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

December 23, 2019

The RAMC Washington Wrap Up will not run next week, and will return on January 6, 2020.

HOUSE and SENATE
The House passed a final Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 appropriations package (H.R.1865), which included Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education (LHHS) appropriations, by a 280 to 138 vote. The Senate subsequently passed the same package by a 71 to 23 vote. The joint explanatory statement for the LHHS section can be found here.

The Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act (S.1790) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 by a 86 to 8 vote.

Both bills were signed by the President on Friday.

ADMINISTRATION
The President signed the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act (H.R.5363) into law. This bill permanently extends mandatory funding for Minority-Serving Institutions under the Higher Education Act (HEA) and eases the transfer of taxpayer income data from the Internal Revenue Service to the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for financial aid and student loan repayment purposes.

ED posted a new information collection notice seeking public input on potential new foreign gift reporting requirements under Section 117 of HEA. ED is seeking expedited approval from the Office of Management and Budget to use the reporting requirements contained in the notice.

ED announced that it will end its competency-based education (CBE) experimental site initiative, which began in 2015.

ED announced $155 million in Federal disaster relief aid for schools across 13 States and the Northern Mariana Islands impacted by natural disasters over the past two years.

The President announced his intent to nominate Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan as the next Director of the National Science Foundation.

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

What the $1.4 trillion budget deal has in store for education [The Washington Post]

Trump Signs Education Spending Bill That Funds 29 Programs He Sought to Abolish [Education Week]

Op-Ed: Bipartisanship leads to passage of legislation providing critical funding for minority institutions [The Hill]

Seattle program offers students 2 years of free tuition [Associated Press]

Connecticut’s free community college program is taking shape [Associated Press]

Lincoln community college tuition to remain steady next year [Associated Press]

California man pleads guilty in $65M student loan scam [Associated Press]

What the FAFSA Simplification Trump Signed Means for Students [Education Week]

Spending bill would let 529 savings go toward student loans [Inside Higher Ed]

Tax Implications for Colleges in Budget Bill [Inside Higher Ed]

50 Reasons the Idea of Free College Is Misunderstood [The New York Times]

The long road to college from California’s small towns [EdSource]

Access to higher education tilts heavily toward urban areas [Inside Higher Ed]

What Students Are Saying About How to Improve American Education [The New York Times]

2010 to Now: A Turbulent Decade for Schools [Education Week]

A California school’s alumni adviser hits the road to ease 1st-year college students’ jitters [EdSource]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
House Education and Labor Committee 
Documents and webcast of last week’s Subcommittee Hearing: “The Future of Work: Ensuring Workers are Competitive in a Rapidly Changing Economy.”

Press Release: Education and Labor Committee 2019 Accomplishments

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions  
Press Release: Alexander: President Trump, Congress Give Christmas Present to Historically Black Colleges and 20 Million Students Who Fill Out FAFSA Each Year

Press Release: Murray, Wyden Lead Senate Democrats in Demanding HHS Rescind Rule Allowing Sweeping Taxpayer-Funded Discrimination

Senate Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Shelby Applauds Bipartisan Cooperation, Encourages Colleagues to Support FY20 Spending Packages to Fully Fund Govt

House Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: House Passes FY 2020 Appropriations Agreement

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Press Release: Broadband DATA Act Unanimously Passes Senate

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Statement from the President Regarding Fiscal Year 2020 Appropriations Legislation

ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Praises Higher Education Reforms Signed Into Law that Simplify the FAFSA®, Provide Consistent Funding for HBCUs

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department Of Labor Awards Up To $85 Million In Youthbuild Grants To 67 Grantees

IES Report: Homeschooling in the United States: Results from the 2012 and 2016 Parent and Family Involvement Survey (PFI-NHES:2012 and 2016)

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.1158 — Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020
Sponsor: Rep. McCaul, Michael T. [R-TX-10] (Introduced 02/13/2019) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House – Homeland Security Committee Reports: H. Rept. 116-89
Latest Action:  12/20/2019 Signed by President.
Press Release: McCaul Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Appropriations Package

