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

July 13, 2021

HOUSE and SENATE
The House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS) Subcommittee marked up its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations bill on Monday, July 12.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released “Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Education.”

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) Office of Inspector General released a report that shared findings about involvement of ED in the sale of Education Management Corporation’s for-profit institutions of higher education (IHEs) to the Dream Center Foundation.

ED released an invitation for States and school districts to apply for American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for students experiencing homelessness.

ED approved the first seven State plans for use of ARP funds.

The Biden Administration formally withdrew a proposed Trump Administration regulation that would have limited the amount of time that international students could study in the United States before having to renew their visas.

The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency announced that it would not be extending its student loan servicing contract with ED beyond December 2021.

ED announced additional borrower defense to repayment loan cancellations for 1,800 individuals who attended Westwood College, Marinello Schools of Beauty and the Court Reporting Institute.

The White House released a fact sheet on an Executive Order designed to spur competition in the American economy that directs over a dozen Federal agencies to take certain actions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued updated guidance for COVID-19 prevention in K-12 schools.

ED announced the final requirements regarding the implementation of the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) Program under the ARP.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
House Appropriations funding for higher education aligns closely with Biden budget [Inside Higher Ed]

Two Dozen Organizations Launch #DoublePell Campaign [Inside Higher Ed]

House Democrats Pitch ‘Massive Funding Increase’ in Latest Education Spending Bill [Education Week]

Summit of academic unions envisions broad changes in higher education [Inside Higher Ed]

Education Department urges Biden to extend student loan relief [POLITICO]

Dramatic Drop in College Persistence Latest Sign of COVID’s ‘Missing Generation’ of College Students [The 74]

Biden Education Department hires vocal proponent of canceling student debt [The Hill]

Fitch raises higher ed outlook but sees growing gaps between colleges [Higher Ed Dive]

Bill to provide community college students with support services may have new path forward [Inside Higher Ed]

Opinion: Let’s not turn community colleges into just workforce development  [The Hechinger Report]

Despite Positive Experiences, Students Question Value of College [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
July 13: Full Committee Hearing: Nominations of Catherine Lhamon to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education, Elizabeth Brown to be General Counsel of the Department of Education, and Roberto Rodriguez to be Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development of the Department of Education
Witnesses: Catherine Lhamon, Takoma Park, MD; Elizabeth Brown, Bethesda, MD; Roberto Rodriguez, Washington, DC.
10:00 a.m. in 430 Dirksen Senate Building or via Live Stream

Press Release: Murray, Democrats Urge Education Department to Expand Debt Relief for Student Loan Borrowers

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Appropriations Subcommittee Approves Fiscal Year 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Funding Bill

Press Release: Chair DeLauro Statement at Subcommittee Markup of Fiscal Year 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Funding Bill

Press Release: Appropriations Committee Releases Fiscal Year 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Funding Bill

House Committee on Small Business 
July 13: Subcommittee Hearing: “Rural American Recovery: The Role of Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship”
Witnesses: Nathan Ohle, Chief Executive Officer, Rural Community Assistance Partnership, Washington, DC; Jessica Campos, Women’s Business Center Director, Center for Rural Affairs, Lyons, NE; Brett Challenger, Senior Vice President of the Regional Agribusiness Banking Group, CoBank, Greenwood Village, CO
1:00 p.m. via Zoom

House Committee on Agriculture  
Press Release: Chair Jahana Hayes Opening Statement at Hearing on Examining the SNAP Benefit Cliff

Press Release: Opening Statement: Republican Leader Don Bacon Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations Subcommittee Hearing: Examining the SNAP Benefit Cliff

Online Events:
July 14: U.S. Department of Education webinar—“Lessons from the Field: Strategies for Safely Returning to School: The Latest Federal Guidance”
The U.S. Department of Education is hosting a webinar series to support educational settings in safely sustaining or returning to in-person instruction. The series features the latest federal guidance and lessons learned and best practices from faculty, staff, schools, districts, institutions of higher education, early childhood education providers, and other places of educational instruction describing approaches to operating during the COVID-19 pandemic.
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Eastern
Register here.

