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

March 23, 2021

HOUSE and SENATE
The Senate voted 50-49 to confirm Xavier Becerra to serve as U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Yesterday, the Senate confirmed the nomination of Marty Walsh to serve as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) by a bipartisan vote of 68-29.

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced the allocations of American Rescue Plan Act Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding States will receive.

ED released guidance clarifying the timing of the use of Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEER) funds and provided answers to Frequently Asked Questions regarding what constitutes lost revenue for the purposes of HEER.

ED announced it is rescinding the policy issued by former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos that provided partial cancellation of loan amounts under approved borrower defense to repayment (BDR) claims.

ED announced it is accepting submissions for its Safer Schools and Campuses Best Practices Clearinghouse.

ED will be hosting a National Safe School Reopening Summit on Wednesday, March 24.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the Biden Administration will invest $10 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act into increasing COVID-19 screening testing to help schools reopen.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released updated guidance for K-12 schools to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The National Labor Relations Board announced it is withdrawing a proposed rule that would limit the ability of research and teaching assistants at private universities to form unions.

The U.S. Department of Labor issued guidance for States on issuing American Rescue Plan Act unemployment provisions.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released a report on “Outside jobs Among U.S. Public School Teachers.”

NCES released the 2019-2020 Common Core of Data (CCD) Universe files.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Billionaire Betsy DeVos made even more bank during her time as education secretary in Donald Trump’s White House. [The Huffington Post]

California community colleges to offer limited expansion of fall in-person classes, chancellor says [EdSource]

State funding for two-year colleges declined this year while four-year colleges saw a small dip [Inside Higher Ed]

College students ask court for refunds over online learning [AP News]

How will colleges spend their stimulus cash? [Inside Higher Ed]

Ed Dept gives colleges more flexibility to use federal relief funds [Higher Ed Dive]

A DeVos System Allowed 12 Minutes to Decide Student Loan Forgiveness [The New York Times]

Survey shows college presidents emerging from COVID-19 more confident their institutions can change and thrive [Inside Higher Ed]

Colleges are withholding transcripts from millions over unpaid bills [The Hechinger Report]

Senators Reintroduce Bill to Track Student-Level Outcomes [Inside Higher Ed]

Column: As elite college applications soar, legacy admissions still give an edge [The Hechinger Report]

Student Financial Need Greater in Second Year of Pandemic [Inside Higher Ed]

Colleges, McKinsey and Strada Start Task Force on Higher Education and Opportunity [Inside Higher Ed]

Problems Facing Rural Community Colleges [Inside Higher Ed]
Association of Community College Trustees Report: “Strengthening Rural
Community Colleges Innovations and Opportunities”

Colleges Canceled Spring Break, But Students Are Traveling Anyway [NPR]

Michigan wants to increase residents’ college enrollment, but student debt is holding them back [Brookings Institute]

University of California reaches new open access agreement with Elsevier [Inside Higher Ed]

California lawmakers push agency to better protect students at for-profit colleges [EdSource]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Transcript of Pelosi Weekly Press Conference Today

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Schumer, Merkley, Klobuchar Introduce For The People Act To Strengthen Democracy, Put Power Back In the Hands Of The American People

Senate Minority Leader
Blog: Schools Could Reopen Now, But Dems And Teachers’ Unions Still Resist

House Minority Leader
Press Release: McCarthy Floor Speech on Biden’s Border Crisis

House Education and Labor Committee
March 25: Subcommittee Hearing: “Lessons Learned: Charting the Path to Educational Equity Post-COVID-19”
Witnesses: Mr. Marc H. Morial, J.D., President and CEO, National Urban League, New York, NY; Mrs. Jennifer Dale, Parent, Lake Oswego, OR; Selene A. Almazan, Esq., Legal Director, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, Inc., Towson, MD; Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent of Schools, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Miami, FL
1:00 p.m. via Zoom

Press Release: Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for “Lifechanging” Announcement on Borrower Defense Claims

