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

September 24, 2019

HOUSE and SENATE
The Senate Appropriations Committee released its (FY) 2020 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) appropriations bill and report language.

The House passed a continuing resolution (H.R.4378) that would fund the Federal government through November 21 by a 301 to 123 vote. The Senate is expected to vote on the continuing resolution next week.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is scheduled to vote on advancing the nomination of Eugene Scalia to serve as the U.S. Secretary of Labor.

The House passed the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act (H.R.2486), which would extend current mandatory funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) for two years, by voice vote.

In response to the House passage of the FUTURE Act, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-TN) announced an alternative proposal to the bill.

The House Education and Labor Committee passed the Dignity in Aging Act (H.R.4334), which would reauthorize the Older Americans Act, by voice vote.

The House Education and Labor Committee passed the School Shooting Safety and Preparedness Act (H.R.4301) by a 27 to 22 vote.

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued guidance on how States and school districts can use Federal funds to help students with disabilities to access dual enrollment programs.

ED, as part of a compliance report related to Manriquez et al. v. DeVos, notified a Federal court that it had incorrectly sought to collect on loans of former Corinthian students, which was in violation of a May 2018 court order.

ED published its final Borrower Defense to Repayment regulation on Monday, September 23.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
This week: Congress races to prevent shutdown as recess looms [The Hill]

DeVos Seeks More Civil Rights Data on Sexual Violence, Religious Harassment [Education Week]

Feds to Cancel Debt of Thousands of ITT Students [Inside Higher Ed]

Student debt is hitting African Americans the hardest. These experts have a plan to fix it. [The Washington Post]

Choosing Employers Over College for More Education [Inside Higher Ed]

How Democrats and the GOP in Congress Compare on Education Funding [Education Week]

Alexander Makes Play for Narrow Higher Ed Deal [Inside Higher Ed]

Amazon expands ‘cloud’ training to Northern California colleges, high schools [EdSource]

Federal Government Would Track School Shooters’ Motives Under Democrats’ Bill [Education Week]

Alexander Blocks Short-Term Funding for HBCUs [Inside Higher Ed]

Community College B.A. Shows Early Earnings Edge [Inside Higher Ed]

California community colleges implement zero-textbook-cost degree pathways [Inside Higher Ed]

Senate Education Spending Bill Would Increase Aid for School Safety, Charters [Education Week]

Scaled-Back HEA Plan Coming Soon? [Inside Higher Ed]

Early-College High School Students More Likely to Earn Postsecondary Degrees [Education Week]

California community colleges push for financial aid reform in budget [EdSource]

New Mexico Announces Plan for Free College for State Residents [The New York Times]

Senate set for floor showdown over Trump border wall [The Hill]

Colleges provide misleading information about their costs [The Hechinger Report]

Arizona State changes course on global freshman academy [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Education and Labor Committee 
Press Release: Chairman Scott Statement on Senate GOP Blocking Funding for HBCUs and other Minority-Serving Institutions

Press Release: Education and Labor Committee Approves Bipartisan Bill to Reauthorize the Older Americans Act

Press Release: Chairman Scott Praises Passage of FUTURE Act to Provide Extended Funding for HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
Press Release: ROUNDUP: Murray, Democrats Grill Labor Secretary Nominee Eugene Scalia On His Anti-Worker Record

Press Release: Senator Murray, Democrats Oppose Labor Department Proposal to Allow Government-Funded Discrimination Against LGBTQ People, Women, and More

House Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: House Passes Continuing Resolution

Senate Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Appropriations Schedule for the Week of September 23, 2019

Press Release: Blunt Releases FY2020 Labor, HHS, & Education Appropriations Bill

Press Release: Shelby Encourages Colleagues to Honor Terms of Budget Deal, Move Forward Together in Funding Government

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Makes Clear Federal Funds can be Used to Support Dual Enrollment, Postsecondary Options for Students and Youth with Disabilities

ED Media Advisory: Secretary DeVos to Visit Pennsylvania, Participate in Roundtable Where State Legislators are Fighting to Expand Education Freedom

ED Media Advisory: U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary Frank Brogan To Visit Mississippi as Part of 2019 National Back-to-School Tour

