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

August 4, 2020

COVID-19 Updates 
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and other Senate GOP leaders released the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protections and Schools (HEALS) Act this week. The HEALS Act encompasses a series of bills that outline Senate GOP priorities for the next COVID-19 relief package, including the Coronavirus Response Additional Supplemental Appropriations Act (S.4320) and the Safely Back to School and Back to Work Act (S.4322), providing $105 billion in overall funding for education. The bill also includes provisions to reduce student loan repayment plan options to two options: a ten-year standard repayment plan and an income-driven repayment plan.

After last votes last week, Democrat Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced that House Members would be kept up to date on COVID-19 relief package negotiations and that Members would be given 24 hours’ notice when they would be expected back in DC to vote on the package.

HOUSE and SENATE
The House passed Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s (D-CT) Child Care is Essential Act (H.R.7027) and Rep. Nita Lowey’s (D-NY) Child Care for Economic Recovery Act (H.R.7327).

The House passed a $1.3 trillion, six-bill appropriations minibus that includes its Labor, Health and Human Services and Related Agencies (LHHS) Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 appropriations bill.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on how school districts can improve access for individuals with disabilities.

ADMINISTRATION
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced that it would not permit new international students taking classes entirely online to study in the U.S.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans to deny new applications to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and shorten the program’s status renewal period to one year.

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) voted 9-2 against ED’s recommendations to suspend the Higher Learning Commission’s accrediting powers for a year and will send the decision to the Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for review.

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released its annual report on protecting students’ rights.

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

Senate Democrats raise concerns about educational redlining in student lending [The Washington Post]

Students asked to sign liability waivers to return to campus [Inside Higher Ed]

Students can safely return to college if tested for coronavirus every two days, study says [The Washington Post]

Colleges reverse decisions to open in person [Inside Higher Ed]

More States Are Looking at Consolidating Their Public Colleges. Does It Work? [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Judge Rejects Citizenship Restriction on CARES Funding [Inside Higher Ed]

As college professors worry about campus reopenings, Congress debates need for workplace protections [Inside Higher Ed]

California’s higher education leaders see an opportunity in crisis [EdSource]

Despite Supreme Court ruling, Trump administration moves to curb DACA [Inside Higher Ed]

DeVos aide played role in helping failing for-profit colleges, texts and emails show [The Washington Post]

More Than 6,600 Coronavirus Cases Have Been Linked to U.S. Colleges [The New York Times]

As Students Flock to Gap-Year Programs, College Enrollments Could Suffer [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Senate Republicans Propose $29 Billion for Higher Ed [Inside Higher Ed]

GOP bill ignores calls for extension on federal student loan payment moratorium [The Washington Post]

How colleges are communicating with students about COVID-19 [Inside Higher Ed]

Federal judge holds off on blocking new Title IX rule [Education Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Pelosi Statement on GOP COVID-19 Proposal

Senate Majority Leader 
Press Release: McConnell on PBS and Fox News

House Education and Labor Committee 
Press Release: Committee Report Reveals Senior Education Department Official Aided For-Profit Higher Education Company in Misleading Students Using Taxpayer Dollars

Blog: ICYMI: Committee Republicans Put Students First

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions  
Press Release: To Respond to COVID-19, Alexander Introduces Bill to Help Manage Student Debt, Expand School Choice and Provide More Child Care

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

Senate Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Vice Chairman Leahy On The Republican COVID-19 Proposal And The Cost Of Continued Inaction

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
DOL Press Release: U.S. Department Of Labor Awards Over $102 Million In Grants Through Trade Adjustment Assistance Program

White House Press Release: Remarks by President Trump in Press Briefing | July 30, 2020

ED Press Release: Office for Civil Rights Delivers Annual Report to Congress Highlighting Major Milestones and Achievements in Protecting Students’ Rights

IES Report: “One Year After a Bachelor’s Degree: A Profile of 2015–16 Graduates”

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.7872 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize institutions of higher education to limit the amount of a Federal loan that an enrolled student may borrow.
Sponsor: Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6] (Introduced 07/30/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 07/30/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

S.4390 — A bill to establish a grant program to support schools of medicine and schools of osteopathic medicine in underserved areas.
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (Introduced 07/30/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 07/30/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Kaine Introduces Bill To Support Medical Schools In Underserved Areas

H.R.7027 — Child Care Is Essential Act
Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (Introduced 05/27/2020) Cosponsors: (140)
Committees: House – Budget; Appropriations
Latest Action:  House – 07/29/2020 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Press Release: DeLauro Leads House Passage of $50 Billion Child Care Stabilization Fund, Estimated $330 Million for Connecticut

H.R.7327 — Child Care for Economic Recovery Act
Sponsor: Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-17] (Introduced 06/25/2020) Cosponsors: (32)
Committees: House – Ways and Means; Budget; Appropriations
Latest Action:  House – 07/29/2020 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Press Release: House Passes Landmark Lowey Child Care Bill With Bipartisan Support To Give Relief To Families & Child Care Providers And Bolster America’s Economic Recovery

H.R.7842 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve protections against foreign influence at institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Murphy, Gregory [R-NC-3] (Introduced 07/29/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 07/29/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Murphy Introduces Legislation to Crack Down on Foreign Espionage in Colleges and Universities

S.4360 — A bill to divert Federal funding away from supporting the presence of police in schools and toward evidence-based and trauma informed services that address the needs of marginalized students and improve academic outcomes, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (Introduced 07/29/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 07/29/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Murphy, Warren, Pressley, Omar Introduce Legislation To Get Police Out Of Schools

S.2163 — Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] (Introduced 07/18/2019) Cosponsors: (13)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  House – 07/27/2020 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Press Release: Rubio, Wilson Applaud House Passage and Urge President to Sign the Commission on the Social Status of Black Men and Boys Act

S.4322 — Safely Back to School and Back to Work Act
Sponsor: Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN] (Introduced 07/27/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 07/27/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: To Respond to COVID-19, Alexander Introduces Bill to Help Manage Student Debt, Expand School Choice and Provide More Child Care

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
HHS Comment Request: National Survey of Early Care and Education COVID-19 Follow-Up. Comments are due within 60 days. 

ED Comment Request: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Data Collection Form. Comments are due on or before September 28, 2020. 

ED Grant Notice: Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Program-Early-Phase Grants. Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: August 18, 2020.  Applications are due on September 10, 2020.

ED Comment Request: International Study of Adult Skills and Learning (ISASL) [Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) Cycle II]. Comments are due on or before August 27, 2020.