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

August 18, 2020

HOUSE and SENATE
Democratic Congressional leaders Speaker Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Schumer reached an impasse on negotiations for the next COVID-19 relief package with U.S. Secretary of Treasury Steve Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows last week. Currently there is no reported timeline on when negotiations may restart.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced the full House would not have House floor votes until September 14, citing public health concerns due to COVID-19.

House Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) submitted a letter to the Department of Education’s (ED) Acting Inspector General, Sandra Bruce, to request an investigation into the agency’s work with the Dream Center, an organization which took over several for-profit college chains.

ADMINISTRATION
The latest legal actions to postpone implementation of U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos’ Title IX rule did not result in a delay of its effective date. The rule went into effect today.

The White House released updated guidelines for schools to reopen safely.

The U.S. Department of State issued a statement requiring the Confucius Institute to register as a “foreign mission” of the Chinese government.

The U.S. Justice Department notified Yale University that it has found its undergraduate admissions process in violation of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act for discriminating against Asian American and white applicants.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Justice Dept. Says Yale Discriminates. Here’s What Students Think. [The New York Times]

To Keep Campuses Safe, Some Colleges To Test Students For Coronavirus Twice A Week [NPR]

Community colleges have a tough year on enrollments [Inside Higher Ed]

As Colleges Move Classes Online, Families Rebel Against the Cost [The New York Times]

Need A Laptop? Colleges Boost Loaner Programs Amid Pandemic [NPR]

Perspective | Decline of SAT and ACT sparks dubious fears of high school grade inflation [The Washington Post]

Colleges implement changes to meet Title IX deadline [Inside Higher Ed]

Colleges continue to slash tuition in response to pandemic [Inside Higher Ed]

Can Military Academies Serve As A Road Map For Reopening Colleges? [NPR]

Limited Broadband Access Not Just Rural Issue [Inside Higher Ed]

How The Coronavirus Has Upended College Admissions [NPR]

College students want in-person classes despite pandemic, poll finds [Inside Higher Ed]

Hundreds of colleges walk back fall reopening plans and opt for online-only instruction [Inside Higher Ed]

School Reopenings Bring Wave of COVID-19 Student-Data-Privacy Concerns [Education Week]

Covid-19 Has Upended Enrollment Goals. This 2-Year College Sees an Opportunity. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Dear Colleague Marking Three Months Since House Passage of The Heroes Act

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: McConnell on “Bill Hemmer Reports”

House Education and Labor Committee 
Press Release: Foxx, Oversight Republicans Probe One-Size-Fits-All School Reopening Orders

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions  
Press Release: Murray: Stalled Progress Indicated By Trump Administration’s Latest Demographic Data Report is Unacceptable

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Article: Reopening Schools Is Key to Unlocking the Full Potential of America’s Children

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Launches New Title IX Resources for Students, Institutions as Historic New Rule Takes Effect

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department Of Labor Offers Webinar For Employers On Coronavirus-Related Paid Leave And Employee Safety

IES Report: “A 2017 Follow-up: A Look at 2011–12 First-time Postsecondary Students Six Years Later”

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.8039 — To require the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection to conduct an assessment of the use of certain educational data in determining the creditworthiness of an applicant, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Fudge, Marcia L. [D-OH-11] (Introduced 08/14/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Financial Services
Latest Action:  House – 08/14/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Press Release: Fudge, Beatty Introduce Examining Educational Redlining in Lending Act

H.R.7998 — To require the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to disseminate guidance to institutions of higher education and non-profit research institutions to help mitigate cybersecurity risks to COVID-19 related research, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Barr, Andy [R-KY-6] (Introduced 08/11/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action:  House – 08/11/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

H.R.8028 — To amend the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to prohibit discrimination based on an applicant’s institution of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Vela, Filemon [D-TX-34] (Introduced 08/11/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Financial Services
Latest Action:  House – 08/11/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.
Press Release: Congressman Vela Introduces Legislation To Protect Minority Student Borrower

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

ED Final Regulations: Federal Perkins Loan Program, Federal Work-Study Programs, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant Program, Federal Family Education Loan Program, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, National Direct Student Loan Program, Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant Program, Federal Pell Grant Program, Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Program, and Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs.

Executive Office of the President Memorandum: “Continued Student Loan Payment Relief During the COVID-19 Pandemic”

ED Comment Request: Student Support Services Annual Performance Report. Comments are due on or before September 11, 2020.