substance misuse, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Tester, Jon [D-MT] (Introduced 05/02/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 05/02/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.1292 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for Federal student loan reform.
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] (Introduced 05/02/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 05/02/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Rubio Introduces Bill to Eliminate Interest for Federal Student Loans

H.R.2441 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to improve the public service loan forgiveness program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3] (Introduced 05/01/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 05/01/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Sarbanes, DeSaulnier Launch House Effort to Relieve Student Loan Debt for Public Servants

H.R.2465 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a program that enables college-bound residents of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa to have greater choices among institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [D-MP-At Large] (Introduced 05/01/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 05/01/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.2421 — To ensure that certain incidents involving a covered employee that are reported to the title IX coordinator at an eligible institution of higher education have been reviewed by the president of the institution and not less than 1 additional member of the institution’s board of trustees, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI-8] (Introduced 04/30/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 04/30/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.Res.327 — Encouraging greater public-private sector collaboration to promote financial literacy for students and young adults.
Sponsor: Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] (Introduced 04/25/2019) Cosponsors: (18)
Committees: House – Financial Services
Latest Action:  House – 04/30/2019 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

S.1221 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to create an innovation zone initiative, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN] (Introduced 04/29/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 04/29/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Senators Lead Bill to Create Innovation Zones in Higher Education and Improve Student Success

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

ED Grant Notice: Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education (Javits) program. Applications due on or before June 3, 2019.

ED Comment Request: Application Package for Grants under the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP). Comments due on or before June 5, 2019.  

ED Comment Request: GEAR UP Applications for Partnership and State Grants. Comments due on or before June 3, 2019. 

ED Notice: Tests Determined To Be Suitable for Use in the National Reporting System for Adult Education

ED Meeting Notice: National Assessment Governing Board. The Quarterly Board Meeting will be held on: May 16, 2019 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.; May 17, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; May 18, 2019 from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.at Sheraton Pentagon City Hotel, 900 S Orme Street, Arlington, VA 22204.