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

July 7, 2020

COVID-19 Updates 
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new “interim considerations” for K12 schools and colleges that are reopening for in-person or hybrid classes this fall.

Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Coronavirus Child Care and Education Relief (CCCERA) Act (S.4112), representing some of the education and childcare funding priorities for Senate Democrats in upcoming COVID-19 relief negotiations.

HOUSE and SENATE
The House passed H.R.2, the Moving Forward Act, on Thursday. This legislation, which is the House Democrats’ infrastructure proposal, includes the school infrastructure provisions of the Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act.

ADMINISTRATION
President Trump signed an executive order  directing the Office of Personnel Management to restructure degree and skill requirements for certain Federal jobs.

Several Department of Education (ED) regulations regarding accreditation, borrower defense to repayment and State authorization went into effect on July 1. ED also published final rules related to religious institutions participating in Federal student aid programs and the Teacher Education Assistance for College Higher Education (TEACH) program.

Thousands of Borrower Defense to Repayment applicants were recently found to have their social security numbers exposed through ED’s internal server.

SUPREME COURT
The Supreme Court ruled that the President has power to dismiss the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

The Supreme Court ruled that a bar on the participation of religious schools in a Montana program providing tuition assistance to attend private schools violated the free exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Joe Biden: I Will Have a ‘Teacher-Oriented Department of Education’ [Education Week]

Monitoring student progress prompted students to work harder [The Hechinger Report]

What We Learned in 100 Days of Life Interrupted [The New York Times]

How the protest movement could help HBCUs through higher education’s financial crisis [The Washington Post]

‘Notable’ June job gains don’t include public education employment [Education Dive]

Presidents give their colleges mixed grades on remote learning. How is that influencing their decisions about fall? [Inside Higher Ed]

A look at how colleges could benefit from $3B in coronavirus aid for states [Education Dive]

Working While Parenting Is a Reality of Covid-19. One University Tried to Forbid It. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

As young people drive infection spikes, college faculty members fight for the right to teach remotely [The Washington Post]

Republicans may pay for testing, while Democrats push for billions in aid for colleges [Inside Higher Ed]

Education Dept. left Social Security numbers of thousands of borrowers exposed for months [The Washington Post]

Community colleges struggle with students’ food needs as pandemic increases demand [EdSource]

National Student Clearinghouse data reveal stable enrollment in spring [Inside Higher Ed]

How will administrators incorporate lessons learned from summer protests? [Education Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Pelosi Floor Speech in Support of the Moving Forward Act

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: McConnell on ‘The Daily Briefing’ with Dana Perino

House Education and Labor Committee 
Press Release: Foxx Opposes Democrats’ Partisan Infrastructure Bill

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions  
Press Release: Senators Murray, Schumer, Democrats Introduce $430 Billion Coronavirus Relief Bill to Address National Child Care and Education Crises as Democrats Urge Republicans to Act on Bold COVID-19 Relief

Press Release: Chairman Alexander: “Stakes are Too High” for Pro-Trump, Anti-Trump Mask Debate to Continue

House Committee on the Budget 
July 8: Full Committee Hearing: “Fueling American Innovation and Recovery: The Federal Role in Research and Development”
Witnesses: Sudip Parikh, Ph.D., CEO, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS); Paul Romer, Ph.D., Professor, New York University; The Hon. Deborah Wince-Smith, President and CEO, Council on Competitiveness; Willy Shih, Ph.D., Professor of Management Practice, Harvard Business School
1:00 p.m. via Webex

House Committee on Appropriations  
July 7: Subcommittee Markup: FY 2021 Departments of Labor Health and Human Services Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee Markup
5:00 p.m. in 2118 Rayburn House Office Building or webcast

Senate Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Leahy Statement On The Need To Pass Another COVID-19 Emergency Appropriations Bill

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Readout from the First Lady’s Roundtable on Foster Care and Strengthening America’s Child Welfare System

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department Of Labor Awards More Than $80 Million In Grants To Expand Registered Apprenticeship In 42 States And Territories

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department Of Labor Announces Over $42 Million In Youth Apprenticeship Readiness Grant Awards To Increase Youth Participation In Registered Apprenticeships

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department Of Labor Announces The Availability Of $4.1 Million In Funds To Support Women’s Participation In Apprenticeships and Nontraditional Occupations

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
S.4116 — A bill to extend the authority for commitments for the paycheck protection program and separate amounts authorized for other loans under section 7(a) of the Small Business Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] (Introduced 06/30/2020) Cosponsors: (5)
Latest Action:  07/04/2020 Signed by President.