Press Release: Foxx, Burr Blast Education Department for Undermining Title IX

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
March 24: Full Committee Hearing: Nomination of Cynthia Marten to serve as Deputy Secretary of Education
Witness: Cynthia Marten, San Diego, CA
10:00 a.m. in 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building or webcast

March 25: Full Committee Hearing: “Examining Our COVID-19 Response: Improving Health Equity and Outcomes by Addressing Health Disparities”
Witnesses: Consuelo H. Wilkins, MD, MSCI, Vice President For Health Equity, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN; Abigail Echo-Hawk (Pawnee), Executive Vice President, Seattle Indian Health Board, Seattle, WA; Taryn Mackenzie Williams, Managing Director, Poverty To Prosperity, Center for American Progress, Washington, DC; Gene A. Woods, President And Chief Executive Officer, Atrium Health, Charlotte, NC
10:00 a.m. in 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building or webcast

Press Release: Senate Confirms Marty Walsh as Labor Secretary [Murray Statement]

Press Release: Burr, King Renew Bipartisan Effort to Reform Student Loan Repayment Programs

House Committee on Appropriations
March 25: Full Committee Hearing: “The Effects of COVID-19 on Arts and Humanities Organizations”
Witnesses: Mr. Caleb Cage of the Nevada Humanities Board of Trustees; Ms. Deborah Lenk, Museum Director Museum of Glass; Ms. Kathleen Mundell, Cultural Resources; Mr. Ulysses Slaughter, Project Manager, Chester Made
1:00 p.m. via webcast

House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Press Release: Rodgers Statement on Expected Updates to CDC School Guidance

Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Press Release: At Broadband Hearing, Chair Cantwell Calls for Smart Investment To Close The Digital Divide In Communities Across America

Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis
Press Release: Clyburn Commends CDC For Following Science In Updated Distancing Guidance For Schools

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: U.S. Efforts to Combat Systemic Racism

White House Press Release: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, March 17, 2021

ED Press Release: National Safe School Reopening Summit to Include President Biden, Vice President Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, and More

ED Press Release: Department of Education Announces Action to Streamline Borrower Defense Relief Process

ED Blog: Let’s Urge High School Seniors to Complete the FAFSA® Form Today

DOL Press Release: US Department Of Labor Announces $31m Funding Opportunity To Create Registered Apprenticeship Technical Assistance Centers Of Excellence

DOL Press Release: US Department Of Labor Announces Availability Of $87.5M In Funding To States To Expand, Diversify Registered Apprenticeship Programs

IES WWC Practice Guide: Designing and Delivering Career Pathways at Community Colleges

IES Report: National Graduation Rate Increases in School Year 2018–19 for U.S. Students

GAO Report: Science and Technology: Strengthening and Sustaining the Federal Science and Technology Workforce

Online Events:
March 25: The Washington Post Live webinar—”U.S. Higher Education: Rethinking the Possibilities”
America is reexamining the role of higher education today. Changes in technology have profoundly altered the list of skills now most valued by prospective employers, causing traditional four-year universities and community colleges to recalibrate curriculums to address the evolving workforce. The global pandemic has also exacerbated a widening inequality with many lower-income students not able to continue their education after high school. Washington Post Live will focus on these issues, with one of America’s experts on the evolving role of higher education, as well as a former dean of Howard University’s School of Education.
Speakers: André Dua, Senior Partner, Mckinsey & Company; Leslie Fenwick, PhD, Deam Emeritus, Howard University School Of Education; Anne M. Kress, PhD, President, Northern Virginia Community College; James B. Milliken, Chancellor, The University Of Texas System
12:00 p.m. Eastern
Register here.

