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

October 6, 2021

HOUSE and SENATE
The U.S. Congress passed a continuing resolution to keep the government funded and operating through December 3, 2021.

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced the committee members for next week’s negotiated rulemaking sessions and publicly posted issue papers provided to the negotiators on the topics to be negotiated.

ED released the most recent data on cohort default rates for institutions of higher education.

Federal Student Aid (FSA) Chief Operating Officer Richard Cordray announced that FSA is evaluating Federal student loan servicer Navient’s proposal to transfer its servicing contract to Maximus.

ED released a notice that will be published in the Federal Register on Monday that states its intent to begin a negotiated rulemaking effort on the 90/10 rule and possibly other related higher education issues.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
What borrowers need to know about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness overhaul [NPR]

Playing Long Ball: A new partnership supports 28 HBCUs [Inside Higher Ed]

Two Texas university employees asked students if they were vaccinated. They were fired weeks later. [The Washington Post]

Washington University in St. Louis uses 65% endowment return to adopt need-blind admissions [Higher Ed Dive]

Democrats face tough choices on trimming spending package [The Hill]

Garland taps FBI in response to ‘disturbing spike’ in threats against educators [POLITICO]

Students Are Poised to Protest. Are Colleges Prepared? [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Democratic wish list includes billions to help students finish their degrees [The Hechinger Report]

Congress Weighs In on College Athletes Leveraging Their Brand [Inside Higher Ed]

Improving Closed-College Discharges [Inside Higher Ed]

Endowments Skyrocket for the Wealthiest Colleges [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Dear Colleague on the Transformative Nature of the Build Back Better for Jobs and Children

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Hoyer Statement on President Biden’s Remarks on the Debt Limit

Senate Majority Leader 
Remarks: Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Continuing To Work To Pass President Biden’s Build Back Better Agenda

Senate Minority Leader
Remarks: Democrats’ Reckless Tax and Spending Spree Would Jeopardize Medicare and Reduce New Medicines

Press Release: McConnell Letter to President Biden on Debt Limit

Senate Joint Economic Committee
October 6: Full Committee Hearing: “Building Back Better: Raising Revenue to Invest in Shared Prosperity”
Witnesses: Dr. Kimberly Clausing, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tax Analysis, U. S. Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC; Ms. Chye-Ching Huang,
Executive Director of the Tax Law Center, New York University Law, New York, NY; Dr. Wendy Edelberg, Director of the Hamilton Project and Senior Fellow for Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution, Washington, DC; Dr. William McBride, Vice President of Federal Tax and Economic Policy Tax Foundation, Washington, DC.
2:30 p.m. via videoconferencing

House Education and Labor Committee
October 6: Subcommittee Hearing: “Homecoming: The Historical Roots and Continued Contributions of HBCUs”
Witnesses: Dr. Lezli Baskerville, J.D., Esquire, President & CEO, National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education (NAFEO), Washington, D.C.; Dr. Andre M. Perry, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institute, Washington, D.C.; Mrs. Angela Sailor, J.D., Vice President, The Edwin J. Feulner Institute, The Heritage Foundation, Washington, D.C.; Dr. Glenda Glover, President, Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN.
12:00 p.m. via videoconferencing

Press Release: New Analysis Finds Build Back Better Act Could Deliver Major Savings to Families in all 50 States

Press Release: Foxx Reacts to Democrats’ PSLF Scheme

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
October 7: Full Committee Hearing: Nominations of Lisa Gomez to be the Assistant Secretary for Employee Benefits Security, Department of Labor, and Jose Javier Rodriguez to be the Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training, Department of Labor
Witnesses: Lisa Gomez, Raritan Township, NJ; Jose Javier Rodriguez, Miami, FL
10:00 a.m. in 216 Hart Senate Office Building or webcast

Press Release: Senator Murray on Reversal of Trump’s Title X Gag Rule: An “Important Victory” for Millions of Patients

Press Release: Senator Burr Criticizes Becerra, Cardona on Inadequate Response on School Reopening Plans

House Committee on Rules
Press Release: Chairman McGovern to Republicans on the Debt Ceiling: Get Out of the Way So We Can Clean up Your Mess

Press Release: Ranking Member Cole Floor Remarks on the House Amendment to S. 1301

Online Events:
October 7: STEM Education Coalition webinar—”Digital Skills, Equity and the Best Jobs of the Future”
As the United States celebrates National Digital Inclusion week (October 4-8, 2021), the STEM Education Coalition Policy Forum is pleased to invite you to a briefing on October 7 at 11:00 am EST for policymakers to learn more about the daily obstacles that communities across the country face in accessing and navigating the Internet. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that it is nearly impossible to fully participate in society or compete for the best, most in-demand jobs without adequate digital skills. The United States needs to reach digital equity: a state in which every individual, regardless of zip code or income level, has the digital skills and tools to use the Internet to fully participate in our society, economy and democracy.
Speakers: Portia Wu, Managing Director, US Policy, Microsoft; Katie Spiker, Managing Director of Government Affairs, National Skills Coalition; Amy Huffman, Policy Director, National Digital Inclusion Alliance; Dr. Dominique Harrison, Director of Technology Policy, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies; James Brown, Executive Director, STEM Education Coalition (moderator)
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Eastern
Register here.

