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

October 8, 2019

HOUSE and SENATE
The House and Senate were in recess this week and will return the week of October 14.

ADMINISTRATION
The President signed into law a continuing resolution (H.R.4378) that funds the Federal government through November 21.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) released new data showing that 210,168 student borrowers, as of June 30, have Borrow Defense to Repayment claims pending at ED, which is 30,791 more students than on March 31.

A Federal judge ruled in favor of Harvard University, finding that the school did not intentionally discriminate against Asian American applicants.

New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a suit against the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency, alleging improper management in administering the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for ED.

Former Corinthian Colleges students asked a Federal judge to hold ED and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in contempt for violating a court order to stop collecting on their Federal student loans.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
DeVos violated a court order to stop collecting on the debts of Corinthian College students. Now, they want her held in contempt. [The Washington Post]

College Students Just Want Normal Libraries [The Atlantic]

Detroit colleges tackle dropout challenge by offering debt forgiveness [Inside Higher Ed]

Net Neutrality Court Ruling Could Challenge Ed-Tech Companies Around Content Delivery [Education Week]

New York sues student loan company over debt forgiveness for those in public service [The Washington Post]

How Penn State Is Cutting Greenhouse Emissions In Half — And Saving Money [National Public Radio]

California inspires other states to push to pay college athletes [The Hill]

College-Crime Reports Are Breaking Records This Year. Blame Years-Ago Abuses by Campus Doctors. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Ivanka Trump, Google’s CEO hosting roundtable in Dallas Thursday [WFAA.com]

Harvard Won a Key Affirmative Action Battle. But the War’s Not Over. [The New York Times]

Students look to federal courts to challenge Title IX proceedings [Inside Higher Ed]

Is Trump’s Team Pessimistic About Its Big Education Plan’s Chances? This Could Be Why [Education Week]

New Federal Profile of Low-Income Students [Inside Higher Ed]
U.S. Department of Education Brief: “Profile of Very Low- and Low-Income Undergraduates in 2015–16”

Hundreds sign up for the new Calbright College [EdSource]

Accreditation works for innovation but can slow it down, ACE report says [Inside Higher Ed]

Hispanic Democrats release priorities for education bill [The Hill]

More Economic Mobility at HBCUs, Report Says [Inside Higher Ed]

California’s new online community college to open after months of planning [EdSource]

Amazon expands cloud degree partnerships with Virginia colleges [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
The House and the Senate are currently in recess and will return the week of October 14^th.

House Education and Labor Committee 
Press Release: Scott Statement on Ruling in Harvard Affirmative Action Case

Press Release: Foxx Calls for Hearing to Examine Head Start Fraud

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions 
Press Release: Murray, Wyden, Smith and Grassley Release Report Showing Department of Education Can Do More to Support Students in Foster Care

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Remarks by President Trump at the Swearing-In Ceremony of Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia

ED Press Release: Department of Education Awards Grants to Modernize Workforce Training

ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Continues to Transform FAFSA Experience with New Mobile App Features, Enhanced Student Privacy Protections as 2020-21 Cycle Launches

ED Speech: Prepared Remarks by Secretary DeVos at the American Enterprise Institute

ED Media Advisory: U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to Speak at Prison Fellowship’s Justice Declaration Symposium

ED Blog: Nominations Open for Inaugural Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department Of Labor Awards Contract To Assist Veterans In Transition To Civilian Workforce

IES Report: “Profile of Very Low- and Low-Income Undergraduates in 2015–16”

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.4603 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for Federal student loan reform.
Sponsor: Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (Introduced 10/04/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor; Ways and Means
Latest Action:  House – 10/04/2019 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.R.4607 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include certain employment as a health care practitioner as eligible for public service loan forgiveness, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-10] (Introduced 10/04/2019) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/04/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.4608 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to create the Pell Plus program.
Sponsor: Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6] (Introduced 10/04/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/04/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Kilmer, Brooks Introduce Legislation to Give Students in Need Access to More Financial Aid

H.R.4609 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include a full-time job with a veterans or military service organization as a public service job eligible for public service loan forgiveness.
Sponsor: Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (Introduced 10/04/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/04/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Representatives Mike Levin and Katie Porter Introduce Legislation to Expand Public Service Loan Forgiveness for VSO Workers

H.R.4615 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require an institution of higher education to submit a teach-out plan under certain circumstances, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Shalala, Donna E. [D-FL-27] (Introduced 10/04/2019) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/04/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Representatives Shalala, King (NY), and Casten Introduce the Stop College Closures Act of 2019

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 – 10/02/2019 Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

H.R.4584 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to repeal the suspension of eligibility for assistance under title IV due to drug-related offenses.
Sponsor: Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37] (Introduced 10/01/2019) Cosponsors: (35)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/01/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Reps. Bass, Davis Introduce The FAFSA Act

H.R.4587 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require certain institutions of higher education to provide notice of tuition levels for students.
Sponsor: Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8] (Introduced 10/01/2019) Cosponsors: (9)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/01/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.4590 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to terminate capitalization of interest after forbearance and certain deferment periods.
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (Introduced 10/01/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/01/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.4596 — To improve service to students and other participants in the Federal student financial assistance programs, to establish the Office of the Borrower Advocate to replace the Student Loan Ombudsman, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5] (Introduced 10/01/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/01/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Reps. Ilhan Omar and Mary Gay Scanlon Introduce the Student Loan Advocacy Act

S.737 — Building Blocks of STEM Act
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (Introduced 03/11/2019) Cosponsors: (8)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Reports: S. Rept. 116-78
Latest Action:  House – 10/01/2019 Held at the desk.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices
EPA Comment Request: Updated CEQ-EPA Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators and the President’s Environmental Youth Awards Application (Revision). Comments due December 6, 2019. 

ED Comment Request: Presidential Cybersecurity Education Award. Comments due November 4, 2019.  

ED Request for Nominations: National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI). Nominations must be received no later than Friday, October 25, 2019.