April 6: What Works Clearinghouse event—“Designing and Delivering Career Pathways at Community Colleges: A Practice Guide for Educators
On March 23, IES released a new practice guide that focuses on guidance for implementing career pathways at community colleges associated with improving postsecondary student learning and labor market outcomes. Compiled by a panel of national experts and practitioners, the practice guide offers five evidence-based recommendations.
This webinar will focus on strategies for applying the evidence-based recommendations from the Practice Guide to help administrators, staff, and faculty at community colleges effectively develop and implement career pathways and career and technical education initiatives at their colleges.
This webinar will offer community college leaders and staff guidance on how to develop, implement, and support career pathways or career and technical education initiatives at their college. The strategies shared by the expert panelists may also interest employers, labor unions, and industry associations that wish to collaborate with community colleges to design or operate workforce development strategies that are responsive to the preparation and training needs of the modern workforce.
Panelists: Hope Cotner, President & CEO of the Center for Occupational Research and Development; Debra Bragg, President of Bragg & Associates and founding director of two university research centers on community college education; Grant Goold, Director of Pathway Development at Futuro Health; Eric Heiser, Provost of Central Ohio Technical College; Darlene G. Miller, Executive Director for the National Council for Workforce Education; and Michelle Van Noy, Associate Director of the Education and Employment Research Center at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey.
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Eastern
Register here.

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.6 — American Dream and Promise Act of 2021
Sponsor: Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40] (Introduced 03/03/2021) Cosponsors: (175)
Committees: House – Judiciary; Education and Labor | Senate – Judiciary
Latest Action:  Senate – 03/22/2021 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R.2090 — To improve Federal student loan disclosures, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Herrera Beutler, Jaime [R-WA-3] (Introduced 03/19/2021) Cosponsors: (10)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 03/19/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.6 – American Dream and Promise Act of 2021
Sponsor: Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40] (Introduced 03/03/2021) Cosponsors: 175
Committees: House – Judiciary; Education and Labor
Last Action: House – 03/18/2021 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Press Release: Rep. Roybal-Allard Statement on H.R. 6, the American Dream & Promise Act

H.R.1038 – Enhancing Administrative Reviews for Broadband Deployment Act
Sponsor: Rep. Armstrong, Kelly [R-ND-At Large] (Introduced 02/15/2021) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Natural Resources; Agriculture
Latest Action: House – 03/18/2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

H.R.1046 – Federal Broadband Deployment in Unserved Areas Act
Sponsor: Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3] (Introduced 02/15/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Natural Resources; Agriculture
Latest Action: House – 03/18/2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

H.R.2028 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize a program to recognize institutions of higher education that offer outstanding services and programs for foster and homeless youth, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-5] (Introduced 03/18/2021) Cosponsors: (15)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 03/18/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.2034 – To direct the Secretary of Education to forgive the Federal student loans of borrowers meeting certain income requirements, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Lawson, Al, Jr. [D-FL-5] (Introduced 03/18/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor; Ways and Means
Latest Action: House – 03/18/2021 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.2037 – To extend Federal Pell Grant eligibility of certain short-term programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9] (Introduced 03/18/2021) Cosponsors: (8)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 03/18/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Levin, Bipartisan Group of Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Help Students Access Training for In-Demand Jobs

H.R.2048 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to improve the service obligation verification process for TEACH Grant recipients, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (Introduced 03/18/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 03/18/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.2057 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require program participation agreements between institutions of higher education and Hanban if a Confucius Institute operates on the campus of the institution.
Sponsor: Rep. Roy, Chip [R-TX-21] (Introduced 03/18/2021) Cosponsors: (9)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 03/18/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

S.821 – A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a simplified income-driven repayment plan, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC] (Introduced 03/18/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 03/18/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Burr, King Renew Bipartisan Effort to Reform Student Loan Repayment Programs

S.822 – A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require program participation agreements between institutions of higher education and Hanban if a Confucius Institute operates on the campus of the institution.
Sponsor: Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN] (Introduced 03/18/2021) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 03/18/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.827 – A bill to authorize the Secretary of Education to establish and maintain a public website tracking the expenditures by States of COVID-19 education relief funds.
Sponsor: Sen. Ernst, Joni [R-IA] (Introduced 03/18/2021) Cosponsors: (12)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 03/18/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Ernst Wants Report Card on Schools’ Reopening Status, Accountability for How Tax Dollars Are Being Spent

S.839 – A bill to establish a postsecondary student data system.
Sponsor: Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA] (Introduced 03/18/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 03/18/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Cassidy, Warren, Scott, Whitehouse Reintroduce College Transparency Act

