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

October 6, 2020

HOUSE and SENATE
The Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) that President Trump signed into law. The resolution will keep the Federal government funded through December 11, 2020.

The House passed an updated version of the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (H.R. 8406) by a 214 to 207 vote.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report providing supplemental data on income and family size information for income-driven repayment plans.

ADMINISTRATION
President Trump announced his intention to nominate Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a current U.S. Appeals Court judge on the Seventh Circuit, to fill the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy.

U.S. Secretary of Education DeVos sent a letter to Chief State School Officers explaining the U.S. Department of Education (ED) would not appeal a Federal ruling against the Department’s interim final rule related to equitable services under Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L.116-136) funding.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a proposed rule that would create either a two- or four-year limit on visas for international students, depending on their country of origin.

ED released a question and answer document for K-12 public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.

ED released the cohort default rates for borrowers who entered student loan repayment in the three-year period comprised of FY2015-2017.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released a report on revenues and expenditures for public elementary and secondary school districts for Fiscal Year (FY) 2018.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated guidance regarding testing, screening, and outbreak response for institutions of higher education.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
House Democrats pass $2.2 trillion stimulus bill over GOP opposition; bipartisan talks continue [The Washington Post]

Community colleges that decided early to go online this fall don’t regret it [Inside Higher Ed]

Mass Layoffs Typically Boost Enrollment at Community Colleges [Inside Higher Ed]

At risk is a law that has cut the rate of uninsured students by half [Inside Higher Ed]

New CDC guidance gives colleges more information on COVID-19 testing, but public health experts still want more details [Inside Higher Ed]

Colleges Learn How to Suppress Coronavirus: Extensive Testing [The New York Times]

Should contact tracers notify in-person classmates? [Inside Higher Ed]

What happens when community colleges offer bachelor’s degrees? [Education Dive]

‘A Family Affair’: Others Often Chip In To Help Pay Off Student Loans [NPR]

Ed Dept probe into free speech at public college a warning sign [Education Dive]

Beyond ‘test-optional’: Some ‘test-free’ colleges drop the SAT and ACT entirely [The Washington Post]

How schools are navigating privacy concerns in COVID-19 contact tracing [Education Dive]

Many college presidents are leaving but say the pandemic isn’t driving them out [Inside Higher Ed]

Teletherapy platforms extend reach of college counseling centers [Inside Higher Ed]

Community colleges entered pandemic with costs in check: report [Education Dive]

Common App to stop asking students about their high school disciplinary history [Inside Higher Ed]

House Democrats’ new relief proposal earmarks $39B for higher ed [Education Dive]

As colleges reopened, many more young people got covid-19, CDC reports [The Washington Post]

Undocumented college students report heightened anxieties about legal status and financial stresses [Inside Higher Ed]

Report: Community colleges need to use more than traditional metrics for success [Inside Higher Ed]

‘Super Healthy’ College Student Dies of Rare Covid-19 Complications [The New York Times]

Colleges: Financial Toll of Coronavirus Worse Than Anticipated  [Inside Higher Ed]

Campus life sans Covid: A few colleges write the playbook for pandemic success [POLITICO]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Dear Colleague: Update on Coronavirus Relief Negotiations Following House Passage of the Updated Heroes Act

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: McConnell on Fox News Channel’s ‘Special Report with Bret Baier’

House Education and Labor Committee 
Press Release: Chairman Scott Statement on Passage of Heroes Act 2.0

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions  
Press Release: “Health Equity: Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, New Report From Senator Murray Outlines Roots of Systemic Racism and Inequality in U.S. Health Care, Lays Out Recommendations For Congressional Action”

House Committee on Appropriations  
Press Release: Fact Sheet: Updated Heroes Act

Senate Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Senate Approps. Vice Chairman Leahy On The FY 2021 CR

Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis
Documents and webcast of Friday’s hearing: “Hybrid Hearing With Secretary Of Health And Human Services Alex M. Azar II”

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Remarks by President Trump in an Update on the Nation’s Coronavirus Testing Strategy

ED Press Release: Department Launches 2021-22 FAFSA Cycle

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department Of Labor Announces First Industry-Recognized Apprenticeship Program

GAO Report: “Federal Student Loans: Supplemental Data on Income and Family Size Information for Income-Driven Repayment Plans”

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.8514 — To direct the Secretary of Education to cancel or repay up to $25,000 in Federal student loans for each borrower.
Sponsor: Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-15] (Introduced 10/02/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Ways and Means; Education and Labor Latest Action:  House – 10/02/2020 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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…

