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

November 26, 2019

HOUSE and SENATE
The House and Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the Federal government through December 20 by a 231 to 192 vote and a 74 to 20 vote, respectively, which the President signed into law.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-TN) endorsed the bipartisan Protect VETS Act, which would alter the 90/10 requirements pertaining to for-profit institutions of higher education.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) was named the Chair of the House Oversight Committee, replacing the late Rep. Elijah Cummings. Rep. Maloney will be the first woman to chair the Committee.

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it officially updated the College Scorecard to include median debt and earnings data for individual programs at institutions of higher education.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) posted ED’s updated Fall 2019 unified regulatory agenda. The agenda lists a forthcoming proposed rule regarding campus free speech.

ED opened an investigation into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) over whether the school properly reported foreign gifts as required under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act (HEA).

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) completed its review of ED’s proposed TEACH Grant regulations.

ED’s Office of Civil Rights opened an investigation into New York University for possible discrimination against Jewish students.

Politico reported that ED recently halted its processing of student loan discharge claims for veterans who are totally and permanently disabled, due to a lack of legal authority to proceed. The report indicates that ED is near issuing an interim final rule to provide the necessary authority to resume processing claims.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
How College In Prison Turns Around Lives And Saves Taxpayers Money [Forbes]

Consumer Agency Failed To Protect Student Loan Borrowers, Lawsuit Says [National Public Radio]

Trump administration promise of debt relief for disabled veterans got delayed. Now, the program is resuming. [The Washington Post]

Forgiving Student Debt Would Boost Economy, Economists Say [National Public Radio]

Op-Ed: Betsy DeVos is giving defrauded student debtors the back of her hand [The Hill]

Coalition application draws significant criticism [Inside Higher Ed]

Conference highlights successes in developmental education reform [Inside Higher Ed]

As faculty deliberate, UC Berkeley chancellor calls for ending the use of SAT and ACT [EdSource]

Warren support dips among college students in new poll [The Hill]

High Stakes for Schools If 2020 Census Undercounts Latino Families  [Education Week]

A Doomsday List of Possible College Closures Inspired Panic and Legal Threats. That’s Telling. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

‘Undoing a mistake’: Ken Burns film looks inside the push to bring college education back to prison [USA Today]

Sen. Patty Murray urges DeVos to halt changes to a popular student loan repayment plan [The Washington Post]

Federal government releases earnings data for thousands of college programs [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Education and Labor Committee 
Press Release: Chairman Scott Praises Passage of Legislation to Protect Health Care and Social Service Employees from Workplace Violence

Press Release: Foxx Opposes Democrats’ Shortsighted Workplace Violence Bill

Blog: ICYMI: Committee Republicans Highlight Apprenticeships

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions 
Press Release: Following New GAO Information, Senator Murray Urges DeVos to Reverse Course on Proposed Barriers to Income-Driven Repayment

Press Release: Alexander Statement on HBCU Funding

Senate Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Statement of Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) On The One-Month Continuing Resolution

House Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: House Passes Continuing Resolution

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:

White House Press Release: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department Of Labor Announces Record-High Number Of Apprentices For Fiscal Year 2019

ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Delivers on Promise to Provide Students Relevant, Actionable Information Needed to Make Personalized Education Decisions

WWC Summary: Research on Passport Reading Journeys for Adolescent Readers.

IES Report: An Introduction to Adaptive Interventions and SMART Designs in Education

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:

H.R.5222 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish notification requirements for policies concerning expectant and parenting students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Allred, Colin Z. [D-TX-32] (Introduced 11/21/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 11/21/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Allred Introduces Bill to Bolster Outreach on Child Care and Leave at Higher Ed Institutions

H.R.5229 — To establish the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety Best Practices, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Diaz-Balart, Mario [R-FL-25] (Introduced 11/21/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Labor; Judiciary
Latest Action:  House – 11/21/2019 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: Diaz-Balart, Deutch, Rutherford, Murphy Introduce Legislation to Make our Schools Safer

H.R.5241 — To provide consumer protections for students.
Sponsor: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (Introduced 11/21/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor; Armed Services; Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action:  House – 11/21/2019 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on 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 the…
Press Release: Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Reintroduces The Investing In American Workers Act To Establish A Worker Training Tax Credit For Small And Mid-Sized Businesses

S.2925 — A bill to provide consumer protections for students.
Sponsor: Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR] (Introduced 11/21/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 11/21/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Merkley, Durbin, Krishnamoorthi Introduce Bill To Protect Students From Worthless Degrees

S.2928 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to reauthorize the University Sustainability Program.
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (Introduced 11/21/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Latest Action:  Senate – 11/21/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Whitehouse Bill Would Promote Sustainability On College Campuses

H.R.5204 — To direct the Secretary of Education to study student mental health at institutions of higher education and to issue guidance on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act for mental health and substance use disorder policies of institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-45] (Introduced 11/20/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 11/20/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Rep. Porter Introduces Legislation to Protect Students’ Mental Health Rights

S.2899 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to support apprenticeship programs.
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] (Introduced 11/19/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 11/19/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Bennet Announces New Legislation to Expand Opportunities for Student Apprenticeship Programs

H.R.5148 — To improve program integrity through State evaluation of institutions of higher education, requirements for student complaint submissions, and the establishment of policies and procedures to address closure of institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (Introduced 11/18/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 11/18/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Rep. Mike Levin Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Oversight of Higher Education Institutions’ Closure Preparedness

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ACF Comment Request: ACF-196 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Financial Reporting Form.Comments due within 60 days.

ED Comment Request: National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) 2021. Comments due January 24, 2020. 

DOL Comment Request: Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship Training. Comments due on or before January 21, 2020.

HHS Comment Request: Innovative Approaches and Knowledge Gaps Related To Enhancing Nonresident Parents’ Ability To Support Their Children Economically and Emotionally. Comments due on or before March 6, 2020. 

VA Comment Request: Edith Nourse Rogers STEM Scholarship Application (VA Form 22-10203). Comments due on or before December 19, 2020.