S.847 – A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to eliminate origination fees on Federal Direct loans.
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN] (Introduced 03/18/2021) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 03/18/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.848 – A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 in order to improve the service obligation verification process for TEACH Grant recipients, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN] (Introduced 03/18/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 03/18/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.864 – A bill to extend Federal Pell Grant eligibility of certain short-term programs.
Sponsor: Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA] (Introduced 03/18/2021) Cosponsors: (29)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 03/18/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Kaine, Portman, Levin, & Gonzalez Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill To Help More Americans Access Jobs Training & Get Back To Work

H.R.1981 — To require the Comptroller General to submit a report on the transfer of student debt functions from the Department of Education to the Department of the Treasury, including costs of such a transfer and the mitigation of the duplication of duties by Federal agencies, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Murphy, Gregory [R-NC-3] (Introduced 03/17/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 03/17/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.1903 — To amend title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 with respect to partnership grants for the establishment of rural teaching residency programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12] (Introduced 03/16/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 03/16/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Bost Introduces Legislation To Address Rural Teacher Shortages

H.R.1904 — To include broadband as a utility that tenants residing in federally assisted housing can have subsidized by the Federal Government, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bowman, Jamaal [D-NY-16] (Introduced 03/16/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Financial Services; Ways and Means
Latest Action:  House – 03/16/2021 Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, 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…
Press Release: Bowman, Cleaver Introduce Bill to Expand Affordable Broadband to 8 Million Households

H.R.1912 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to clarify the treatment of certain institutional financial assistance.
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Rodney [R-IL-13] (Introduced 03/16/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 03/16/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Davis Introduces Legislation to Provide College Students Seeking In-Person Courses Financial Flexibility, Encourage Colleges to Hold In-Person Courses This Fall

H.R.1918 — To provide for the refinancing and recalculation of certain Federal student loans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-3] (Introduced 03/16/2021) Cosponsors: (15)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 03/16/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Application for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Comments due on or before March 22, 2021. 

ED Notice of Interpretation: Regarding Period of Allowable Expenses for Funds Administered Under the Higher Education Emergency Relief (HEERF) Program.

ED Comment Request: Safer Schools and Campuses Best Practices Clearinghouse. Comments due on or before May 18, 2021.

NTIA Notice of Open Meetings: Broadband Grant Programs Webinars. NTIA will hold the webinars based on the following schedule:
1. Broadband Infrastructure Program: The second Wednesday and Thursday of each month, 2:30-4:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET), starting April 14, 2021.
2. Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program: The third Wednesday and Thursday of each month, 2:30-4:00 p.m. ET, starting April 21, 2021.
3. Connecting Minority Communities: The fourth Wednesday and Thursday of each month, 2:30-4:00 p.m. ET, starting April 28, 2021.

ED Comment Request: Request for Information on Supporting the Reopening and Continuing Operation of Schools, Colleges and Universities, and Early Childhood Education Providers. Submissions will be accepted on a continuous basis until September 2021.

CTE CoLab Community of Practice: Request for Proposals. The CTE CoLab Coalition will select up to 15 community and technical colleges to join the College Community of Practice (CCP), focused on improving access and outcomes for students of color—especially students who are Black, Latinx, or Indigenous—enrolled in credit-bearing online postsecondary career and technical education (CTE) programs.
This solicitation invites full proposals from public community college and technical colleges interested in joining the CCP to advance their work scaling or enhancing equity-centered approaches to online teaching and learning within a selected credit-bearing CTE program. A webinar will be held from 1-2 pm on March 18, 2021 to answer applicant questions. A list of frequently asked questions, linked here, will be updated with responses to questions following the webinar. Applicants are encouraged but not required to attend the webinar (registration link). For further questions about the application process, please email the Urban Institute team at cteccp@urban.org.
Applications are due via Urban’s online Qualtrics platform at this link by 8:00 p.m. ET on April 2, 2021. Anticipated notice of decision: April 30, 2021. Implementation period: June 2021 to April 2023. For questions about this new initiative or RFP application process, please email cteccp@urban.org.