ED Press Release: Sec. DeVos Calls for a “New Birth of Freedom” in Milwaukee, the Birthplace of Education Freedom, to Kick Off 2019 Back to School Tour

ED Media Advisory: Assistant U.S. Education Secretary Stump to Visit Albuquerque’s St. Pius X High School & Santa Fe Community College as Part of 2019 National Back to School Tour

ED Media Advisory: Assistant U.S. Education Secretary Collett to Visit Kansas During Back-to-School Tour

ED Media Advisory: Assistant U.S. Education Secretary Stump to Visit Tucson’s University High School as Part of 2019 National Back to School Tour

ED Media Advisory: Assistant U.S. Education Secretary Stump to Visit Phoenix’s GateWay Community College-Washington Campus as Part of 2019 National Back to School Tour

ED Media Advisory: Secretary DeVos Continues Back to School Tour in Illinois to Highlight College and Career Preparation Opportunities for Students

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department Of Labor Announces Fifth Annual National Apprenticeship Week

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.4430 — To direct the Secretary of Education to assign a unique numeric identifier to institutions of higher education to facilitate data collection and reporting, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] (Introduced 09/20/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/20/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Congresswoman Lori Trahan Introduces The Clean Data in Higher Education Act

H.Res.574 — Supporting the teaching of climate change in schools.
Sponsor: Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-13] (Introduced 09/20/2019) Cosponsors: (18)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/20/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Congresswoman Barbara Lee Stands With Students to Support Teaching Climate Change in Schools

H.R.2486 — FUTURE Act
Sponsor: Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (Introduced 05/02/2019) Cosponsors: (28)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  Senate – 09/19/2019 Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.

H.R.4308 — CAMPUS Act
Sponsor: Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25] (Introduced 09/12/2019) Cosponsors: (9)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  09/19/2019 Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H7782)

H.R.4395 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the removal of the record of default from credit history upon obtaining a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan that discharges the defaulted loan.
Sponsor: Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] (Introduced 09/19/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/19/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Stevens, Mucarsel-Powell Introduce Legislation to Help Student Loan Borrowers Restore Credit After Default

H.R.4396 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to remove the record of default on a loan made, insured or guaranteed under title IV from a borrower’s credit history upon repayment of the full amount due on such loan.
Sponsor: Rep. Mucarsel-Powell, Debbie [D-FL-26] (Introduced 09/19/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/19/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Mucarsel-Powell, Stevens Seek to Restore Student Loan Borrowers’ Credit After Default

H.R.4414 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to lower the cost of college education by establishing pilot programs to expand student access to digital course materials.
Sponsor: Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (Introduced 09/19/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/19/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.4422 — To require the Secretary of Education to award grants for graduate fellowship awards.
Sponsor: Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1] (Introduced 09/19/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/19/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.4424 — To amend 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, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [D-MP-At Large] (Introduced 09/19/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/19/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.Res.568 — Expressing support for designation of the week of September 22 through 28, 2019, as National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week.
Sponsor: Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3] (Introduced 09/19/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/19/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

S.2523 — A bill to amend section 455(m) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to allow adjunct faculty members to qualify for public service loan forgiveness.
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (Introduced 09/19/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 09/19/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Durbin, Duckworth, Booker, Hirono Introduce Bill To Expand Public Service Loan Forgiveness To Adjunct Professors

H.R.2486 — Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education Act
Sponsor: Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (Introduced 05/02/2019) Cosponsors: (28)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  Senate – 09/18/2019 Received in the Senate.
Press Release: House Passes Rep. Adams’ FUTURE Act to Secure Funding for HBCUs

H.R.2740 — Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020
Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (Introduced 05/15/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations Committee Reports: H. Rept. 116-62
Latest Action:  Senate – 09/18/2019 Motion by Senator McConnell to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked on the motion to proceed to the measure (Record Vote No. 292) entered in Senate.

