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

March 30, 2021

HOUSE and SENATE
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held its nomination hearing for Cynthia Marten to serve as U.S. Deputy Secretary of Education.

The House Appropriations Committee announced the extension of the deadline for member requests to late April for all Subcommittees, with the new deadline for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies requests set at April 28.

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) hosted its National Safe School Reopening Summit on March 24.

ED released $81 billion of the $122 billion in funding provided through the American Rescue Plan Act’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief fund to States this week. ED also announced the forthcoming launch of a Summer Learning & Enrichment Collaborative.

ED published in the Federal Register on Monday a notice inviting applications for the portion of Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2021 (CRRSAA) funds that are geared towards institutions of higher education with unmet need due to COVID-19.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) sent a warning to cybersecurity officials at IHEs regarding hackers attempts.

Administration officials announced that a high-level overview of the Administration’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget and the Build Back Better infrastructure and human capital proposal would be released this week.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) released data from its NAEP 2021 School Survey.

NCES released data on the national graduation rate for U.S. students for the 2018-2019 school year.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Biden administration waives rule for disabled borrowers, but advocates say much more could be done [The Washington Post]

Another Uncertain Admissions Cycle for International Students [Inside Higher Ed]

As states expand vaccine eligibility, universities make a push to inoculate all students [The Washington Post]

Colleges plan more in-person graduations, classes [Inside Higher Ed]

Easing the transfer path in California from community colleges to universities [EdSource]

Will 3-Foot Spacing Still Make Sense with New COVID Variants in the Community? [Education Week]

Rutgers Will Require Proof of Covid-19 Vaccination to Attend in the Fall [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Freshmen and Learning Loss [Inside Higher Ed]

Advocates Renew Push to Double the Pell Grant [Higher Ed Dive]

Opinion: Here’s how to make sure low-income high school graduates don’t put off college indefinitely [The Hechinger Report]

COVID-Era College: Are Students Satisfied? [Inside Higher Ed]

Brief: ACE highlights ways colleges can streamline student transfer [Higher Ed Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Dear Colleague on American Rescue Plan Virtual Teach-In: Wednesday, April 7

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: McConnell on ‘America’s Newsroom’

House Education and Labor Committee
Documents and webcast of last week’s Subcommittee Hearing: “Lessons Learned: Charting the Path to Educational Equity Post-COVID-19”

Press Release: Owens Opening Statement at Hearing on Educational Equity

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Documents and webcast of last week’s Full Committee Hearing: “Examining Our COVID-19 Response: Improving Health Equity and Outcomes by Addressing Health Disparities”

Press Release: Senator Murray Urges Speedy Confirmation for Deputy Education Secretary Nominee Cindy Marten to Help Get Students Safely Back to the Classroom and Address Learning Loss

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Chair Pingree Statement at The Effects of COVID-19 on Arts and Humanities Organizations Hearing

House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Press Release: Bipartisan E&C Leaders Call On Internet Providers To Raise Awareness Of Emergency Broadband Benefit

House Science Space and Technology Committee 
Press Release: House Science Committee Leaders Release Joint Statement on AAPI Students

Online Events:
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.

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: President Biden Announces 90% of the Adult U.S. Population will be Eligible for Vaccination and 90% will have a Vaccination Site Within 5 Miles of Home by April 19

White House Press Release:  A Proclamation on Education and Sharing Day, USA, 2021

White House Blog: COVID-19 has exacerbated the economic inequality and caregiving crisis facing women of color. Here’s how the American Rescue Plan helps.

ED Press Release: Education Department Announces Relief for Student Loan Borrowers with Total and Permanent Disabilities During the COVID-19 Emergency

ED Press Release: How the U.S. Department of Education is Helping Schools Reopen Safely and Meet the Needs of Students

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor Launches Initiative Focused on Education Outreach, Enforcement in Nation’s Agricultural Industry

IES Summer 2021 CTE Research Training Institute Application Open Now: The Career and Technical Education (CTE) Research Network is now accepting applications for the Summer 2021 CTE Research Training Institute, to be held virtually June 14-18, 2021.

