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

September 17, 2019

HOUSE and SENATE
The Senate Appropriations Committee passed its Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 302(b) allocations, which determine the level of overall funding for each of the 12 appropriations bills, on a 16 to 15 party-line vote. The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) appropriations bill was allocated $187.7 billion. Earlier this year, the House Appropriations Committee allocated $189.9 billion in discretionary funding for its FY2020 LHHS bill.

The Senate LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee and the full Appropriations Committee cancelled their markups of the FY2020 LHHS appropriations bill.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee announced that it will hold a confirmation hearing next week on the nomination of Eugene Scalia to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Labor.

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) regulations on Accreditation and Related Issues have been sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review before being published as a final rule.

ED posted a notice announcing that it will reimburse institutions of higher education (IHEs) for the costs of cancelling Federal Perkins loans.

ED confirmed, in a letter to Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA), that it has stopped sharing student loan information with State Attorneys General if they are “purporting to exercise [State] regulatory or enforcement power that [ED determines] is preempted” by Federal law.

ED’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) completed an investigation into Chicago Public Schools District, finding that the district violated Title IX regulations because the district failed to respond promptly and equitably to complaints alleging sexual harassment.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a motion to dismiss an appeal sought by ED of an earlier court ruling that it violated the Administrative Procedures Act in delaying the Obama-era special education disproportionality regulation.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Documentary to Showcase Education in Prison [Inside Higher Ed]

In First, California Would Require Public Universities to Provide Abortion Pills [The New York Times]

Op-Ed: To boost minority serving institutions, bipartisan Future Act needs immediate action [The Hill]

With shout-out to teachers, Democratic candidates talk about schools in Houston [EdSource]

Majority of voters support free college, eliminating student debt [The Hill]

Survey: non-tuition expenses hinder California college students [EdSource]

Deadline nears for Congress to extend funding for HBCUs [Inside Higher Ed]

Welding Won’t Make You Rich [The Atlantic]

Make Education a Campaign Issue, Groups Urge as Democrats Prepare to Debate [Education Week]

Senators blast Trump judicial nominee for silence at hearing [The Associated Press]

Education Department threatens to suspend employee who provided The Post with budget data [The Washington Post]

Flagships Fail on Financial Equity [Inside Higher Ed]

Colleges Could Do More To Help Student Parents Pay For Child Care, Watchdog Says [National Public Radio]

Chegg’s journey from textbook rental company to education provider [Inside Higher Ed]

California community colleges work to solve housing for foster youths [EdSource]

Senate panel cancels vote on key spending bill amid standoff [The Hill]

Trump administration acts on funding restrictions for religious HBCUs [Inside Higher Ed]

Ocasio-Cortez makes student loan payment during House panel hearing on school debt [The Hill]

Latino Students Underrepresented at Most Public Colleges [Inside Higher Ed]
The Ed Trust Report: “Broken Mirrors: Latino Student Representation at Public State Colleges and Universities”

What College Admissions Offices Really Want [The New York Times Magazine]

Don’t Scrap Military School Projects to Build Border Wall, Advocacy Groups Say [Education Week]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Education and Labor Committee 
Press Release: Committee Report Highlights Inequitable Funding for HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions 
Press Release: Murray, Duckworth Release Report Highlighting Challenges Student Parents in College Are Facing While Completing Their Degree

Press Release: Murray: Rushed Hearing on Labor Nominee Next Week Would Undermine Vetting Process

Press Release: Eugene Scalia Letter of Support from Former Labor Officials

Senate Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Senate Appropriations Committee Approves FY2020 Subcommittee Allocations

Press Release: Republicans Reject Amendment Preventing President Trump From Stealing From The Military And Military Families To Pay For Ineffective Border Wall

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Requires Significant Corrective Action from Chicago Public Schools Following Systemic Failure to Address Sexual Violence

White House Press Release: One Nomination Sent to the Senate

White House Press Release: Remarks by President Trump at the 2019 National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week Conference

IES Report: Career and Technical Education Coursetaking in 2013, by Locale

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.4297 — To amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to treat attendance at an institution of higher education the same as work for the purpose of determining eligibility to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
Sponsor: Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34] (Introduced 09/12/2019) Cosponsors: (44)
Committees: House – Agriculture
Latest Action:  House – 09/12/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Press Release: Reps. Gomez and Harder Introduce Legislation to Address Food Insecurity on College Campuses

