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

November 3, 2020

HOUSE and SENATE
The Senate on Monday confirmed Judge Amy Coney Barrett as the 115^th justice on the U.S. Supreme Court by a 52-48 vote.

House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert “Bobby” C. Scott (D-VA) released documents asserting that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) delayed action on releasing a web-based tool that would streamline the process for individuals to file borrower defense to repayment claims.

ADMINISTRATION
The Deputy Secretary of ED released a letter last week explaining that the Department would not administer a sanction recommended by ED staff regarding the Higher Learning Commission (HLC)’s accrediting authority but that HLC would be subject to continued monitoring.

ED released a new Parent and Family digital learning guide.

The Office of Federal Student Aid announced changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and a new, single PSLF form.

The Nation’s Report Card released 2019 NAEP Mathematics and Reading Results at Grade 12.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
How would Biden’s immigration proposals affect international students? [Education Dive]

How has the Trump administration changed higher education? [Education Dive]

Trump’s 2016 Victory Sparked Unrest on College Campuses. What Might 2020 Bring? [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Trump Picked a Fight With Higher Ed. It’s Still Learning to Punch Back. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Where Trump and Biden stand on education issues [Education Dive]

20 State and Local Ballot Measures That Could Help Shape Education, from Legalizing Marijuana to Allowing
The College Degree Is Dividing America [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Survey: Students Are Anxious but Not Seeking Colleges’ Help [Inside Higher Ed]

Proposed Rule Would Overhaul H-1B Visa Allocations [Inside Higher Ed]

Biden said he wants to undo DeVos’ Title IX rule. How would he replace it? [Education Dive]

What Higher Ed Has Learned From Covid-19 So Far [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Racial Equity in Funding for Higher Ed [Inside Higher Ed]

State community college leaders say more federal aid is crucial [Education Dive]

House Democrats introduce bill to invest $900 billion in STEM research and education [The Hill]

House Democrats Charge Ed Dept. Concealed Actions [Inside Higher Ed]

Complex laws and a pandemic create obstacles for students seeking to vote [Inside Higher Ed]

California student activists push to lower voting age to advocate for change [EdSource]

Air Purifiers, Fans, and Filters: A COVID-19 Explainer for Schools  [Education Week]

4 upcoming Supreme Court cases will reveal who Amy Coney Barrett really is [Vox]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Pelosi Remarks on Press Call Unveiling New Report on Trump Administration’s Failed Pandemic Response

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: “McConnell on The Guy Benson Show”

House Education and Labor Committee 
Press Release: New Documents Show Department of Education Froze Tool to Help Defrauded Student Borrowers

Press Release: Save Education Jobs Act of 2020: What People Are Saying

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions 
Press Release: Alexander: Trump Administration Doing the Right Thing By Providing Free COVID-19 Vaccines for Tens of Millions of Americans Including Seniors and Low-Income Families

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Lowey, Lee, and Fellow Appropriators Urge Administration to Rescind Order Pausing Diversity and Inclusion Training Programs at State Department and USAID

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: President Donald J. Trump Is Protecting America’s Founding Ideals by Promoting Patriotic Education

DOL Press Release: American Workers Come First, Trump Administration Launches ‘Engaging As One Workforce For America’ Initiative

ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Releases Statement on The Nation’s Report Card Results for 12th Graders

IES Report: “2019 NAEP Mathematics and Reading Assessments: Highlighted Results at Grade 12 for the Nation”

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.8705 — To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize grants to institutions of higher education to develop programs and materials to educate students who have a substance use disorder on treatment options for such disorder, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4] (Introduced 10/30/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce
Latest Action:  House – 10/30/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Press Release: Rep. Dean Introduces Education for New Dispositions on Stigma (END Stigma) Act

H.R.8715 — To require the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Education to make public a plan for the continuation of education during a public health emergency.
Sponsor: Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10] (Introduced 10/30/2020) Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/30/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Rep. Payne, Jr. Wants a Federal Plan for Education during a Public Health Crisis

H.R.8689 — To award funds to States and local areas for public, subsidized employment programs for youth.
Sponsor: Rep. Fudge, Marcia L. [D-OH-11] (Introduced 10/27/2020) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Agriculture; Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/27/2020 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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: Fudge, Kaptur Introduce Connecting Youth to Jobs Act

H.R.8691 — To authorize the establishment of an Education Jobs Fund to retain and create education jobs in communities most impacted by COVID-19, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (Introduced 10/27/2020) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 10/27/2020 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Hayes Introduces Legislation To Save Nearly 4 Million Education Jobs, Spur Economic Growth In The Wake Of Covid-19 Pandemic

H.R.8698 — To amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to clarify that disparate impacts on certain populations constitute a sufficient basis for rights of action under such Act, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-13] (Introduced 10/27/2020) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Education and Labor; Judiciary
Latest Action:  House – 10/27/2020 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: Tlaib Introduces Historic Legislation Restoring Original Intent, Expanding Protections of Civil Rights Laws

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Education Stabilization Fund—Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER) Recipient Data Collection Form. Comments due on or before December 2, 2020. 

ED Comment Request: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) Data Collection Form.Comments due on or before December 2, 2020.