July 20: The Hunt Institute event—“Race & Education | HBCUs in the Wake of COVID-19”
The pandemic has disrupted the operations and finances of colleges across the nation, but as communities of color have been most impacted by COVID-19, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) face significant challenges. Historically and currently, HBCUs have served not only students’ academic needs, but also their social-emotional and health through comprehensive culturally-based wraparound services. This role has been especially crucial during the pandemic, as institutions work to ensure that students are safe, healthy, and connected to resources and support. In this webinar, HBCU leaders and alumni will discuss the crucial role of HBCUs in supporting the Black community as a whole and the impact of COVID-19 on the future of HBCUs.
Speakers: Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President, Benedict College; The Honorable Mandela Barnes, Lieutenant Governor, Wisconsin; Dr. Karrie Dixon, Chancellor, Elizabeth City State University; Angela Sailor, Vice President of the Feulner Institute, The Heritage Foundation
2:00 p.m. Eastern
Register here.

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Remarks by President Biden At Signing of An Executive Order Promoting Competition in the American Economy

White House Press Release: Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework Creates Economic Opportunities for Rural America

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy

White House Press Release: Remarks by President Biden on the Benefits of the Build Back Better Agenda for Working Families

ED Press Release: Education Department’s Student Aid Office Adds Experienced Leaders

ED Press Release: Secretary Cardona to Join Oregon Rep. Suzanne Bonamici on Tour of Summer Enrichment Program and Roundtable Discussion with Students on Community College

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces More Biden-Harris Appointees

IES Blog: Two-Year Position in the Institute Of Education Sciences (NCSER) to Support Research on Accelerating Pandemic Recovery for Learners With Disabilities

GAO Report: Priority Open Recommendations: Department of Education

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.1500 – Global Learning Loss Assessment Act of 2021
Sponsor: Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] (Introduced 03/02/2021)
Committees: House – Foreign Affairs | Senate – Foreign Relations
Committee Meetings: 03/25/21 1:00PM
Latest Action: Senate – 07/12/2021 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

H.R.3684 – INVEST in America Act
Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] (Introduced 06/04/2021)
Committees: House – Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Action: Senate – 07/12/2021 Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.  (All Actions)
Roll Call Votes: There have been 8 roll call votes

S.2315 – A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a program to provide health care coverage to low-income adults in States that have not expanded Medicaid.
Sponsor: Sen. Warnock, Raphael [D-GA] (Introduced 07/12/2021)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 07/12/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

H.R.4399 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to authorize additional grant activities for Hispanic-serving institutions.
Sponsor: Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-36] (Introduced 07/09/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 07/09/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.4403 — To provide subsidized summer and year-round employment for youth who face systemic barriers to employment and viable career options and to assist local community partnerships in improving high school graduation and youth employment rates, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, Robert C. “Bobby” [D-VA-3] (Introduced 07/09/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 07/09/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.3369 — Broadband for Rural America Act
Sponsor: Rep. Thompson, Glenn [R-PA-15] (Introduced 05/20/2021) Cosponsors: (37)
Committees: House – Agriculture; Energy and Commerce
Latest Action: House – 07/07/2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.

H.R.3435 — American Broadband Act
Sponsor: Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5] (Introduced 05/20/2021) Cosponsors: (12)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Natural Resources; Agriculture
Latest Action: House – 07/07/2021 Referred to the Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit.

H.R.4366 — To increase the participation of historically underrepresented demographic groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education and industry.
Sponsor: Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12] (Introduced 07/06/2021) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Science, Space, and Technology
Latest Action: House – 07/06/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Press Release: Maloney Reintroduces Women and Minorities in STEM Booster Act

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Performance Report for Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need (GAANN) Program. Comments due on or before August 12, 2021.

ED Grant Notice: American Rescue Plan-American Indian Resilience in Education (ARP-AIRE). The deadline for notice of intent to apply is July 23, 2021. The deadline for transmittal of applications is September 13, 2021.

ED Notice: Accrediting Agencies Currently Undergoing Review for the Purposes of Recognition by the U.S. Secretary of Education

ED Final Priorities: Effective Educator Development Division. These priorities are effective August 9, 2021. 

FNS Notice: Child and Adult Care Food Program: National Average Payment Rates, Day Care Home Food Service Payment Rates, and Administrative Reimbursement Rates for Sponsoring Organizations of Day Care Homes for the Period July 1, 2021 Through June 30, 2022.