H.R.4298 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to restore Federal Pell Grant eligibility for certain periods.
Sponsor: Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (Introduced 09/12/2019) Cosponsors: (12)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/12/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Congresswomen Hayes, Scanlon, McBath & Senator Warren Introduce Legislation Restoring Pell Grant Eligibility To Victims Of Predatory For-Profit Colleges

H.R.4301 — To require the Secretary of Education, in consultation with Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, to publish an annual report on indicators of school crime and safety that includes data on school shootings, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2] (Introduced 09/12/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/12/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Reps. Tulsi Gabbard, Lucy McBath, Jahana Hayes Introduce Bill to Help Prevent School Shootings

H.R.4308 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish an emergency grant aid program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25] (Introduced 09/12/2019) Cosponsors: (6)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/12/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.4310 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to clarify that employment in any position at a nonprofit organization is a public service job for purposes of the public service loan forgiveness program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] (Introduced 09/12/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/12/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.4312 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify when educational assistance is available for an individual who pursues an approved program of education leading to a degree while on active duty in the Armed Forces.
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53] (Introduced 09/12/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action:  House – 09/12/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

H.R.4316 — To provide for temporary emergency impact aid for local educational agencies.
Sponsor: Rep. King, Peter T. [R-NY-2] (Introduced 09/12/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/12/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.4327 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to promote comprehensive campus mental health and suicide prevention plans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7] (Introduced 09/12/2019) Cosponsors: (10)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/12/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

S.2475 — A bill to modify the effective date for inclusion of certain members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty in the Yellow Ribbon G.I. Education Enhancement Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR] (Introduced 09/12/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action:  Senate – 09/12/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.

H.R.4286 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit to businesses for certain virtual training expenses related to elementary and secondary school students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Budd, Ted [R-NC-13] (Introduced 09/11/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Ways and Means
Latest Action:  House – 09/11/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Press Release: Rep. Budd Introduces Bill to Increase Virtual Apprenticeships

H.R.4288 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish the Honorable Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ-7] (Introduced 09/11/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/11/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Reps. Gallego, Cisneros, Hayes and Houlahan Introduce Legislation to Improve Diverse Teacher Recruitment and Retention

H.R.4278 — 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 09/10/2019) Cosponsors: (22)
Committees: House – Education and Labor, Ways and Means
Latest Action:  House – 09/10/2019 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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 committee…

H.Res.551 — Emphasizing the importance of addressing participation in career and technical education.
Sponsor: Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1] (Introduced 09/10/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/10/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.4245 — HOPE (Heightening Opportunities for Pathways to Education) for FAFSA Act
Sponsor: Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6] (Introduced 09/09/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/09/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.4252 — Shift Back to Society Act of 2019
Sponsor: Rep. Hill, J. French [R-AR-2] (Introduced 09/09/2019) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and Labor, Judiciary
Latest Action:  House – 09/09/2019 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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 committee…
Press Release: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: “Hill Previews Inmate-Education Bill; Proposes Work with Historically Black Colleges”

H.R.4253 — Empower Parents in College Act of 2019
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Dusty [R-SD-At Large] (Introduced 09/09/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/09/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Grant Notice: Emergency Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education. Applications due October 28, 2019. 

ED Comment Request: Foreign Schools Eligibility Criteria Apply to Participate in Title IV HEA Programs.Comments due October 16, 2019. 

ED Grant Notice: 2019 Temporary Emergency Impact Aid for Displaced Students (2019 Emergency Impact Aid). For State educational agency (SEA) applications due October 23, 2019. For local educational agencies (LEAs) to submit applications to SEAs under the Emergency Impact Aid program: October 15, 2019.

ED Comment Request: Re-establishment of a matching program between the Department of Education (Department or ED) and the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). ED seeks access to the information contained in the DHS-USCIS database (referred to as the Verification Information System (VIS)) for the purpose of verifying the immigration status of applicants for assistance for title IV federal student aid. Comments due October 15, 2019. 

ED Final waiver and extension of project periods: The waiver and extension enable 33 projects under Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers 84.326E, 84.328M, 84.235F, and 84.235G to receive funding for an additional period, not to exceed September 30, 2020.