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

July 28, 2020

COVID-19 Updates 
Senator Alexander announced that provisions from his recently introduced legislation to reduce student loan repayment options for new borrowers to a 10-year standard plan and an income-driven plan would be included in the Senate GOP COVID-19 relief legislation.

HOUSE and SENATE
The House is expected to bring its Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill to the floor this week along with six other funding measures as part of a $1.367 trillion “minibus.”

The House passed its FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the annual bill that authorizes U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) funding and programs. During floor consideration, the House adopted several education-related amendments, including: an amendment to suspend the collection of private student loan payments, including involuntary collections, until October 2021; an amendment that would allow for private student loan borrowers to write off up to $10,000 in debt; an amendment that would prohibit DOD from providing any of its student aid to for-profit institutions of higher education that derive less than 10 percent of their revenue from non-Federal funds; and an amendment that would allow international postsecondary students taking classes online to remain in the United States.

ADMINISTRATION
The Trump Administration was ordered by a Federal District Court judge to accept new applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program last week.

The Centers for Disease Control issued an updated statement on the importance of reopening schools.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
CDC director concedes schools in ‘hot spots’ face tougher call on reopening [The Washington Post]

Congress Debates New Stimulus, With Money for Education – and Potentially Broadband – In Mind [Education Week]

Ed Dept adds reporting requirement for small colleges seeking extra CARES aid [Education Dive]

Coronavirus has made already-stressed college students even more anxious and depressed, study finds [The Washington Post]

Financial disparities among HBCUs, and between the sector and majority-white institutions [Inside Higher Ed]

Travel advisories add another hurdle to reopening campuses [Education Dive]

States Demand Action From ICE on International Students [Inside Higher Ed]

GOP-White House agree to $105 billion in coronavirus aid for schools [The Hill]

Trump trains his eyes on education as he hunts path to victory [The Washington Post]

Where does the Ed Dept’s CARES rule stand? [Education Dive]

Advocates Bash Alexander’s Student Loan Proposal [Inside Higher Ed]

EAB study finds that minority and low-income students are not making deposits or filling out FAFSA [Inside Higher Ed]

How colleges with hybrid instruction this fall can support online students [Education Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Pelosi Statement on the 30th Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act

House Education and Labor Committe
Press Release: National Health Organizations, Child Advocates Call on Congress to Provide At Least $200 Billion to Help Schools Reopen Safely

Blog: A Word from the Experts

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions  
Press Release: Alexander Proposes “No Income. No Monthly Payment.” For 43 Million Student Loan Borrowers

House Committee on Appropriations  
Press Release: House Passes Four-Bill Appropriations Minibus

Senate Committee on Appropriations  
Press Release: Leahy, Durbin, Murray And Tester Call On President Trump To Increase PPE And Testing Capacity

House Committee on the Budget
Budget Digest: Status of FY2021 Appropriations Bills

Senate Committee on the Budget 
Press Release: Enzi Calls on Congress to Spend Responsibly on Next Pandemic Bill

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Remarks by Vice President Pence at a Roundtable on Safely Reopening Schools | Indianapolis, IN

White House Press Release: Remarks by President Trump in Press Briefing

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department Of Labor Kicks Off National Childcare Reopening Tour In Denver, Colorado

IES Blog: IES Plays the Long Game

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.7788 — To temporarily enable qualified training providers to provide online and virtual training services, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Smucker, Lloyd [R-PA-11] (Introduced 07/24/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 07/24/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Smucker Introduces Enabling Online and Virtual Workforce Training Act

H.R.7737 — To amend the Federal Pell Grant Program to support career training opportunities for young Americans.
Sponsor: Rep. Carter, John R. [R-TX-31] (Introduced 07/23/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 07/23/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.7739 — To establish eligibility requirements for education support professionals under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (Introduced 07/23/2020) Cosponsors: (17)
Committees: House – House Administration; Oversight and Reform; Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 07/23/2020 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Reform, and House Administration, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the…
Press Release: Casten Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Ensure Education Professionals Have Access to Family and Medical Leave

H.R.7758 — To provide for assistance to rural health, education, and public safety facilities affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Austin [R-GA-8] (Introduced 07/23/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Agriculture
Latest Action:  House – 07/23/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Agriculture.
Press Release: Rep. Austin Scott Introduces Legislation to Provide Emergency Assistance for Rural Health, Safety, and Educational Facilities

H.R.7761 — To provide for student loan forgiveness for public service workers whose employment may have been affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Sponsor: Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-15] (Introduced 07/23/2020) Cosponsors: (17)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 07/23/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Swalwell & Joyce Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Protect Student Loan Forgiveness For Public Servants Affected By Covid-19

S.4291 — A bill to provide appropriations for the deployment of rural broadband, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO] (Introduced 07/23/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action:  Senate – 07/23/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: Gardner Introduces Bill to Immediately Fund Rural Broadband Deployment

H.R.7731 — To promote workforce recovery through the provision of additional training services and workforce investment activities, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2] (Introduced 07/22/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 07/22/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Congressman Van Drew Introduces Workforce Development Legislation In Response To Covid-19 Pandemic

S.4262 — A bill to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop an action plan, make targeted grants, and develop public awareness campaigns with respect to COVID-19 and the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on racial and ethnic minorities and other vulnerable populations.
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] (Introduced 07/22/2020) Cosponsors: (17)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 07/22/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Menendez, Cardin Lead Colleagues in Introducing Legislation to Address COVID-19 Racial Disparities

H.R.7706 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to encourage voting by students and to establish emergency procedures for institutions of higher education to assist students in exercising their right to vote.
Sponsor: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (Introduced 07/21/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – House Administration; Education and Labor Latest Action:  House – 07/21/2020 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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: Krishnamoorthi, Bennet, Klobuchar, Durbin, Booker, Introduce Legislation To Help College Students Vote During Pandemic

S.4247 — A bill to simplify loan repayment for Federal student loans under title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, to make it easier to apply for Federal aid and making that aid predictable, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN] (Introduced 07/21/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 07/21/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Alexander Proposes “No Income. No Monthly Payment.” For 43 Million Student Loan Borrowers

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Waiver Requests Related to the Adult Education and Family of Literacy Act and the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act. Comments are due on or before on August 17, 2020.

ED Comment Request: Measures and Methods for the National Reporting System for Adult Education. Comments are due on or before September 21, 2020.

ED Comment Request: Activities for Traditionally Underserved Populations, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number 84.315C. Comments are due on or before August 21, 2020. 

ED Comment Request: CARES Act 18004(a)(1) Reserve Fund Application. Comments are due on or before September 21, 2020. 

DOL Comment Request: Job Corps Hall of Fame and Successful Graduate Nomination. Comments are due on or before September 21, 2020.