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

August 3, 2021

HOUSE and SENATE
The U.S Senate voted to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed on the bipartisan infrastructure agreement, beginning the process of floor consideration for this legislation.

The House of Representatives passed a seven-bill Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Appropriations minibus package which included the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill funding the U.S. Department of Education (ED), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Labor.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee rescheduled its vote on the nomination of Catherine Lhamon to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at ED for August 3.

ADMINISTRATION
ED issued a notice requesting public comments on the ways in which the agency can improve administration of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

ED announced it would release nearly $600 million in funding under the American Rescue Plan Act’s Homeless Children and Youth (ARP-HCY) to support students experiencing homelessness.

ED announced $3.2 billion in additional emergency grants under the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund to support more than 1,800 institutions of higher education (IHEs).

ED announced the expansion of the Second Chance Experimental site initiative providing Pell grants to incarcerated individuals at 200 institutions.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Ed Dept accuses college operator of selling enrollments when shutting down [Higher Ed Dive]

Fading Beacon: The U.S. may never regain its dominance as a destination for international students. Here’s why that matters. [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Ed Dept expands Second Chance Pell program again [Higher Ed Dive]

Number of colleges shrinks again, including publics and private nonprofits [Inside Higher Ed]

‘I wasn’t expecting this’: Colleges using pandemic funds to clear outstanding student balances [The Washington Post]

62 percent of Americans favor affirmative action programs: Gallup [The Hill]

Report: HBCUs Can Benefit U.S. Economy [Inside Higher Ed]
McKinsey & Company Report: “How HBCUs can accelerate Black economic mobility”

Pearson launches direct-to-consumer subscription service in bid for student sales [Higher Ed Dive]

Subsidizing Institutions Instead of Students? [Inside Higher Ed]

Supporting distressed communities by strengthening regional public universities: A federal policy proposal [Brookings]

Op-Ed: Investing in rural students and colleges essential to American’s economic recovery [The Hill]

Pelosi: Biden Doesn’t Have Authority to Cancel Debt [Inside Higher Ed]

Senate panel urges reset of student loan program [Inside Higher Ed]

Brookings report requests federal grants for regional colleges [Inside Higher Ed]

Walmart Offering Full College Tuition And Books For Employees  [NPR]

How savings accounts help students get to college [EdSource]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: ICYMI: USA Today Opinion – Biden Should Extend Student Loan Payment Pause And Cancel $50,000 For Borrowers: Schumer

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Hoyer Statement on the Biden Administration’s Proposal to Create Jobs and Support American Businesses

Press Release: Hoyer Floor Remarks on Appropriations Legislation to Invest in America: Jobs, Opportunity, and Working Families

House Education and Labor Committee
Press Release: Chairman Scott Praises Biden Administration’s School Reopening Roadmap

Press Release: Chairman Scott Highlights Newly Released American Rescue Plan Funding for Students Experiencing Homelessness

Press Release: ICYMI: Biden Takes Credit for Red State Achievements

Press Release: Foxx, Burr Demand Clarity on Admin’s Student Loan Repayment Plan

Press Release: ICYMI: Foxx Joins ABC News to Talk Student Loans

Press Release: Murphy: HEA Reform Needed to Set Low-Income Families Up for Success

Press Release: Fulcher: Private Child Nutrition Partners Key to Assisting Needy Families

Press Release: @EdLaborGOP Requests Review on Use of Taxpayer Dollars at Education Department

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
August 3: Executive Session: S. 1486, S. 1543, S. 2425, S. 2401, and the Nominations of David Weil to be the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division at the Department of Labor, Catherine Lhamon to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education, and Javier Ramirez to be the Director of Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service
12:00 p.m. in S-207, Mansfield Room. Note this hearing will not be webcast. 

Senate Committee on the Judiciary 
August 3: Full Committee Hearing: “Student Loan Bankruptcy Reform”
Witnesses: The Honorable Kwame Raoul, Attorney General, State of Illinois, Chicago, IL; Ms. Elizabeth Gonzalez, Directing Attorney, Consumer Law Unit, Public Law Center, Santa Ana, CA; Ms. Diane Barta, Richmond Hill, GA; Dr. Beth Akers, Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute, Washington, D.C.; Mr. Christopher Chapman, President And CEO, AccessLex Institute, West Chester, PA
10:00 a.m. in 266 Dirksen Senate Office Building or via webcast

House Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: House Passes Seven-Bill Appropriations Package

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: Advancing Economic and Public Health Opportunities for Communities of Color

White House Press Release: Updated Fact Sheet: Bipartisan Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: Reopening Schools and Rebuilding With Equity

White House Press Release: President Biden Announces Five Key Nominations

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Issues Proposed Buy American Rule, Advancing the President’s Commitment to Ensuring the Future of America is Made in America by All of America’s Workers

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Releases “Return to School Roadmap” to Support Students, Schools, Educators, and Communities in Preparing for the 2021-2022 School Year

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces It Will Expand the Second Chance Pell Experiment for the 2022-2023 Award Year

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces $3.2 Billion in Additional Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds to Support Students at Historic and Under-Resourced Institutions

ED Media Advisory: Secretary Cardona to Give Remarks on Department of Education’s Newly Launched “Return to School Roadmap” and President’s Build Back Better Agenda, Tour Summer Enrichment Program in Baltimore

ED Blog: New Efforts to Increase Access to Pell Grants for Incarcerated Students

ED Blog: Innovations in Addressing COVID-19 and Promoting Equity: FY 2021 Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Competition Announcement

ED Blog: The American Rescue Plan: Building the Bridge to Education and Beyond for Students Experiencing Homelessness

IES Report: “One Year Later: Relationship Between 2015-16 Bachelor’s Degree Recipient Enrollment in Further Education and Pell Grant Receipt”

IES Report: Data on Postsecondary Tuition, Fees and Degrees (IPEDS)

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.3684 — INVEST in America Act
Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] (Introduced 06/04/2021) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: House – Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Reports: H. Rept. 117-70, H. Rept. 117-70,Part 2 Committee Print: H.Prt. 117-9
Latest Action: Senate – 08/01/2021 S.Amdt.2137 Amendment SA 2137 proposed by Senator Schumer for Senator Sinema. In the nature of a substitute.

