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

September 22, 2020

HOUSE and SENATE
House Committee on Education and Labor Democrats introduced the National Apprenticeship Act of 2020. The press release issued on the bill indicated the Committee would markup the bill on Thursday, September 24.

House Minority leadership announced an agenda that they would pursue should they recapture the majority in the House of Representatives in the November election.

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education (ED)’s Office of Inspector General is investigating the policy for partial student loan relief for borrowers with approved borrower defense to repayment (BDR) claims.

ED announced the launch of a website that tracks the amount of spending per pupil at every school in the United States.

The U.S. Treasury Department issued a final rule regarding endowment taxes for certain private institutions of higher education (IHEs).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study which found the COVID-19 mortality rates for Black, Hispanic and American Indian children are much higher than those of White children.

The U.S. Department of Labor issued revised regulations to clarify paid leave requirements under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (P.L.116-127).

ED informed Princeton University that the agency is opening an investigation over whether the University has misrepresented its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 after the issuance of a letter from the University’s president on efforts to combat systemic racism.

President Trump announced his intention to create “The 1776 Commission,” which would promote patriotic education.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
House, Senate on collision course over government funding as shutdown looms in nine days [The Washington Post]

DeVos appears to be under investigation for violating Hatch Act [The Washington Post]

On the campaign trail, key Democratic Senate candidates shy away from debt cancellation and free college [Inside Higher Ed]

Will the pandemic stall the free college movement? [Education Dive]

Strategic Education and Noodle Partners bet big on employer-assisted tuition programs [Inside Higher Ed]

What Ruth Bader Ginsburg Meant to Education [Education Week]

The fall opening of colleges: Upheaval, pandemic weirdness and a fragile stability [The Washington Post]

2020 Survey of Admissions Leaders [Inside Higher Ed]

Colleges make plans for spring, cancel break [Inside Higher Ed]

Perspective | Top colleges should grow, rather than crow about rejecting nearly everyone [The Washington Post]

As Alexander prepares to leave, a final push to simplify FAFSA [Inside Higher Ed]

Students Accused Of Breaking College COVID-19 Rules Fight Their Punishments [NPR]

UC bans race-based quotas for admissions and hiring, setting limits for possible return of affirmative action [Los Angeles Times]

Low-income college enrollment takes hit during pandemic [The Hill]

The Nuances of the Free College Debate [Inside Higher Ed]

How the Common App, the College Advising Corps and an AI Chatbot Are Saving the College Dreams of Low-Income Students During the Pandemic [74million.org]

Analysis finds CARES Act funding fell well short for many public colleges [The Hill]

Unpacking the Arizona-Ashford Deal [Inside Higher Ed]

L.A. community colleges won’t reopen in-person classes and will stay online through spring [Los Angeles Times]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Pelosi Statement on Introduction of Continuing Resolution

Press Release: Pelosi Statement on Hispanic Heritage Month

House Education and Labor Committee 
Press Release: As Nation Faces Record Unemployment, Committee Democrats Unveil Legislation to Expand Apprenticeships, Invest in Workforce Training

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions  
September 23: Full Committee Hearing: “COVID-19: An Update on the Federal Response”
Witnesses: Anthony Fauci, MD, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; Robert Redfield, MD, Director, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; ADM Brett Giroir, MD, Assistant Secretary For Health, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC; Stephen Hahn, MD, Commissioner Of Food And Drugs, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD
10:00 a.m. in G50 Dirksen Senate Office Building or webcast

Press Release: Alexander: Finish Fixing the FAFSA — This Year

House Committee on Appropriations  
Press Release: House Democrats Introduce Continuing Resolution

Senate Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Statement of Appropriations Vice Chairman Leahy On The Continuing Resolution

Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis
Press Release: HHS Secretary Azar To Testify Before Coronavirus Panel As Nation Nears 200,000 Deaths

House Committee on Energy and Commerce 
Press Release: Pallone & Walden Request Stakeholder Input Into Collegiate Athlete Compensation, Health Care And Academic Opportunities

House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Press Release: Chairwoman Johnson Calls for Resignation of HHS Assistant Secretary Caputo After Investigation Finds Officials Tampered with CDC Reports on COVID-19

House Committee on Small Business 
Press Release: Committee Passes Set of Bipartisan Bills to Improve SBA Lending and Federal Contracting Programs

House Committee on Financial Services
Press Release: Waters Statement on the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s Inadequate Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Budget Digest: CBO Major Federal Trust Funds Outlook: 2020-2030

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Proclamation on National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, 2020

ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Launches New Web Tool to Help Parents, Educators Easily Access School Spending Data

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor awards $32 million in grants to workforce information grants to states

GAO Report: “COVID-19: Federal Efforts Could Be Strengthened by Timely and Concerted Actions”

IES Report: “Investigating the Relationship between Adherence to Connecticut’s Teacher Education and Mentoring Program Requirements and Teacher Retention”

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.8328 — To support the establishment of an apprenticeship college consortium.
Sponsor: Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-10] (Introduced 09/21/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/21/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Harder Introduces Bill to Provide College Credit for Apprenticeships

H.R.8316 — To direct the Secretary of Education to provide relief to borrowers of student loans for whom the Department of Education found misrepresentation by the institution of higher education or a State attorney general has asserted a right to borrower defense discharge.
Sponsor: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41] (Introduced 09/18/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/18/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.8317 — To encourage employer participation in the national apprenticeship system.
Sponsor: Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] (Introduced 09/18/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/18/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Trahan, Morelle Introduce Legislation to Increase Workers’ Access to Apprenticeship Programs

H.R.8294 — To amend the National Apprenticeship Act and expand the national apprenticeship system to include apprenticeships, youth apprenticeships, and pre-apprenticeship registered under such Act, to promote the furtherance of labor standards necessary to safeguard the welfare of apprentices, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53] (Introduced 09/17/2020) Cosponsors: (13)
Committees: House – Judiciary; Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/17/2020 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: As Nation Faces Record Unemployment, Rep. Susan Davis Unveils Legislation to Expand Apprenticeships, Invest in Workforce Training

H.R.8295 — To authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to support educational programs in American civics and history, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (Introduced 09/17/2020) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/17/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: DeLauro, Cole Introduce the Educating for Democracy Act, Historic Investments in Civic Education

H.R. 8162 — 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020
Sponsor: Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7] (Introduced 09/04/2020) Cosponsors: (15)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 09/16/2020 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Press Release: Passed by the House: Rep. Wild Bipartisan Bill to Expand Access to Child Care Services

S.Res.691 — A resolution expressing support for evidence-based programs that facilitate social and emotional learning during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (Introduced 09/14/2020) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 09/14/2020 Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: As the School Year Resumes Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Senators Lead Resolution Supporting Social & Emotional Learning Programs for Students

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Application for Grants Under the Predominantly Black Institutions Formula Grant Program. Comments are due on or before November 20, 2020.

ED Comment Request: Request for Nominations of Members to Serve on the Bureau of Indian Education Advisory Board for Exceptional Children. Nominations are due on or before October 30, 2020. 

DOL Comment Request: Job Corps Hall of Fame and Successful Graduate Nomination. Comments are due on or before November 17, 2020. 

ED Comment Request: Title IV, Part A Waiver Request.
Emergency approval by the OMB has been requested by September 30, 2020. The Department requests that comments be submitted by September 29, 2020. A regular clearance process is also being initiated. Comments as part of the regular clearance process are due on or before November 16, 2020. 

ED Notice: Final Priorities, Requirements, and Definitions-Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education-Open Textbooks Pilot Program.