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

November 19, 2019

HOUSE and SENATE
House and Senate Appropriations Committee Chairs Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Richard Shelby (R-AL) have agreed upon another continuing resolution (CR) to fund the Federal government through December 20. The House and Senate are expected to pass the CR next week before the current CR runs out after November 21.

The House passed the Protect the GI Bill Act (H.R.4625) by a voice vote.

The House Education and Labor Committee scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, November 19 on the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED’s) handling of Borrower Defense to Repayment claims, with Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos listed as the only witness. However, Secretary DeVos has declined the invitation to testify on November 19 but indicated a willingness to testify at a later date. The Committee announced that ED will provide the Committee with documents related to this matter by the end of the day today, which press reports cite as the result of an imminent subpoena for such documents.

ADMINISTRATION and SUPREME COURT
ED announced the new members of the National Assessment Governing Board.

The U.S. Supreme Court began oral arguments over whether the Administration can end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
3 Foundations Join Forces to Support Black Colleges [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

US draws fewer new foreign students for 3rd straight year [Associated Press]

‘Open Doors’ data show continued increase in numbers of Americans studying abroad [Inside Higher Ed]

Most college students work, and that’s both good and bad [Inside Higher Ed]

Mass. Governor Signs College Closure Law [Inside Higher Ed]

Success at Scale: Strategies to Improve Outcomes for Underserved Students [Inside Higher Ed]

Deval Patrick, Obama Education Ally, Announces Presidential Run [Education Week]

Betsy DeVos And The High-Stakes Standoff Over Student Loan Forgiveness [National Public Radio]

Colleges determine how to protect students from opioid epidemic [Inside Higher Ed]

Community College Contracts With Outside Counseling Company [Inside Higher Ed]

Two community colleges show how students can succeed without remedial math courses [EdSource]

New Research on Diversity Officers, Campus Climate [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Education and Labor Committee 
November 19: Full Committee Hearing: “’With Extreme Displeasure’: Examining the Education Department’s Refusal to Provide Debt Relief to Defrauded Students.”
Witness: The Honorable Betsy DeVos, Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, DC
10:15 a.m. in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building or webcast

November 20: Subcommittee Hearing: “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the Labor Department’s Apprenticeship Program.”
Witnesses: to be announced
2:00 p.m. in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building or webcast

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions  
Documents and webcast of last week’s Full Committee Hearing: “Examining the Response to Lung Illnesses and Rising Youth Electronic Cigarette Use”

Senate Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Appropriations Schedule for the Week of November 18, 2019

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: President Donald J. Trump to Award the National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal

ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Names New Members to the National Assessment Governing Board

ED Blog: Learning About Whole Child, Whole School Sustainability on the 2019 Green Strides Tour

ED Speech: Prepared Remarks by Secretary DeVos at the Independent Women’s Forum Annual Awards Gala

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department Of Labor’s National Apprenticeship Week Continues With National Summit On Women In Apprenticeship

IES Report: Highlights of the 2017 U.S. PIAAC Results Web Report

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.5102 — To designate public colleges and universities that provide research, data, and recommendations on physical and biological science, social science, economic analysis, policy analysis, risk analysis, monitoring, predicting, and planning for sea-level rise and associated coastal flooding and shoreline erosion as National Centers of Excellence in Coastal Resilience Research and Education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-20] (Introduced 11/14/2019) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology; Natural Resources; Armed Services
Latest Action:  House – 11/14/2019 Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Natural Resources, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the…
Press Release: Congressman Panetta Introduces Legislation To Establish Coastal Climate Centers Of Excellence

H.R.5104 — To ensure full labor protections for graduate student workers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (Introduced 11/14/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 11/14/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Pocan Introduces Bill to Protect Grad Students Right to Unionize

H.Res.701 — Expressing support for policies that maintain a robust, fully-funded and staffed Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs and do not jeopardize care for veterans by moving essential resources to the for-profit private sector.
Sponsor: Rep. Grijalva, Raul M. [D-AZ-3] (Introduced 11/14/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs; Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 11/14/2019 Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor, 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: Rep. Grijalva and Congressional Champions for Veterans Introduce Resolution Expressing Support for the Veterans Health Administration and Condemning Privatization Efforts

S.2857 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to count military and veterans education benefits as Federal educational assistance, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Carper, Thomas R. [D-DE] (Introduced 11/14/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 11/14/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Carper, Lankford, Cassidy, Tester Introduce First Ever Bipartisan Senate Bill to Protect Student Veterans by Closing the 90/10 Loophole

S.2861 — A bill to amend the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 to clarify the prohibition on the use of certain Federal funds for lobbying, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (Introduced 11/14/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Energy and Natural Resources
Latest Action:  Senate – 11/14/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Press Release: Wyden, Merkley Bill Would Bar Use of SRS Funds for Lobbying

S.2868 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that veterans may attend pre-apprenticeship programs using certain educational assistance provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. McSally, Martha [R-AZ] (Introduced 11/14/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action:  Senate – 11/14/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Press Release: McSally Introduces Bill to Help Prepare Military Veterans for New Careers

H.R.5052 — To amend title 38, United States Code, to include local government minimum wage requirements in determining the hourly minimum wage applicable for purposes of the work-study allowance under the educational assistance programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep. Lujan, Ben Ray [D-NM-3] (Introduced 11/12/2019) Cosponsors: (11)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action:  House – 11/12/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Press Release: Luján, Members Of Congress Introduce Legislation To Support Student Veterans

S.2830 — A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the period under which an election must be made for entitlement to educational assistance under the All-Volunteer Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to phase out the use of such program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (Introduced 11/12/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action:  Senate – 11/12/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Press Release: Rosen Attends Veterans Day Events, Announces Plans to Introduce Package of Bipartisan Legislation to Support Veterans and Servicemembers

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program Repayment Plan Selection Form. Comments due on or before January 13, 2020.

Presidential Proclamation: National Apprenticeship Week, 2019.

ED Comment Request: Proposed Priority and Requirements-Technical Assistance on State Data Collection-IDEA Data Management Center. Comments due January 27, 2020.