S.256 — Esther Martinez Native American Languages Programs Reauthorization Act
Sponsor: Sen. Udall, Tom [D-NM] (Introduced 01/29/2019) Cosponsors: (10)
Committees: Senate – Indian Affairs | House – Education and Labor Committee Reports: S. Rept. 116-11
Latest Action:  12/20/2019 Signed by President.
Press Release: Legislation to Reauthorize Native American Language Programs Becomes Law

H.R.5363 — FUTURE Act
Sponsor: Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (Introduced 12/09/2019) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  12/19/2019 Became Public Law No: 116-91.
Press Release: Rep. Adams’ Statement on Enactment of the FUTURE Act

H.R.5528 — To establish a Congressional Advisory Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics to investigate the relationship between institutions of higher education and intercollegiate athletic programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Shalala, Donna E. [D-FL-27] (Introduced 12/19/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 12/19/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Reps. Shalala and Spano Introduce NCAA Commission Bill to Fully Examine the State of Intercollegiate Athletics

S.153 — Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] (Introduced 01/16/2019) Cosponsors: (12)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation | House – Science, Space, and Technology; Veterans’ Affairs Committee Reports: S. Rept. 116-164
Latest Action:  House – 12/19/2019 Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, 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..
Press Release: Rubio, Klobuchar Applaud Senate Passage of Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act

S.3115 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for comprehensive student achievement information.
Sponsor: Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY] (Introduced 12/19/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/19/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Enzi, Barrasso, Romney introduce bill to modernize how community colleges report information

H.R.5482 — To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a program to prevent the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems among students in middle and high schools, to award grants to State and local health agencies to implement such program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (Introduced 12/18/2019) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
Latest Action:  House – 12/18/2019 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Press Release: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Sen. Durbin, And Rep. King Announce Bipartisan And Bicameral Bill To Create Youth-Vaping Prevention Programs In School

S.153 — Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] (Introduced 01/16/2019) Cosponsors: (12)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Reports: S. Rept. 116-164
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/18/2019 Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Press Release: Rubio, Klobuchar Applaud Senate Passage of Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act

S.3083 — A bill to authorize a new type of housing choice voucher to help achieve the goals of ending homelessness among families with children, increasing housing opportunities, and improving life outcomes of poor children.
Sponsor: Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN] (Introduced 12/18/2019) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/18/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Press Release: Young and Van Hollen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Increase Mobility, Keep Families Together, and Move Children to Areas of Opportunity

S.3095 — A bill to develop voluntary guidelines for accessible postsecondary electronic instructional materials and related technologies, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (Introduced 12/18/2019) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/18/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Senator Warren Announces Reintroduction of the Bipartisan AIM HIGH Act

S.3096 — A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Director of the Centers for Disease Control Prevention to develop a program to prevent the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems among students in middle and high schools, to award grants to State and local health agencies to implement such program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (Introduced 12/18/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/18/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Durbin And Krishnamoorthi Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Create Youth-Vaping Prevention Programs In Schools

S.3071 — A bill to amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 and title 5, United States Code, to permit leave to care for a domestic partner, parent-in-law, or adult child, or another related individual, who has a serious health condition, and to allow employees to take, as additional leave, parental involvement and family wellness leave to participate in or attend their children’s and grandchildren’s educational and extracurricular activities or meet family care needs.
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (Introduced 12/17/2019) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/17/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Durbin, Maloney Introduce Legislation To Expand Family Leave Protections

S.3058 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish fair and consistent eligibility requirements for graduate medical schools operating outside the United States and Canada.
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (Introduced 12/16/2019) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/16/2019 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Durbin Introduces Legislation To Improve Accountability Of Foreign Medical Schools Receiving Federal Student Aid

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
VA Meeting Notice: Advisory Committee on Veterans’ Employment, Training and Employer Outreach (ACVETEO). The meeting will take place on Thursday, January 16, 2020 beginning at 9:00 a.m. and ending at approximately 11:30 a.m. (EST) at the U.S. Department of Labor, Frances Perkins Building, 200 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20210, Conference Room N-4437 A, B & C. 

ACF Comment Request: Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Consumer Education website and Reports of Serious Injuries and Death. Comments due within 60 days.

ED Comment Request: State Education Agency, Local Educational Agency, and School Data Collection and Reporting under ESEA, Title I, Part A. Comments due on or before January 21, 2020.

ED Grant Notice: Student Support Services (SSS) Program. Comments due on or before January 27, 2020.