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

January 19, 2021

HOUSE and SENATE
The House of Representatives voted to impeach President Trump by a vote of 232-197.

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) released a memorandum explaining that the protections against discrimination based on sex provided by Title IX do not apply to LGBTQ students.

ED updated its College Scorecard to include information regarding student loan repayment.

ED’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released its annual report to the Secretary, the President and the Congress.

The Office of Management and Budget submitted a $27.4 billion rescission package. With respect to education, the proposal seeks to eliminate spending for the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant program and additional funds provided for Temporary Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

SUPREME COURT
The Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week in a case involving the use of “free speech areas” at a public Georgia college.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear a case involving free speech for K-12 students outside of school.

PRESIDENTIAL TRANSITION
President-elect Joe Biden announced a COVID-19 relief package that his Administration will propose to Congress. Among other provisions, the package includes $170 billion for K12 and higher education assistance and $40 billion for child care supports.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Who Is Miguel Cardona? Education Secretary Pick Has Roots in Classroom, Principal’s Office [Education Week]

Biden Picks San Diego Superintendent for Deputy Education Secretary [Education Week]

Trump administration tries to hamstring Biden on student loan forgiveness [POLITICO]

‘It’s just too much’: Why students are abandoning community colleges in droves [The Hechinger Report]

Education Department releases billions in aid to colleges [Inside Higher Ed]

Watchdog faults DeVos aide over for-profit college deals in preliminary report [POLITICO]

HBCUs receive boost from capital loan forgiveness [Inside Higher Ed]

College Board is scrapping SAT’s optional essay and subject tests [The Washington Post]

Prior to COVID-19, states cut $600B in ed funding since Great Recession [Education Dive]

In a year without admissions tests, elite college applications balloon [Education Dive]

Senators Ask GAO to Examine If Colleges Are Doing Enough for Disabled Students [Inside Higher Ed]

Give school staff rapid COVID-19 vaccine access, education leaders urge [Education Dive]

California’s higher education leaders pledge to improve transfers from community colleges [EdSource]

More than half of Great Recession-era bachelor’s degree holders owned homes in 2018, report shows [Inside Higher Ed]

Ed Dept. Adds Loan Repayment Information to College Scorecard [Inside Higher Ed]

College openings led to increase in community cases, research says [Inside Higher Ed]

Most people know her as Jill Biden. But to some she is Dr. B, the compassionate and challenging educator who went the extra mile. [The Washington Post]

Senate majority gives Biden path to student loan forgiveness [The Hill]

The Spring Semester to Come [The New York Times]

Morris Brown’s accreditation would mean ‘resurrection’ for HBCU long on the brink of closure [Inside Higher Ed]

The Pew Charitable Trusts Report: “Personalized Interventions Hold Promise for Student Loan Borrowers at Risk of Delinquency, Default”

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Pelosi Statement on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: McConnell Statement on Senate Schedule

House Education and Labor Committee
Press Release: Foxx Criticizes Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Liberal Wish List

House Appropriations Committee
Press Release: DeLauro Announces House Appropriations Committee Clerks for the 117th Congress

House Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Yarmuth Statement on Trump Rescissions Package

House Committee on Energy and Commerce 
Press Release: Rodgers Welcomes Eight New Members to the Energy and Commerce Committee

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Text of a Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Quickly Makes Available More Than $21 Billion in Taxpayer Funds to Support Continued Education at Colleges, Universities

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department Of Labor Awards $40 Million In Strengthening Community College Training Grants

IES Blog: A Year for Reflection and Continued Transformation

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.325 — To provide for increases in the Federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.
Sponsor: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (Introduced 01/15/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 01/15/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Congressman Cohen Introduces $15 Minimum Wage Bill

H.R.306 — 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 01/13/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Ways and Means
Latest Action:  House – 01/13/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Press Release: Emmer Introduces Legislation to Support Teachers as Schools Reopen

H.Res.24 — Impeaching Donald John Trump, President of the United States, for high crimes and misdemeanors.
Sponsor: Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] (Introduced 01/11/2021) Cosponsors: (217)
Committees: House – Judiciary
Latest Action:  House – 01/13/2021 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Press Release: Cicilline Statement on Second Impeachment of President Trump

H.R.251 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to create a reduction schedule for public service loan forgiveness, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (Introduced 01/11/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 01/11/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Introduces The Public Service Appreciation Through Loan Forgiveness Act

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Updated Waivers And Modifications Of Statutory And Regulatory Provisions; Correction: Federal Student Aid Programs (Student Assistance General Provisions, Federal Perkins Loan Program, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, and Federal-Work Study Programs).

ED Grant Notice: Native Hawaiian Career and Technical Education Program (NHCTEP). Deadline for Notice of Intent to Apply: Applicants are strongly encouraged, but not required, to submit a notice of intent to apply by February 18, 2021. Date of Pre-Application Meeting: February 2, 2021. Applications due: March 22, 2021.

ED Grant Notice: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), Section 314(a)(1); Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA). Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until April 15, 2021.

DOL Comment Request: Registration and Equal Employment Opportunity in Apprenticeship Programs. Comments due on or before March 15, 2021.

ED Meeting Notice: President’s Advisory 1776 Commission. The meeting will be held on Friday, January 15, 2021, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, 1650 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20502. Members of the public can attend virtually.