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

August 10, 2021

HOUSE and SENATE
The U.S Senate released the text of its bipartisan infrastructure bill, the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.”

The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee voted 11-11 on the advancement of Catherine Lhamon’s nomination to serve as the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education (ED).  The nomination will now await a motion to discharge the nomination from the committee in a vote by the full Senate.

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) released its “Return to School Roadmap” to help K-12 schools implement Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 this fall.

The White House released a fact sheet on its efforts to safely reopen schools for the 2021-2022 school year.

ED approved 5 more State plans for the use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds under the American Rescue Plan.

ED’s National Assessment Governing Board held its quarterly board meeting by teleconference.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Affordable Broadband for Low-Income Students [Inside Higher Ed]

Op-Ed: Opinion: Time to talk about the many ways higher education must change [The Hechinger Report]

Biden extends freeze on student loans as progressives push to cancel them [POLITICO]

Op-Ed: Why American employers should help pay for student debt [The Hill]

Biden’s free community college plan won’t succeed without robust transfer strategies [Higher Ed Dive]

For adults returning to college, ‘free’ tuition isn’t enough [The Hechinger Report]

College rankings have fueled an arms race that has pushed higher education astray [The Washington Post]

GOP lawmakers press Cardona to restart student loan payments Oct. 1 [POLITICO]

#DoublePell campaign set to heat up this fall [Inside Higher Ed]

Digging out of the pandemic’s economic turmoil, public colleges hike tuition [Higher Ed Dive]

Community College Covers Tuition for Dual-Credit Students [Inside Higher Ed]

Bankruptcy as an Option for Borrowers [Inside Higher Ed]

Intel expands AI education program to 18 total community colleges [Higher Ed Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
The House adjourned for recess and is presently set to return the week of September 20, 2021. The Senate is expected to adjourn for recess after the completion of work on the FY2022 budget resolution and will return the week of September 13, 2021.

Speaker of the House
Press Release: Pelosi Statement on New CDC Eviction Moratorium

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Schumer, Warren, Pressley Statement On Biden Administration Extending Student Loan Payment Pause

House Education and Labor Committee
Press Release: Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration for Strengthening Accountability for Student Loan Services

Press Release: Chairman Scott Praises Biden-Harris Administration for Extending Pause on Student Loan Payments

Press Release: Foxx on Student Loan Servicing Preemption

Press Release: Foxx on Student Loan Repayment Delay

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Senator Burr Criticizes Biden Admin Extension of Student Loan Repayment Freeze

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Senate Budget Chairman Sanders and Majority Leader Schumer Introduce Historic Budget Resolution

Press Release: News: Senate Budget Chairman Sanders and Majority Leader Schumer Introduce Historic Budget Resolution

House Ways & Means Committee 
Blog: Three Key Numbers to Watch in July’s Jobs Report

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Statement by President Joe Biden Extending the Pause on Student Loan Repayment

ED Press Release: New Interpretation to Encourage State Collaboration on Student Loan Servicing

ED Press Release: Biden Administration Extends Student Loan Pause Until January 31, 2022

ED Media Advisory: Secretary Cardona to Join Pennsylvania Rep. Susan Wild for a School Tour and a Roundtable Discussion with Students to Highlight Community College and Pell Grant Increases in Build Back Better Agenda

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 – 08/08/2021 Cloture on the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 68 – 29. Record Vote Number: 313.

S.2672 — A bill to authorize the Department of Housing and Urban Development to transform neighborhoods of extreme poverty into sustainable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to economic opportunities, by revitalizing severely distressed housing, and investing and leveraging investments in well-functioning services, educational opportunities, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] (Introduced 08/07/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Latest Action: Senate – 08/07/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.

H.R.4374 — Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act
Sponsor: Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13] (Introduced 07/09/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Agriculture; Energy and Commerce Committee Report: H. Rept. 117-113
Latest Action: House – 08/06/2021 House Committee on Energy and Commerce Granted an extension for further consideration ending not later than Sept. 24, 2021.

H.R.4948 — To authorize the Department of Housing and Urban Development to transform neighborhoods of extreme poverty into sustainable, mixed-income neighborhoods with access to economic opportunities, by revitalizing severely distressed housing, and investing and leveraging investments in well-functioning services, educational opportunities, public assets, public transportation, and improved access to jobs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (Introduced 08/06/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Financial Services
Latest Action: House – 08/06/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Financial Services.

H.R.4967 — To amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to raise public awareness for skilled trade programs, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. McClain, Lisa C. [R-MI-10] (Introduced 08/06/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 08/06/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Reps. McClain, Houlahan Introduce Bipartisan POST Act

S.2596 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for Federal student loan reform.
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] (Introduced 08/04/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 08/04/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Rubio Reintroduces Bill to Eliminate Interest for Federal Student Loans

S.2598 — A bill to amend title 11, United States Code, to improve the treatment of student loans in bankruptcy, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Durbin, Richard [D-IL] (Introduced 08/04/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Judiciary
Latest Action: Senate – 08/04/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

S.Amdt.2164 to S.Amdt.2137 — Purpose: To promote transparency by requiring the establishment of an online interactive map displaying the locations of broadband deployment projects that are funded by the Federal Government.
Amends Bill: H.R.3684
Sponsor: Sen. Fischer, Deb [R-NE] (Submitted 08/02/2021) (Proposed 08/04/2021)
Latest Action: 08/04/21 Amendment SA 2164 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 95 – 0. Record Vote Number: 306.
H.R.4502 — Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, Agriculture, Rural Development, Energy and Water Development, Financial Services and General Government, Interior, Environment, Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, 2022
Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (Introduced 07/19/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Appropriations
Committee Reports: H. Rept. 117-96, H. Rept. 117-79, H. Rept. 117-81, H. Rept. 117-82, H. Rept. 117-83
Latest Action: Senate – 08/03/2021 Received in the Senate. (All Actions)

H.R.4904 — To provide for emergency operational cost reimbursements for child nutrition programs for certain additional months, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (Introduced 08/03/2021) Cosponsors: (7)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 08/03/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.4907 — To amend title 11 of the United States Code to modify the dischargeability of debts for certain educational payments and loans.
Sponsor: Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (Introduced 08/03/2021) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Judiciary
Latest Action: House – 08/03/2021 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

S.2593 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve Federal oversight of foreign funding in education.
Sponsor: Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] (Introduced 08/03/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 08/03/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Rubio, Cramer Introduce Bill to Target Donations From Foreign Adversaries to American Universities, Hold Higher Education More Accountable

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Income Based Repayment—Notifications. Comments are due on or before October 8, 2021.