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

October 12, 2021

HOUSE and SENATE
The U.S. Senate confirmed Gwen Graham to be the Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs at the U.S. Department of Education (ED), Roberto J. Rodríguez to be the Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development at ED and Elizabeth Merrill Brown to be ED’s General Counsel. All nominees were confirmed by a voice vote.

The U.S. Senate voted, by a 50 to 49 margin, to discharge the nomination of Catherine Lhamon to be the Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights at ED from the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP). Further Senate floor action on the Lhamon nomination has not been announced at this time.

The U.S. Senate voted 50 to 48 to extend the Federal debt limit by $480 billion. The legislation now returns to the House where it is expected to be considered on Tuesday of next week.

ADMINISTRATION
ED announced changes it intends to make to improve the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and released a fact sheet on these changes.

ED conducted its first of three negotiated rulemaking sessions on higher education affordability and student loans.

ED announced the establishment of an Office of Enforcement within Federal Student Aid (FSA).

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced an effort to pursue civil penalties against for-profit institutions of higher education if such institutions make deceptive or misleading claims related to career outcomes of their graduates and other related matters.

ED approved four more State plans (Missouri, Arizona, Michigan and Wyoming) for the use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds under the American Rescue Plan.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Dems sweat size of Biden agenda with crucial midterms looming [POLITICO]

Cardona resurrects student-aid enforcement unit disbanded by DeVos [The Washington Post]

Most college students don’t graduate in four years, so college and the government count six years as “success” [The Hechinger Report]

The male college crisis is not just in enrollment, but completion [The Brookings Institution]

The New Campus-Activism Playbook [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

State leaders unmoved by college outrage over lax Covid rules [POLITICO]

Op-Ed: Lowering this inequitable hurdle to affording college is a no-brainer [The Hill]

Senate Approves Bill to Raise Debt Ceiling and Avert Default, for Now [The New York Times]

Selective schools prioritize prestige in face of rising demand for college, report says [Higher Ed Dive]

‘Demographics Are Not Destiny’ [Inside Higher Ed]
The Brookings Institution Report: “Student outcomes at community colleges: What factors explain variation in loan repayment and earnings?”

You don’t need a college degree to land a high-paying trade job [NPR]
Georgetown University Report: “16% of Workers with High School Diplomas and 28% with Associate’s Degrees Earn More Than Half of Workers With a Bachelor’s Degree”

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Dear Colleague on Debt Ceiling and Building Back Better

Senate Minority Leader
Press Release: McConnell Statement on Democrats’ Self-Created Debt Limit Crisis

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Democrats’ Spending Bill Content- And Cost- Should Alarm Every American

House Education and Labor Committee
Press Release: Chairman Scott Applauds Biden Administration Plans to Fix Public Services Loan Forgiveness Program

Press Release: Republican Leaders Defend Parents Amidst Biden Administration Threats

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee
Press Release: Murray Urges Confirmation for Department of Labor Nominees to Protect Workers and Retirees

Press Release: Burr Strongly Opposes Lhamon Nomination to Lead Ed Dept. Office for Civil Rights

House Committee on Energy and Commerce
October 14: Subcommittee Hearing: “Investing in American Jobs: Legislation to Strengthen Manufacturing and Competitiveness”
Witnesses: To Be Announced
12:00 p.m. in the John D. Dingell Room, 2123 of the Rayburn House Offices or via Webex

House Committee on Rules
October 13: Committee Roundtable: “Ending Hunger in America: Family Budgets and Food Insecurity”
2:00 p.m. Eastern via Webex

Senate Budget Committee
Press Release: Statement from Senate Budget Committee Ranking Member Graham

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Executive Order on the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities

White House Press Release: Statement by Press Secretary Jen Psaki on the Senate’s Vote on the Debt Limit

White House Press Release: Remarks by President Biden on the Importance of COVID-⁠19 Vaccine Requirements

ED Press Release: U.S. Department of Education to Establish an Enforcement Office Within Federal Student Aid

ED Press Release: Secretary Cardona Statement on Confirmation of Education Department Officials Brown, Rodriguez and Graham

ED Media Advisory: Secretary Cardona to Travel with Rep. Raúl Grijalva to Tucson to Discuss Build Back Better Agenda with Students and Education Leaders

DOL Press Release: Statement by U.S. Secretary of Labor Walsh on the September Jobs Report

IES Blog: IES Research on Improving Career Readiness and Employment Outcomes for Students with Disabilities

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.5506 — To establish a Rural Telehealth Access Task Force to determine how to address barriers to the adoption of telehealth technology and access to broadband internet access service in rural areas, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Pence, Greg [R-IN-6] (Introduced 10/08/2021)
Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Energy and Commerce; Agriculture
Latest Action: House – 10/08/2021 Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, 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

H.R.5523 — To help Americans pay down student loan debt or pay for education or training to develop or improve workforce skills.
Sponsor: Rep. Lamb, Conor [D-PA-17] (Introduced 10/08/2021) Cosponsors: (0)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 10/08/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

H.R.5531 — To amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to promote the employment of older individuals, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Newman, Marie [D-IL-3] (Introduced 10/08/2021)
Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 10/08/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

S.2959 — A bill to provide that, due to disruptions caused by COVID-19, applications for impact aid funding for fiscal year 2023 may use certain data submitted in the fiscal year 2022 application.
Sponsor: Sen. Thune, John [R-SD] (Introduced 10/07/2021)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 10/07/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Thune, Smith Introduce Bill to Assist School Districts as They Apply for Impact Aid Program Funding

S.2965 — A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to study the current and projected demands on rural broadband networks associated with data transmission due to increased network usage.
Sponsor: Sen. Braun, Mike [R-IN] (Introduced 10/07/2021)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 10/07/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

S.2966 — A bill to provide additional benefits to American workers whose employment has been impacted as a result of the transition to a clean energy economy.
Sponsor: Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH] (Introduced 10/07/2021)
Committees: Senate – Finance
Latest Action: Senate – 10/07/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Press Release: Brown, Casey, Whitehouse, Baldwin, Bennet, Duckworth, Smith, And Warren Introduce Bill to Empower Fossil-Fuel Workers to Train, Find Jobs in Changing Energy Industry

S.2976 — A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to permit a Federal student loan borrower to elect to terminate repayment pursuant to income-based repayment and repay such loan under any other repayment plan for which the borrower is otherwise eligible.
Sponsor: Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (Introduced 10/07/2021)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 10/07/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.2977 — A bill to allow State manufacturing extension partnerships to award grants to small- and medium-sized manufacturers for the purpose of training new workers to replace departing experienced workers.
Sponsor: Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI] (Introduced 10/07/2021)
Committees: Senate – Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Action: Senate – 10/07/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Press Release: Whitehouse, Inhofe Reintroduce Rime Act To Help Manufacturers Train Next Generation Workforce

S.2982 — A bill to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to establish or expand programs to implement evidence-aligned practices in health care settings for the purpose of reducing the suicide rates of covered individuals, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (Introduced 10/07/2021)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 10/07/2021 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Schatz Introduces New Legislation To Prevent Youth Suicide

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund I, II and III Data Collection Form.Comments due on or before November 8, 2021.