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

December 17, 2019

HOUSE and SENATE
The House passed a modified version of the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act (H.R.5363) by a 319 to 96 vote, which the Senate subsequently passed by unanimous consent. The bill 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).

The House Committee on Financial Services passed the Protecting Your Credit Score Act of 2019 (H.R. 5332) by a 31-24 vote, Student Borrower Protections Act (H.R. 5294) by a 32-26 vote, Fair Student Loan Debt Collection Practices Act (H.R. 5287) by a 32-24 vote, and Private Loan Disability Discharge Act of 2019 (H.R. 4545) by a 32-25 vote.

The House passed the National Defense Authorization Act (S.1790) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 by a 377 to 48 vote.

ADMINISTRATION
ED published its proposed TEACH Grant and Faith-Based Institution regulations.

ED announced a new methodology to calculate the amount of loan relief students with successful Borrower Defense to Repayment (BDR) claims should receive.

The President signed an Executive Order which broadens the definition of anti-Semitism that Federal agencies, including ED may consider using when evaluating discrimination complaints under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

In a letter to the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), ED identified several new compliance concerns over how ACICS monitors and oversees the institutions of higher education it accredits.
The University of California was sued over its use of the SAT and ACT in its admissions process.

The Department of Justice reached a settlement agreement with the National Association for College Admission Counseling regarding the Association’s member admissions and recruitment policies.

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

CUNY partners with industry to build STEM courses [Inside Higher Ed]

Takeover at Princeton’s Quadrangle [The New York Times]

Standards for Online Learning Updated for First Time Since 2011 [Education Week]

FUTURE Act Passes House [Inside Higher Ed]

Trump Targets Anti-Semitism and Israeli Boycotts on College Campuses [The New York Times]

‘Adulting’ is hard. UC Berkeley has a class for that [The Los Angeles Times]

More students study online, but rate of growth slowed in 2018 [Inside Higher Ed]

Completion rates still rising, new data show, but at slower pace [Inside Higher Ed]

Online education comes to prisons [Inside Higher Ed]

Student Loans A Lot Like The Subprime Mortgage Debacle, Watchdog Says [National Public Radio]

California lawsuit aims to eliminate the SAT and ACT tests [The Hill]

FTC and University of Phoenix settle over long-running investigation of advertisements [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Education and Labor Committee 
December 18: Subcommittee Hearing: “The Future of Work: Ensuring Workers are Competitive in a Rapidly Changing Economy.”
Witnesses: to be announced
10:15 a.m. in 2175 Rayburn House Office Building or webcast

Press Release: Chairman Scott Praises Passage of FUTURE Act

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions 
Press Release: House Passes Alexander-Murray Bill to Simplify Federal Student Aid Application Form

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
ED Speech: Prepared Remarks by Secretary DeVos to the House Education and the Workforce Committee

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department Of Labor Announces $1 Million Competition To Better Connect Transitioning Service Members And Employers

White House Press Release: President Donald J. Trump Is Committed to Supporting Working Families

IES Report: Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) U.S. Combined 2012/14/17 Sample Restricted Use File (RUF)

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.5432 — To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to count toward the determination of full time equivalency for graduate medical education under the Medicare program time spent in an approved medical residency training program for training in culturally and linguistically appropriate care.
Sponsor: Rep. Mucarsel-Powell, Debbie [D-FL-26] (Introduced 12/13/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Ways and Means; Energy and Commerce
Latest Action:  House – 12/13/2019 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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. Mucarsel-Powell & Rep. Katie Porter Introduce Bill to Tackle Unconscious Bias in the Medical Field

H.R.5411 — To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Task Force on Local Mental Health Needs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-10] (Introduced 12/12/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
Latest Action:  House – 12/12/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Press Release: Harder to Introduce Increasing Access to Mental Health Act to Modernize Mental Health Care

H.R.5412 — To direct the National Council on Disability to conduct a review of the implementation of standards under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 in the travel, tourism, and hospitality industries.
Sponsor: Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (Introduced 12/12/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor; Energy and Commerce; Judiciary; Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Action:  House – 12/12/2019 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, the Judiciary, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such…
Press Release: Rep. Titus Introduces Bill To Make Travel Easier For Individuals With Disabilities

S.3040 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include teacher preparation for computer science in elementary and secondary education.
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (Introduced 12/12/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/12/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Rosen, Wicker, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Support Computer Science Educators

H.R.5397 — To amend title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to partnership grants for the establishment of rural teaching residency programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12] (Introduced 12/11/2019) Cosponsors: (13)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 12/11/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Bost And Finkenauer Introduce Legislation To Address Rural Teacher Shortages

H.R.5388 — To provide that the Secretary of Education may not issue or enforce certain rules that weaken the enforcement of the prohibition of sex discrimination applicable under title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
Sponsor: Rep. Slotkin, Elissa [D-MI-8] (Introduced 12/10/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 12/10/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Slotkin, Pressley, Speier, Kuster Introduce Bill to Prevent Secretary DeVos From Rolling Back Title IX Survivor Protections

S.3009 — A bill to provide for a period of continuing appropriations in the event of a lapse in appropriations under the normal appropriations process, and establish procedures and consequences in the event of a failure to enact appropriations.
Sponsor: Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK] (Introduced 12/10/2019) Cosponsors: (5)
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/10/2019 Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
Press Release: Lankford, Hassan Lead Bipartisan Plan to End Government Shutdowns

S.3011 — A bill to authorize demonstration projects to improve educational and housing outcomes for children.
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (Introduced 12/10/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/10/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Following Visit with Seattle Housing, Education and Community Leaders, Senator Murray Introduces Bill to Improve Educational Opportunities for Youth Facing Homelessness and Housing Insecurity

S.Res.449 — A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Nation, States, cities, Tribal nations, and businesses, institutions of higher education, and other institutions in the United States should work toward achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Sponsor: Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (Introduced 12/10/2019) Cosponsors: (14)
Committees: Senate – Foreign Relations
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/10/2019 Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Press Release: Senator Markey Introduces Resolution in Support of U.S. Commitment to Paris Climate Agreement: “We Are Still In!”

H.R.5372 — To clarify that employees of safety net health plans are eligible for loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] (Introduced 12/09/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 12/09/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Congressman Smith Statement on the Introduction of the Safety Net Health Plan Employee Student Loan Forgiveness Fairness 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 – 12/09/2019 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Press Release: Rosen’s Bipartisan Building Blocks of STEM Act Passes House, Heads to President’s Desk to be Signed into Law

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Grant Notice: Eligibility Designations and Applications for Waiving Eligibility Requirements; Programs Under Parts A and F of Title III and Programs Under Title V of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as Amended (HEA). Applications due January 15, 2020.

ED Comment Request: Proposed Priority and Requirements-Technical Assistance on State Data Collection-National Technical Assistance Center To Improve State Capacity To Collect, Report, Analyze, and Use Accurate IDEA Part B and Part C Fiscal Data. Comments due on or before February 24, 2020. 

VA Comment Request: Application for Refund of Educational Contributions, VA Form 22-5281. Comments due on or before January 15, 2020.