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

December 10, 2019

HOUSE and SENATE
The Senate passed, by unanimous consent, an amended version of the FUTURE Act that would permanently extend mandatory funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) and require the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to automatically share tax information with the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for the purpose of establishing aid eligibility, recertifying income-driven repayment, and verification related to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

ADMINISTRATION
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos will testify Thursday before the House Education and Labor Committee regarding ED’s handling of Borrower Defense to Repayment (BDR) claims.

ED, in a court filing, disclosed that it improperly attempted to collect loans from an additional roughly 29,000 former Corinthian Colleges students in violation of a court order.

Secretary DeVos proposed separating ED’s Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) into its own agency solely dedicated to running the U.S.’ Federal student loan portfolio.

At the 2019 Federal Student Aid Training Conference, ED officials presented about an upcoming “experimental sites” initiative that would allow institutions of higher education to limit student borrowing, pay off student loans and develop an institution “designed and managed financing program for students.”

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]

Eyeing populist challenge from the left, Trump seeks plan to tackle student debt [The Washington Post]

Senate Passes HBCU Funding, FAFSA Changes [Inside Higher Ed]

Lawmakers Call For Investigation After NPR Report On Troubled Student Loan Program [National Public Radio]

Kentucky community college system president retiring in June [Associated Press]

What’s in a Bipartisan Pitch to Simplify the FAFSA [Education Week]

Student Loan Borrowers With Disabilities Aren’t Getting Help They Were Promised [National Public Radio]

Columbia will give full scholarships to refugees and other displaced students [The Washington Post]

Former Secretary Margaret Spellings on Better Equipping Children for College and an Evolving Workforce — and Why High Schools Must Become More Like Community Colleges [The74million.org]

Bachelor’s Degrees at Community Colleges [Inside Higher Ed]

Black student loan borrowers default at higher rates [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Education and Labor Committee 
December 12: Full Committee Hearing: “Examining the Education Department’s Implementation of Borrower Defense.”
Witness: The Honorable Betsy DeVos, Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, Washington, D.C.
9:00 a.m. in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building or webcast

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions  
December 12: Executive Session: S. 2971, Title VII Reauthorization, S. 2080, S. 2683- Child Care Protection Improvement Act of 2019, S. 2927, and Nominations, including Nomination of Crosby Kemper III to be Director, Institute of Museum and Library Services
10:00 a.m. in 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building or webcast

Press Release: Senate Passes Bipartisan Solution to Permanently Fund Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Minority Serving Institutions and Simplify the FAFSA for 20 Million Families

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Shares Vision for a Better, Stronger Federal Student Aid at Annual Training Conference

IES Report: Limited certificated teachers in Washington: Barriers to becoming fully certificated and needed supports

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.5331 — To prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity; and to protect the free exercise of religion.
Sponsor: Rep. Stewart, Chris [R-UT-2] (Introduced 12/06/2019) Cosponsors: (8)
Committees: House – Judiciary; Education and Labor; Ways and Means; Financial Services; Oversight and Reform; House Administration
Latest Action:  House – 12/06/2019 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Ways and Means, Financial Services, Oversight and Reform, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for…
Press Release: Stewart Protects Religious Freedom And LGBT Individuals

H.R.5339 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permit certain expenses associated with obtaining or maintaining recognized postsecondary credentials to be treated as qualified higher education expenses for purposes of 529 accounts.
Sponsor: Rep. Spanberger, Abigail Davis [D-VA-7] (Introduced 12/06/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Ways and Means
Latest Action:  House – 12/06/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Press Release: Spanberger, Wittman Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Allow Virginia Students to Use 529 Savings Accounts to Pay for Training & Credentialing Programs

H.R.5350 — To remove college cost as a barrier to every student having access to a well-prepared and diverse educator workforce, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Garcia, Jesus G. “Chuy” [D-IL-4] (Introduced 12/06/2019) Cosponsors: (28)
Committees: House – Education and Labor; Budget
Latest Action:  House – 12/06/2019 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on the Budget, 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 concerned.
Press Release: Reps. García and Hayes, Senator Booker Announce Introduction of the DIVERSIFY Act to Create a Well-Prepared and Diverse Educator Workforce

H.R.5356 — To amend the America COMPETES Act to strengthen reporting requirements relating to deficiencies in Federal research infrastructure, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (Introduced 12/06/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action:  House – 12/06/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Press Release: Congressman Joe Neguse Introduces Legislation to Modernize Federal Labs in Colorado

H.R.5309 — To prohibit discrimination based on an individual’s texture or style of hair.
Sponsor: Rep. Richmond, Cedric L. [D-LA-2] (Introduced 12/05/2019) Cosponsors: (29)
Committees: House – Judiciary; Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 12/05/2019 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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. Richmond And Colleagues Introduce Legislation Banning Afro-Textured Hair Discrimination

H.R.5312 — To authorize the creation of a commission to develop voluntary accessibility guidelines for electronic instructional materials and related technologies used in postsecondary education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Roe, David P. [R-TN-1] (Introduced 12/05/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 12/05/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Roe, Courtney Reintroduce Legislation to Ensure Disabled Students Have Equal Access to Educational Materials

H.R.5314 — To enable registered apprenticeship programs to better serve veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5] (Introduced 12/05/2019) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 12/05/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Clark, McKinley, Slotkin, Thompson, Cisneros, Stivers Introduce Bill to Improve Veterans Access to Apprenticeship Programs

H.R.5328 — To require certain information be reported with respect to principal investigators who have discriminated, including harassed, on the basis of sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth, medical conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth, parental status, and sex stereotype), and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14] (Introduced 12/05/2019) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Education and Labor; Oversight and Reform; Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action:  House – 12/05/2019 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Reform, and Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall…
Press Release: Rep Speier Reintroduces Legislation to Combat Sexual Harassment and Discrimination in Academia

S.760 — Support for Veterans in Effective Apprenticeships Act of 2019
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (Introduced 03/12/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  House – 12/04/2019 Held at the desk.
Press Release: Senate Unanimously Passes Peters Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Veterans Apprenticeship Opportunities

S.Res.445 — A resolution recognizing the goals and ideals of International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] (Introduced 12/03/2019) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/03/2019 Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Press Release: Sen. Casey, Rep. Titus Lead Bicameral Delegation in a Resolution in Support of International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
VA Comment Request: Submission of School Catalog to the State Approving Agency. Comments due on or before January 8, 2020. 

ED Comment Request: GEPA Section 427 Guidance for All Grant Applications. Comments due on or before February 6, 2020. 

NLRB Comment Request: Extension: Nonemployee Status of University and College Students Working in Connection with their Studies. Comments now due on or before January 15, 2020.