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

December 8, 2020

HOUSE and SENATE
The House Democratic Caucus selected Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) as Chair for the full House Appropriations Committee.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on “5G Wireless: Capabilities and Challenges for an Evolving Network.”

ADMINISTRATION
According to reports, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has asked its Federal student loan servicers to pause sending Federal student loan bills that would normally be due in January until December 8 at the earliest.

ED unveiled its Federal Student Aid (FSA) Partner Connect portal at the FSA 2020 training conference.

U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced an expansion of the information provided in the College Scorecard.

The U.S. Department of Labor released a Training and Employment Guidance Letter outlining the Department’s goals for a priority of service in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult Program.

The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) released a report on “Dual or Concurrent Enrollment in Public Schools in the United States.”

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Judge Orders Restoration of DACA [Inside Higher Ed]

Congress could make FAFSA more simple [Inside Higher Ed]

Education Department Extends Student Loan Payment Freeze Through January [NPR]

Ex-teacher’s union boss makes play to be Biden’s Education chief [POLITICO]

CDC Shortens COVID-19 Quarantine Periods. Here’s What That Means for Schools [Education Week]

College completion rate stays flat: report [Education Dive]

New Data: Sharp Declines in Community College Enrollment Are Being Driven By Disappearing Male Students [The74million.org]

Federal judge supports colleges, labor groups’ ask to toss H-1B visa rules [Education Dive]

The Federal Government Is Verifying Fewer FAFSA Filers. Here’s Why That Matters [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Alexander preaches consensus in farewell to fractious Senate [The Associated Press]

DeVos bashes student debt forgiveness and free-college movement [The Washington Post]

Embedding Certifications Into Bachelor’s Degrees [Inside Higher Ed]
Workcred Report: “Embedding Certifications Into Bachelor’s Degrees: Certification-Degree Pathways Project”

Harvard’s spring pandemic plan could double the number of undergraduates on campus [The Washington Post]

An anti-affirmative action group is trying to erase race from college admissions [POLITICO]

Biden’s Pick to Head Economic Advisors Seen as Sympathetic to Loan Borrowers [Inside Higher Ed]

OPINION: Let’s welcome a ‘first professor’ to the White House [ The Hechinger Report]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Pelosi Statement on Federal Judge Ruling to Restore DACA

Press Release: Pelosi Announces Committee Chairs Approved by Democratic Caucus for the 117th Congress

Senate Majority Leader  
Press Release: “We Need to get More Bipartisan, Targeted Coronavirus Relief out to the American People”

House Committee on Education and Labor 
Press Release: Scott Statement on Re-Election as Chairman of Education & Labor Committee

Blog Post: ICYMI: Democrats’ socialist takeover of higher education

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions 
Press Release: Alexander Farewell Address: More Than Ever, Our Country Needs the United States Senate to Turn Pluribus Into Unum

Press Release: Senator Murray Urges President Trump to Keep His Promise to Student Loan Borrowers and Extend Relief

House Committee on Appropriations 
Press Release: Lowey Statement on Election of Rosa DeLauro As Appropriations Committee Chairwoman

House Committee on the Budget 
Press Release: Rep. John Yarmuth Reelected Chairman of House Budget Committee

House Committee on Science, Space, & Technology
Press Release: Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Re-Elected To Serve As Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairwoman

House Committee on Energy and Commerce  
Press Release: Pallone Elected Chairman of Energy and Commerce Committee

House Committee on Oversight and Reform
Press Release: Oversight Committee to Hold Hearing Examining Risks to Accurate and Complete Census Count

Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Press Release: In Senate Banking Hearing, Chairman Powell Agrees with Senator Warren that Student Loan Debt Drags Down Our Economy

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Extends Student Loan Forbearance Period Through January 31, 2021, in Response to COVID-19 National Emergency

ED Press Release: Secretary DeVos Expands on Revamped College Scorecard, Adding Second-year Post Graduation Earnings and Cumulative Loan Data to Help Students Make Informed Choices

DOL Press Release: ICYMI: U.S. Department Of Labor Acts To Help American Workers and Employers During The Coronavirus Pandemic

White House Press Release: Bill Announcement [Multiple bills signed into law, including H.R. 8472, the “Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Act”]

IES Report: “2012 Beginning Postsecondary Students Longitudinal Study (BPS:12) Postsecondary Education Transcript Study (PETS) Restricted-use Data’

IES Report: “Dual or Concurrent Enrollment in Public Schools in the United States”

GAO Report: Census Bureau Needs to Assess Data Quality Concerns Stemming from Recent Design Changes

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.8247 — Veterans COMPACT Act of 2020
Sponsor: Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-41] (Introduced 09/14/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action:  12/05/2020 Signed by President.

H.R.3884 — MORE Act of 2019
Sponsor: Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-10] (Introduced 07/23/2019) Cosponsors: (120)
Committees: House – Agriculture; Education and Labor; Oversight and Reform; Energy and Commerce; Natural Resources; Judiciary; Small Business; Ways and Means Committee Reports: H. Rept. 116-604
Latest Action:  House – 12/03/2020 Rule H. Res. 1244 passed House.
Press Release: Chairman Nadler Applauds Historic House Passage of H.R. 3884, the MORE Act

S.4956 — A bill to create a Council on Emergency Response Protocols to ensure the establishment of accessible, developmentally appropriate, culturally aware, and trauma-informed emergency response protocols in public schools, early childcare and education settings, and institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] (Introduced 12/03/2020) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/03/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

The Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for a relocation and retention student loan repayment program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Finkenauer, Abby [D-IA-1] (Introduced 12/02/2020)
Committees:, House – Education and Labor; Ways and Means
Latest Action:, House – 12/02/2020 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 concerned.
Press Release: Finkenauer and Delgado Introduce Bill Providing Student Loan Relief to Revitalize Rural Areas

S.1153 — Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act of 2019
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] (Introduced 04/11/2019) Cosponsors: (8)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/01/2020 Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
Press Release: Senate Unanimously Passes Baldwin’s Bipartisan Legislation To Stop Student Debt Relief Scams

S.4941 — A bill making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (Introduced 12/01/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/01/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.4942 — A bill to amend subtitle A of title XX of the Social Security Act to fund additional projects that focus on competency-based training for personal or home care aides, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (Introduced 12/01/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Finance
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/01/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Press Release: King Announces Home Healthcare Legislative Package, to Improve Quality of Care and Stabilize Workforce

S.4943 — A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide enhanced Federal matching payments for direct support worker training programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (Introduced 12/01/2020) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Finance
Latest Action:  Senate – 12/01/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

H.R.8294 – National Apprenticeship Act of 2020
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Susan A. [D-CA-53] (Introduced 09/17/2020) Cosponsors: (44)
Committees: House – Education and Labor; Judiciary | Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Committee Reports: H. Rept. 116-567
Latest Action: Senate – 11/30/2020 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.4924 — A bill to prohibit and prevent seclusion, mechanical restraint, chemical restraint, and dangerous restraints that restrict breathing, and to prevent and reduce the use of physical restraint in schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] (Introduced 11/30/2020) Cosponsors: (15)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 11/30/2020 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Study of District and School Uses of Federal Education Funds. Comments must be received on or before January 6, 2021.

ED Correction Notice: High School and Beyond 2021 (HS&B:21) Base-Year Full-Scale Study Data Collection.

ED Comment Request: Federal Student Aid Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval. Comments due on or before January 4, 2021. 

ED Comment Request: Expanding Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Youth. Comments due on or before January 13, 2021.