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

February 16, 2021

HOUSE and SENATE
The House Education and Labor Committee released the text of its reconciliation bill in response to the Budget Resolution passed the prior week and subsequently approved it on a 27-21 party line vote this week.

The Senate HELP Committee voted 17-5 to advance the nomination of Commissioner Miguel Cardona to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education. The Committee voted 18-4 to advance the nomination of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor.

The House Education and Labor Committee met to organize for the 117^th Congress. A link to the finalized Full Committee and Subcommittee rosters can be found here.

The Senate Appropriations Committee announced its Subcommittee Chairs, Ranking Members and Subcommittee assignments. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) will continue as Chair of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee.

The Congressional Budget Office released a report on the potential effects of raising the Federal minimum wage to $15.

ADMINISTRATION
The Biden Administration announced members of its COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and U.S. Department of Education released guidance on reopening schools.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Governors propose cuts, increases and other changes for higher ed funding, depending on the state [Inside Higher Ed]

Howard University, other HBCUs open clinics to help distribute coronavirus vaccines [The Washington Post]

Ossoff presses Biden’s budget nominee on HBCU funding [The Hill]

New Surveys on State-Level Postsecondary Data Systems [Inside Higher Ed]

Report finds nearly 1M unique credentials on offer in US [Higher Ed Dive]

Senate panel advances Biden’s education and labor secretary picks  [The Hill]

House Committee Moves Ahead With Additional Aid [Inside Higher Ed]

Biden administration backs DeVos in fight over testifying about loan forgiveness [POLITICO]

Data on financial aid applications portend drop in low-income, minority enrollment [Inside Higher Ed]

Colleges Vowed a Safer Spring. Then Students, and Variants, Arrived. [The New York Times]

Colleges Could Lose $183 Billion During Pandemic [Inside Higher Ed]

Donations to colleges stayed flat at $50B in fiscal 2020 [Higher Ed Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: House Republicans Push to Cut Aid for Millions of Unemployed Americans

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: TRANSCRIPT: At A Press Conference, Majority Leader Schumer Delivers Remarks On The Impeachment Trial And Democrats’ Continued Work To Provide COVID-19 Relief

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: McConnell Statement on Senator Shelby’s Announced Retirement

House Education and Labor Committee
Press Release: Foxx Announces Republican Subcommittee Assignments

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
February 23: Full Committee Hearing: “Nomination of Xavier Becerra to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services”
Witness: The Honorable Xavier Becerra
10:00 a.m. in 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building or webcast

House Appropriations Committee
February 19: Subcommittee Hearing: “COVID-19 and the Child Care Crisis”
Witnesses: Melissa Boteach, Vice President, Income Security and Child Care/ Early Learning, National Women’s Law Center; Georgia Goldburn, Director, Hope Child Development Center
10:00 a.m. via webex

House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Press Release: House Science, Space, And Technology Committee Democratic Caucus Organizes For The 117th Congress

House Committee on Energy & Commerce
February 17: Subcommittee Hearing: “Connecting America: Broadband Solutions To Pandemic Problems”
Witnesses: Mr. Matthew F. Wood, Vice President of Policy and General Counsel, Free Press Action; Dr. Tiffany Anderson, Superintendent, Topeka Public Schools; Christopher M. Shelton, President, Communications Workers of America; Jonathan Adelstein, President and CEO, Wireless Infrastructure Association
11:00 a.m. via Webex

House Committee on Science, Space and Technology
Press Release: Lucas Announces Republican Science Committee Leaders

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Statement of President Joe Biden on Safely Reopening Schools

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education COVID-19 Handbook Volume 1: Strategies for Safely Reopening Elementary and Secondary Schools

IES Blog: New Project Exploring Adult Basic Skills in STEM-Related Postsecondary CTE

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.928 — To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make the child tax credit fully refundable, establish an increased child tax credit for young children, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (Introduced 02/08/2021) Cosponsors: (156)
Committees: House – Ways and Means
Latest Action:  House – 02/08/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Press Release: DeLauro, DelBene, Torres Introduce Legislation to Expand the Child Tax Credit to Permanently Give Families Monthly Payments and Cut Child Poverty Nearly in Half

S.Res.46 — A resolution calling on the President of the United States to take executive action to broadly cancel Federal student loan debt.
Sponsor: Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] (Introduced 02/08/2021) Cosponsors: (15)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 02/08/2021 Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Randolph-Sheppard Financial Relief and Restoration Payments Appropriation. Comments due on or before April 19, 2021.

HHS Notice: Planned Use of Child Care and Development Fund Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 Funds Report

FCC Final Rule: Modernizing the E-Rate Program for Schools and Libraries.

DHS/ICE Comment Request: Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Comments due on or before April 12, 2021.