H.R.8519 — To authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible entities to carry out educational programs that include the history of peoples of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the settling and founding of America, the social, economic, and political environments that led to the development of discriminatory laws targeting Asians and Pacific Islanders and their relation to current events, and the impact and contributions of Asian Americans to the development and enhancement of American life, United States history, literature, the economy, politics, body of laws, and culture, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (Introduced 10/02/2020) Cosponsors: (27)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/02/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.8523 — To support children with disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sponsor: Rep. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA-28] (Introduced 10/02/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Budget; Appropriations
Latest Action:  House – 10/02/2020 Referred to the Committee on Appropriations, 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. Schiff Introduces Bill to Support Children with Disabilities During COVID-19

H.R.8477 — To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to improve the H-1B visa program, to repeal the diversity visa lottery program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Brooks, Mo [R-AL-5] (Introduced 10/01/2020) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Judiciary; Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/01/2020 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: Congressman Mo Brooks Introduces The American Jobs First Act To Stop American Worker Replacement By Cheap Foreign Labor

S.4789 — A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to provide funding to States for extending broadband service to unserved areas in partnership with broadband service providers, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX] (Introduced 10/01/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action:  Senate – 10/01/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: Cornyn, Manchin Introduce Bill to Expand Broadband Access to Unserved Rural Areas

S.4791 — A bill to provide for a Community-Based Emergency and Non-Emergency Response Grant Program.
Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD] (Introduced 10/01/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 10/01/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Van Hollen, Bass Introduce New Community-Based Crisis Response Legislation

H.R.1109 — Mental Health Services for Students Act of 2020
Sponsor: Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-32] (Introduced 02/08/2019) Cosponsors: (135)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce | Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 09/30/2020 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Napolitano’s Mental Health Services for Students Act Unanimously Passes House

H.R.2075 — School-Based Health Centers Reauthorization Act of 2020
Sponsor: Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3] (Introduced 04/03/2019) Cosponsors: (83)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce | Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 09/30/2020 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Sarbanes Leads House in Passing Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen School-Based Health Centers

H.R.8465 — To require the Secretary of State to develop policy and procedures on prevention and response to harassment, discrimination, sexual assault, and related retaliation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14] (Introduced 09/30/2020) Cosponsors: (16)
Committees: House – Judiciary; House Administration; Oversight and Reform; Foreign Affairs; Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/30/2020 Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Oversight and Reform, House Administration, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such…

H.R.8468 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow certain students enrolled in an institution of higher education to apply for teaching residency programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] (Introduced 09/30/2020) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/30/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Trahan, Hayes, Bustos Introduce Legislation to Bolster Support for Educators, Establish Teacher Pipeline

H.R.8414 — To direct the Secretary of labor to award grants to eligible entities to carry out or expand youth apprenticeship programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20] (Introduced 09/29/2020) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/29/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Castro, Spanberger, Guthrie Introduce Bill To Expand Apprenticeships, Partner With Higher Education And Industry

H.R.8415 — To provide for the continuation of certain educational assistance benefits during the COVID-19 emergency, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray, Jr. [D-CA-39] (Introduced 09/29/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs; Armed Services
Latest Action:  House – 09/29/2020 Referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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: Reps. Cisneros, Fitzpatrick, And Lamb Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Extend Gi Bill Benefits For Veterans

H.R.8418 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to temporarily increase the educator expense deduction to facilitate the purchase of personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Emmer, Tom [R-MN-6] (Introduced 09/29/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Ways and Means
Latest Action:  House – 09/29/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means
Press Release: Emmer Introduces Legislation Supporting Teachers in the New School Year

H.R.8423 — To reimburse meals and supplements provided to individuals who have not attained the age of 25 under certain meal programs authorized under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (Introduced 09/29/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 09/29/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Representatives Jayapal & Stefanik Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Ensure More Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness Get the Meals They Need

H.R.8426 — To provide for modified requirements relating to apprenticeship and on-job training programs during the COVID-19 emergency under the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lamb, Conor [D-PA-17] (Introduced 09/29/2020) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action:  House – 09/29/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
Press Release: Lamb, Fitzpatrick And Cisneros Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Extend Gi Bill Benefits For Veterans

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Vocational Rehabilitation Program Corrective Action Plan (CAP). Comments are due on or before December 1, 2020. 

ED Notice: Guidance Regarding Department of Education Grants and Executive Order 13798.

ED Notice: Binghamton University investigation and request for records.

ED Comment Request: Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant Eligibility Regulations. Comments are due on or before October 29, 2020.