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.2274 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve education opportunities for physician assistants, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37] (Introduced 03/29/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 03/29/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.2283 — To authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible entities to carry out educational programs that include the history of peoples of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the settling and founding of America, the social, economic, and political environments that led to the development of discriminatory laws targeting Asians and Pacific Islanders and their relation to current events, and the impact and contributions of Asian Americans to the development and enhancement of American life, United States history, literature, the economy, politics, body of laws, and culture, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (Introduced 03/29/2021) Cosponsors: (43)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action:  House – 03/29/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.2201 – To provide tax credits to low- to moderate-income individuals for certain computer and education costs, to direct the Federal Communications Commission to modify the requirements for the Lifeline program to provide increased support, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Ways and Means
Latest Action: House – 03/26/2021 Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 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.

H.R.2232 – To amend title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education that participate in programs under such title to distribute voter registration forms to students enrolled at the institution, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
Committees: House – Education and Labor; House Administration
Latest Action: House – 03/26/2021 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on House Administration, 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.

H.R.2253 – To establish a competitive grant program to support the development, implementation, and evaluation of successful teacher and school leader training programs on family engagement that will increase the capacity of teachers and school leaders to work with families to develop and support the social and emotional skills, habits, and mindsets of children.
Sponsor: Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 03/26/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Representative Tim Ryan Introduces Legislation to Invest in Social and Emotional Learning

H.R.2258 – To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to prohibit the award of Federal funds to institutions of higher education that employ instructors funded by the Chinese Communist Party, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 03/26/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Steube Introduces Bill to Curb Threats from CCP in Higher Education Institutions

H.R.1047 — Rural Broadband Permitting Efficiency Act of 2021
Sponsor: Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3] (Introduced 02/15/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Natural Resources; Agriculture
Latest Action:  House – 03/25/2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

H.R.1049 — Expediting Federal Broadband Deployment Reviews Act
Sponsor: Rep. Duncan, Jeff [R-SC-3] (Introduced 02/15/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Natural Resources; Agriculture
Latest Action:  House – 03/25/2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry.

S.979 — A bill to amend the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 to authorize additional funds for the Emergency Broadband Connectivity Fund, to provide grants to States and Tribal Entities to strengthen the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier, to provide for Federal coordination between the National Lifeline Eligibility Verifier and the National Accuracy Clearinghouse, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (Introduced 03/25/2021) Cosponsors: (15)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action:  Senate – 03/25/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: Wyden and Leading Senate Democrats Introduce Bill to Expand Emergency Broadband Benefit Access

S.992 — A bill to amend title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education that participate in programs under such title to distribute voter registration forms to students enrolled at the institution, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (Introduced 03/25/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 03/25/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Booker, Durbin, and Krishnamoorthi Re-Introduce the Help Students Vote Act

S.995 — A bill to amend the Stop Student Debt Relief Scams Act of 2019 to make technical corrections.
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI] (Introduced 03/25/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 03/25/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.996 — A bill to award grants to certain intuitions of higher education to educate and train students to participate in the telecommunications workforce.
Sponsor: Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS] (Introduced 03/25/2021) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action:  Senate – 03/25/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

S.1026 — A bill to assist States in, and pay for the Federal share of the cost of, defraying the cost of pre-apprenticeships or related instruction associated with qualified apprenticeship programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (Introduced 03/25/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action:  Senate – 03/25/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.944 — A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to establish a program to expand access to broadband in unserved and underserved areas, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] (Introduced 03/24/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action:  Senate – 03/24/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

H.R. 2147 — A bill to prohibit States and local educational agencies that ban books from receiving funds under the Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants program.
Sponsor: Rep. Joyce, John [R-PA-13] (Introduced 03/23/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 03/23/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Joyce Introduces GRINCH Act to Safeguard Students, Cherished Books from Cancel Culture

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Migrant Student Information Exchange User Application Form. Comments due on or before April 28, 2021.

ED Grant Notice: Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education—Supplemental Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education (SAIHE). Applications due on or before April 28, 2021.