H.R.7486 — To establish a Library Stabilization Fund to respond to and accelerate the recovery from coronavirus.
Sponsor: Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9] (Introduced 07/02/2020) Cosponsors: (27)
Committees: House – Education and Labor; Budget
Latest Action:  House – 07/02/2020 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: Rep. Levin, Sen. Reed Introduce Legislation to Provide Stabilization Funding to Libraries During COVID-19 Pandemic

S.4195 — A bill to authorize the Cybersecurity Education Training Assistance Program.
Sponsor: Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV] (Introduced 07/02/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Latest Action:  Senate – 07/02/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Press Release: Rosen, Cassidy Introduce Bipartisan PROTECT Act, Legislation to Support U.S. Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development

S.4205 — A bill to establish the Homeland Security Higher Education Advisory Council.
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] (Introduced 07/02/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Latest Action:  Senate – 07/02/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

H.R.2 — INVEST in America Act
Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] (Introduced 06/11/2020) Cosponsors: (129)
Committees: House – Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Reports: H. Rept. 116-437
Latest Action:  House – 07/01/2020 The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 2.
Press Release: Defazio-Led Infrastructure Bill Passes House Of Representatives

H.R.7449 — To refinance Federal and private student loans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2] (Introduced 07/01/2020) Cosponsors: (29)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 07/01/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.7477 — To require the Secretary of Labor to establish a program to provide grants for job guarantee programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (Introduced 07/01/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Ways and Means; Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 07/01/2020 Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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: Watson Coleman, Omar Introduce Bill for Direct Job Creation As Millions Continue to Reel from Coronavirus Unemployment

S.4131 — A bill to make high-speed broadband internet service accessible and affordable to all Americans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (Introduced 07/01/2020) Cosponsors: (8)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action:  Senate – 07/01/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: Klobuchar-Led Legislation to Expand Access to Affordable High-Speed Internet Passes House

S.4141 — A bill to refinance Federal and private student loans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (Introduced 07/01/2020) Cosponsors: (34)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 07/01/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

H.R.7433 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide student loan deferment for dislocated military spouses, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21] (Introduced 06/30/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 06/30/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Stefanik Introduces Military Spouse Student Loan Deferment Act

S.4102 — A bill to ensure that institutions of higher education take steps to protect their college athletes from COVID-19, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (Introduced 06/30/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 06/30/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.4112 — A bill to support education and child care during the COVID-19 public health emergency, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] (Introduced 06/30/2020) Cosponsors: (18)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 06/30/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Senator Murray Calls For Vote on New COVID-19 Child Care and Education Relief Legislation, Urges Republicans to Finally Provide Needed Support for Students and Families

S.4113 — A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide grants to States and Indian Tribes to deploy affordable, high-speed broadband to unserved and underserved areas.
Sponsor: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO] (Introduced 06/30/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action:  Senate – 06/30/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: Bennet Introduces Legislation to Help Bridge Digital Divide by Deploying Affordable, High-Speed Broadband Nationwide

S.4095 — A bill to provide emergency benefits for broadband service during periods relating to COVID-19, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (Introduced 06/29/2020) Cosponsors: (26)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action:  Senate – 06/29/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: Wyden, Blumenthal, Hirono and Schumer Introduce Bill To Ensure Americans Keep Broadband Access During the Pandemic

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Supplemental Virtual Meeting Notice: National Assessment Governing Board. The meeting agenda has been updated to reflect a change to the closed session scheduled for Monday, June 29, 2020, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

ED Comment Request: G5 System Post Award Budget Drawdown e-Form. Comments are due on or before August 31, 2020.