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Remarks by President Biden Before Air Force One Departure

White House Press Release: Remarks by President Biden on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and Build Back Better Agenda

White House Press Release: President Biden Announces Intent to Nominate Chairs of National Endowments for the Humanities and Arts

ED Press Release: Fact Sheet: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program Overhaul

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces Transformational Changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, Will Put Over 550,000 Public Service Workers Closer to Loan Forgiveness

ED Press Release: Statement from Federal Student Aid Chief Operating Officer Rich Cordray Regarding Loan Servicers

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor Awards $68m In Grants For Training, Reemployment, Supportive Services To Unemployed, Underemployed Workers

DOL Blog: Supporting Mental Health at Job Corps

HHS Press Release: HHS’ Administration for Children and Families Highlights Community Economic Development Month by Awarding More Than $14 Million in New Grants to Create Jobs in Low-Income Communities

HHS Fact Sheet: Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response

IES Report: “Statewide Longitudinal Data Systems (SLDS) Survey Analysis: Descriptive Statistics”

GAO Report: “College Closures: Many Impacted Borrowers Struggled Financially Despite Being Eligible for Loan Discharges”

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
S.848 — Consider Teachers Act of 2021
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN] (Introduced 03/18/2021)
Cosponsors: (4)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: 10/04/2021 Presented to President.

H.R.3684 — Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Sponsor: Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] (Introduced 06/04/2021)
Committees: House – Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Action: House – 10/01/2021 POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS – Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, further consideration of the motion to concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 3684 is postponed.
Roll Call Votes: There have been 33 roll call votes

S.1301 — Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH] (Introduced 04/22/2021)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/30/2021 S.Amdt.3839 Amendment SA 3839 proposed by Senator Schumer to Amendment SA 3838. To modify the effective date.
Roll Call Votes: There have been 3 roll call votes

S.2905 — A bill to improve requirements relating to establishment of a consortium of universities to advise the Secretary of Defense on cybersecurity matters, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Rounds, Mike [R-SD] (Introduced 09/30/2021)
Committees: Senate – Armed Services
Latest Action: Senate – 09/30/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

H.R.3599 — Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act of 2021
Sponsor: Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (Introduced 05/28/2021) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: House – Oversight and Reform
Latest Action: House – 09/29/2021 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Press Release: Statement: Cybersecurity Bill Passes House With Bipartisan Support

H.R.4426 — Homeland Security for Children Act
Sponsor: Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10] (Introduced 07/13/2021) Cosponsors: (6)
Committees: House – Homeland Security; Transportation and Infrastructure
Latest Action: House – 09/29/2021 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Press Release: Rep. Payne, Jr.’s Bill to Protect Children from Natural Disasters Passes House

S.1301 — Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH] (Introduced 04/22/2021) Cosponsors: (2)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 09/29/2021 Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.

S.1917 — K-12 Cybersecurity Act of 2021
Sponsor: Sen. Peters, Gary C. [D-MI] (Introduced 05/27/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Report: S. Rept. 117-32
Latest Action: House – 09/29/2021 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Press Release: After Passing House, Peters, Scott, and Langevin Bipartisan Bill to Help Protect K-12 School Systems from Cyber-Attacks Heads to President to Be Signed into Law

H.R.5396 — To amend title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to establish standards of liability for harassment on the basis of sex, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-12] (Introduced 09/28/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 09/28/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Dingell, Hayes Unveil Legislation to Hold Educational Institutions Accountable for Sexual Assault

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Rural, Insular, Native Achievement Programs (RINAP) Progress Update-Outlying Areas and the Republic of Palau. Comments due on or before November 5, 2021.

ED Notice; Extension of Public Comment Period: Science Assessment Framework for the 2028 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Comments were to be submitted via email to nagb@ed.gov with the email subject header NAEP Science Framework no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, September 30, 2021. The public comment period is hereby extended. Comments shall be submitted to nagb@ed.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on October 15, 2021 with the email subject header NAEP Science Framework.

HHS Final Rule: Flexibility for Head Start Designation Renewals in Certain Emergencies.

DOS Grant Notice: FY 2022 Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program: Student Placement and Monitoring. Applications due on or before December 6, 2021.

DOC Comment Request: Annual Survey of School System Finances. Comments due within 30 days. 

ED Comment Request: Required Proprietary Institution Certification Form. Comments due on or before October 29, 2021.

ED Comment Request: Consolidated Annual Report (CAR) for the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006. Comments due on or before October 29, 2021.

ED Comment Request: ESEA Fiscal Waiver Requests. Comments due on or before October 29, 2021.

DOJ Grant Notice: W.E.B. Du Bois Program of Research on Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in the Justice System, Fiscal Year 2021. Applications due on or before December 30, 2021.