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

October 22, 2019

HOUSE and SENATE
The House Education and Labor Committee Democrats introduced the College Affordability Act, their proposed comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA). The bill text can be found here, and the Democrats’ summary materials of the bill can be found here.

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) passed away last week following complications concerning long-standing health challenges at the age of 68. Rep. Cummings had served in Congress since 1996 and was the Chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee.

ADMINISTRATION
The Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) detailed its plans to increase staff and restructure ahead of its transition to the Next Generation Federal student loan servicing system (NextGen).

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that Johnny Collett is resigning as ED’s Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Mark Allan Schultz will now serve as the acting Assistant Secretary.

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) completed its review of ED’s Accreditation regulations, clearing the way for the rule to be published in its final form.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a brief, on behalf of ED, arguing that ED should not face sanctions from a Federal court after violating the court’s order to cease collecting on loan payments from former Corinthian Colleges students.

Three Federal judges have blocked the implementation of the Administration’s Public Charge rule.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Education secretary slams 2020 candidates’ higher ed plans [The Associated Press]

Democrats jump into Trump turf war over student loans [The Hill]

How 2 Kentucky Colleges Are Making Tuition-Free Work [National Public Radio]

California community college district works to fend off state takeover [EdSource]

In higher ed tech, where’s the ‘hype’ and what’s the promise? [EducationDive]

Marketing firm breaks down personas of adult learners to help colleges recruit better [Inside Higher Ed]

Op-Ed: Can higher ed bill reauthorization close America’s skills gap? [The Hill]

Senators Press CFPB To Dig Into Problems With Public Service Student Loan Program [National Public Radio]

Mental health is low priority for community colleges [Inside Higher Ed]

Why colleges are prioritizing privacy [Inside Higher Ed]

Racial inequality, at college and in the workplace [Inside Higher Ed]

Top Special Education Official Leaving His Post at Education Department [Education Week]

Michigan now allows inmates to get financial aid for college education [Detroit Free Press]

Exclusive: Turf War Blocked CFPB From Helping Fix Student Loan Forgiveness Program [National Public Radio]

House Democrats’ latest higher ed plan pushes free college, more generous loan repayment [Inside Higher Ed]

Newest player in career upskilling world will curate community colleges’ online offerings [Inside Higher Ed]

California community colleges need money to meet new state law to help dreamers [EdSource]

Administrators are neither engaged nor knowledgeable about digital learning, survey finds [Inside Higher Ed]

Bringing esports on campus [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Education and Labor Committee 
Press Release: Committee Democrats Unveil Comprehensive Legislation to Lower the Cost of College

Press Release: Republican Leaders Criticize Democrats’ Partisan Higher Education Bill

Press Release: Chairman Scott Responds to USDA Analysis Showing Nearly 1 Million Kids Would Lose Automatic Access for Free Schools Under Proposed Cuts to SNAP

Press Release: Chairman Scott Announces Future of Work Hearings

Senate Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Shelby Releases Substitute Text for FY20 Minibus, Urges Bipartisanship in Moving Domestic & Defense Packages

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
ED Webinar: “Ability to Benefit: Improving Access to Career Pathways Programs for Adult Students”

ED Blog: Nine Ways Technology Can Boost STEM Learning

DOL Press Release: U.S. Secretary Of Labor Eugene Scalia Visited Community Learning Center In Texas

White House Press Release: President Donald J. Trump Announces Presidential Excellence Awards in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering

IES Report: “A review of instruments for measuring social and emotional learning skills among secondary school students”

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.4743 — To amend the Wagner-Peyser Act to include the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho [D-MP-At Large] (Introduced 10/18/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/18/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Help for job training

H.R.4747 — To carry out an income-contingent repayment program for Federal Interest Free Education Loans for undergraduate students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] (Introduced 10/18/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/18/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Cicilline Introduces Bill to Combat Student Debt Crisis, Help College Graduates Get Ahead

H.R.4749 — To provide temporary authority to the Secretary of Education to reissue certain student loans to reduce interest rates paid by borrowers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1] (Introduced 10/18/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/18/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.4750 — To amend title 11 of the United States Code to make student loans dischargeable.
Sponsor: Rep. Clay, Wm. Lacy [D-MO-1] (Introduced 10/18/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Judiciary
Latest Action:  House – 10/18/2019 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R.4760 — To bolster the domestic workforce by encouraging communication between career and technical education institutions and emphasizing potential employment opportunities, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat certain costs relating to career and technical education as qualified higher education expenses for purposes of section 529 programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Hern, Kevin [R-OK-1] (Introduced 10/18/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Ways and Means; Education and Labor; Transportation and Infrastructure; Armed Services; Small Business
Latest Action:  House – 10/18/2019 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Transportation and Infrastructure, Armed Services, and Small Business, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration…

H.R.2740 — Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Defense, State, Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, 2020Sponsor: 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 – 10/17/2019 Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate.

H.R.4724 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make for-profit institutions ineligible for Federal student aid and to protect the integrity of nonprofit institutions of higher education.
Sponsor: Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (Introduced 10/17/2019) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/17/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

S.2620 — A bill to bolster the domestic workforce by encouraging communication between career and technical education institutions and emphasizing potential employment opportunities, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to treat certain costs relating to career and technical education as qualified higher education expenses for purposes of section 529 programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK] (Introduced 10/17/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Finance
Latest Action:  Senate – 10/17/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Press Release: Inhofe, Heinrich, Hern Introduce GROWTH Act to Generate Workforce Opportunities

S.2640 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make for-profit institutions ineligible for Federal student aid and to protect the integrity of nonprofit institutions of higher education.
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH] (Introduced 10/17/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 10/17/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

H.R.4706 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize competency-based education demonstration projects.
Sponsor: Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (Introduced 10/16/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/16/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Congressman Neguse Introduces Legislation to Expand Innovative Higher Education Model and Help Colorado State University Students Earn a Degree in Less Time at a Lower Cost

S.2608 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize competency-based education demonstration projects.
Sponsor: Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH] (Introduced 10/16/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 10/16/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Senator Hassan and Representative Neguse Introduce Legislation to Support Innovative Competency-Based Education Programs in Higher Education

H.R.2528 — STEM Opportunities Act of 2019
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30] (Introduced 05/07/2019) Cosponsors: (29)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology | Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Committee Reports: H. Rept. 116-184
Latest Action:  Senate – 10/15/2019 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

H.R.4674 — To amend and strengthen the Higher Education Act of 1965 to lower the cost of college for students and families, to hold colleges accountable for students’ success, and to give a new generation of students the opportunity to graduate on-time and transition to a successful career.
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Robert C. “Bobby” [D-VA-3] (Introduced 10/15/2019) Cosponsors: (24)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/15/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Committee Democrats Unveil Comprehensive Legislation To Lower The Cost Of College

H.R.4677 — To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a program to recognize high schools and local educational agencies for expanding high-quality dual credit programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Taylor, Van [R-TX-3] (Introduced 10/15/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/15/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Congressman Van Taylor Introduces H.R. 4677, the Dual Credit Innovation Act

H.R.4680 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to simplify the financial aid application process, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-35] (Introduced 10/15/2019) Cosponsors: (61)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/15/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Putting Pen to Paper on Student Aid Accessibility: FAFSA Bill Removes Barriers to Funding and Empowers Families with Full Information

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
DOL Comment Request: Labor Standards for the Registration of Apprenticeship Programs. Comments due December 20, 2019. 

ED Comment Request: Institutional Disclosures for Distance Education or Correspondence Programs. Comments due December 16, 2019.