H.R.4837 — To direct the Secretary of Labor to recognize employers with a commitment to helping employees balance workplace responsibilities and family obligations.
Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (Introduced 07/29/2021) Cosponsors: (15)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: 07/30/2021 Sponsor introductory remarks on measure.
Press Release: Meng Introduces Legislation To Promote Family-Friendly Policies In The Workplace To Help Parents Return To The Workforce Following The Covid-19 Pandemic

H.R.4502 — Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2022
Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (Introduced 07/19/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations Committee Report: H. Rept. 117-96
Latest Action: House – 07/29/2021 The Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 4502.

H.R.4797 — To direct the Secretary of Education to discharge up to $50,000 of Federal student loan debt for each borrower, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Carter, Troy [D-LA-2] (Introduced 07/29/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor; Ways and Means; Judiciary
Latest Action: House – 07/29/2021 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of…

H.R.4815 — To prohibit discrimination in higher education against certain noncitizen students on the basis of immigration status, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ-7] (Introduced 07/29/2021) Cosponsors: (16)
Committees: House – Education and Labor; Judiciary
Latest Action: House – 07/29/2021 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, 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: Reps. Gallego, Williams Reintroduce Bill Expanding Higher Education Opportunities for Dreamers in honor of Rep. John Lewis

H.R.4837 — To direct the Secretary of Labor to recognize employers with a commitment to helping employees balance workplace responsibilities and family obligations.
Sponsor: Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (Introduced 07/29/2021) Cosponsors: (14)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 07/29/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Meng Introduces Legislation To Promote Family-Friendly Policies In The Workplace To Help Parents Return To The Workforce Following The Covid-19 Pandemic

H.R.4843 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include student assistance to certain mental health professionals as community services under the Federal work-study program.
Sponsor: Rep. Newman, Marie [D-IL-3] (Introduced 07/29/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 07/29/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Representatives Newman And Moolenaar Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Better Support School-Based Mental Health Professionals

H.R.4861 — To require that commanders of military installations verify the reporting of eligible federally connected children for purposes of Federal impact aid programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Wittman, Robert J. [R-VA-1] (Introduced 07/29/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor; Armed Services
Latest Action: House – 07/29/2021 Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, 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: Wittman, Hudson Introduce Bill to Ensure Schools Receive Full Funding for Service-Connected Students

H.R.4744 — To establish a grant to provide mental health services and behavioral health services to at-risk youth, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Cardenas, Tony [D-CA-29] (Introduced 07/28/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Judiciary
Latest Action: House – 07/28/2021 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

H.R.4761 — To amend the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to ensure workplace choice and opportunity for young adults with disabilities.
Sponsor: Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6] (Introduced 07/28/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 07/28/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.Res.568 — Expressing that the United States is obligated to permanently end the unhoused crisis by 2025 and uphold, protect, and enforce the civil and human rights of unhoused individuals, including the human rights to housing, universal healthcare, livable wages, education, employment opportunities, access to public facilities, free movement in public spaces, privacy, confidentiality, internet access, vote, freedom from harassment by law enforcement, private businesses, property owners, and housed residents, and equal rights to health care, legal representation, and social services without discrimination based on housing status.
Sponsor: Rep. Bush, Cori [D-MO-1] (Introduced 07/28/2021) Cosponsors: (16)
Committees: House – Financial Services; Energy and Commerce; Education and Labor; Judiciary; Agriculture; Ways and Means
Latest Action: House – 07/28/2021 Referred to the Committee on Financial Services, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Education and Labor, the Judiciary, Agriculture, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration…
Press Release: Congresswoman Cori Bush Introduces the Unhoused Bill of Rights, First Ever Federal Resolution Affirming the Rights of the Unhoused

S.2507 — A bill to establish a grant to provide mental health services and behavioral health services to at-risk youth, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory [D-NJ] (Introduced 07/28/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Judiciary
Latest Action: Senate – 07/28/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

S.2515 — A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to treat attendance at an institution of higher education the same as work for the purpose of determining eligibility to participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program.
Sponsor: Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten [D-NY] (Introduced 07/28/2021) Cosponsors: (5)
Committees: Senate – Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Latest Action: Senate – 07/28/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Press Release: Gillibrand Announces Eats Act To Expand Snap Benefits For Eligible College Students

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Federal Student Loan Program: Internship/Residency and Loan Debt Burden Forbearance Forms. Comments due on or before September 1, 2021. 

ED Grant Notice: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), Section 2003 of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) for Institutions of Higher Education (IHE) That Meet the Criteria as a Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until October 1, 2021.

ED Grant Notice: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF), Section 2003 of the American Rescue Plan (ARP) for Institutions of Higher Education That Meet the Criteria for the Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) Program. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until October 1, 2021.

ED Comment Request: Federal Family Educational Loan Program—Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA). Comments due on or before September 27, 2021.