H.R.4301 — School Shooting Safety and Preparedness Act
Sponsor: Rep. Gabbard, Tulsi [D-HI-2] (Introduced 09/12/2019) Cosponsors: (26)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/18/2019 Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 27 – 22.
Press Release: Reps. Gabbard, McBath, and Hayes School Shooting Safety and Preparedness Bill Scheduled for Committee Vote, Gains Support From Several National Organizations

H.R.4371 — To authorize funding to strengthen investments in the Nation’s postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs and build connections across the entire education and workforce development system.
Sponsor: Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] (Introduced 09/18/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/18/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Representatives Trahan, Pappas, Horn, and Finkenauer Introduce Critical Workforce Training and Education Legislation

H.R.4372 — To direct Federal science agencies and the Office of Science and Technology Policy to undertake activities to improve the quality of undergraduate STEM education and enhance the research capacity at the Nation’s HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30] (Introduced 09/18/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action:  House – 09/18/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

H.R.4380 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to clarify requirements for disclosure of transfer of credit policies.
Sponsor: Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20] (Introduced 09/18/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/18/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Castro, Marchant Introduce Bipartisan Transparency for Transfer Students Act

H.R.4389 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide additional amounts of loan forgiveness to teachers of English learners, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2] (Introduced 09/18/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/18/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Langevin Introduces SPELL Act to Address the Shortage of Teachers of English Learners in Rhode Island

H.R.4391 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modernize and improve the public service loan forgiveness program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20] (Introduced 09/18/2019) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/18/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Reps. Panetta, Fudge Introduce Public Service Loan Forgiveness Modernization Act

H.Con.Res.64 — Recognizing the 25th anniversary of AmeriCorps.
Sponsor: Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-6] (Introduced 09/18/2019) Cosponsors: (12)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/18/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

S.2498 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to clarify the Federal Pell Grant duration limits of borrowers who attend an institution of higher education that closes or commits fraud or other misconduct, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (Introduced 09/18/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 09/18/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.2500 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a loan repayment program for mental health professionals to relieve workforce shortages, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Harris, Kamala D. [D-CA] (Introduced 09/18/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 09/18/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

H.R.4342 — To direct the Secretary of Education to conduct a study on the feasibility of a single certification for certain programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Sponsor: Rep. Finkenauer, Abby [D-IA-1] (Introduced 09/17/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/17/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.4343 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to publish requirements for financial aid offers to be provided by institutions of higher education to enrolled and prospective students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] (Introduced 09/17/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/17/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Representatives Trahan and Smucker Introduce the Bipartisan Financial Aid Communication and Transparency (FACT) Act

H.R.4369 — To expand access to apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships among certain populations, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Walker, Mark [R-NC-6] (Introduced 09/17/2019) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: House – Education and Labor, Judiciary, Armed Services, Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action:  House – 09/17/2019 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Armed Services, and Veterans’ Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within…
Press Release: Walker Takes Action to Expand President Trump’s Criminal Justice Reform and Job-Training Efforts

S.2492 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide best practices on student suicide awareness and prevention training and condition State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and tribal educational agencies receiving funds under section 520A of such Act to establish and implement a school-based student suicide awareness and prevention training policy.
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO] (Introduced 09/17/2019) Cosponsors: (6)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 09/17/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Gardner, Jones Lead Bill with Sandy Hook Promise to Prevent Suicide

H.R.2740 — Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020
Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (Introduced 05/15/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations Committee Reports: H. Rept. 116-62
Latest Action:  Senate – 09/16/2019 Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate.

H.R.4334 — To amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2020 through 2024, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (Introduced 09/16/2019) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/16/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Final Rule: Student Assistance General Provisions, Federal Family Education Loan Program, and William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program

ED Comment Request: Mandatory Civil Rights Data Collection. Comments due November 18, 2019. 

NSF Meeting Announcement: Advisory Committee for Education and Human Resources.  The meeting will take place October 29, 2019; 8:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Alexandria—Carlyle, 2460 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314.

ED Grant Notice: Extension:Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems Program. The Institute takes this action to allow more time for the preparation and submission of applications by prospective eligible applicants affected by Hurricane Dorian.Comments due September 26, 2019. 

ED Notice: Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies (CMES).

VA Meeting Notice: Advisory Committee on Veterans’ Employment, Training and Employer Outreach (ACVETEO). The meeting will take place Tuesday, October 15, 2019 beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at approximately 4:30 p.m. (EST) at the U.S. Department of Labor, Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210, Conference Room N-4437 A, B & C.