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

November 17, 2021

HOUSE and SENATE
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Friday, November 12 and President Biden signed it into law on Monday, November 15.

ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Department of Education concluded its second and final negotiated rulemaking subcommittee session on prison education programs.

The White House released a fact sheet on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Biden signs $1 trillion infrastructure bill into law [The Hill]

Universities to buses: Tennessee COVID law exemptions sought [The Associated Press]

California community college system urged to do more to help students complete college [EdSource]

Campuses Battle Severe Flu Outbreaks [Inside Higher Ed]

U. of Florida Dean Says He Was Directed to Reject Professor’s Request to Testify Against the State [Education Week]

Tensions abate as Dems await cost of social spending bill [POLITICO]

CBO to release Build Back Better score by Friday [The Hill]

How the Build Back Better Act Would Help Dreamers in College [Inside Higher Ed]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Transcript of Speaker Pelosi’s Remarks at the Build Back Better with Care Event

Press Release: Pelosi Announces $18 Million Infrastructure Grant for San Francisco

Press Release: House Republicans Get Called Out on Local T.V. for Voting Against Millions of Jobs & Infrastructure Investments

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Hoyer Statement on President Biden Signing the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

House Minority Leader
Press Release: Leader McCarthy Statement on DOJ Employing Counterterrorism Resources Against Parents

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Schumer Statement On Retirement Of Senator Patrick J. Leahy Of Vermont

House Education and Labor Committee
November 17: Joint Subcommittee Hearing: Examining the Implementation of COVID-19 Education Funds
Witnesses: Cindy Marten, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Education; James Kvaal, Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Education
10:15 a.m. via Zoom

Press Release: Foxx, Murphy Lead letter Calling for Hearings to Address Parent Concerns in Education

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Press Release: Murray Statement on President Biden’s Pick to Lead Food and Drug Administration

House Committee on Appropriations
November 17: Committee Hearing: U.S. Role in Global COVID-19 Vaccine Equity
Witnesses: Dr. Gary Disbrow Director, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, Department of Health and Human Services; Dr. David Kessler, Chief Science Officer, COVID-19 Response; and Loyce Pace
Director, Office of Global Affairs, Department of Health and Human Services.
10:30 a.m., via YouTube live.

Press Release: DeLauro Dear Colleague Updating on Appropriations Process

Senate Committee on the Budget
Press Release: Graham on New Estimate on Budget Gimmicks and Shell Games in Democrats’ Socialist Spending Bill

Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis
November 17: Select Subcommittee Hearing: “Combating Coronavirus Cons and the Monetization of Misinformation”
Witnesses: Dr. Kolina Koltai, Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for an Informed Public, University of Washington Information School; Dr. Jay Kennedy, Assistant Professor, School of Criminal Justice, Assistant Director of Research, Center for Anti-Counterfeiting and Product Protection, Michigan State University; Dr. Jeffrey Aeschlimann, Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of Connecticut (UConn); María Teresa Kumar, President and Chief Executive Officer, Voto Latino.
2:00 p.m., via YouTube live.

Online Events:
November 30: U.S. Department of Education webinar — “Energizing STEM”
Join the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to learn about their programs, student competitions, and workforce development efforts to expand the diversity of the energy workforce and deliver results in the fight against climate change.
Host: Patti Curtis, Robert Noyce/Ellen Lettvin STEM Education Fellow, U.S. Department of Education
Moderator: Christy Jackiewicz, Chief, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, Minority Educational Institutions Division, DOE
Speakers: Arthur P. McMahan, Ph.D., Senior Associate Director, White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity through Historically Black Colleges and Universities; Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. Department of Energy Secretary (pre-recorded remarks); Kerene Tayloe, Consultant, Office of Economic Impact and Diversity, DOE, on the Inclusive Energy Innovation Prize; David Canty and Alexander Godinez-Robinson, DOE, National Nuclear Security Administration’s Minority Serving Institution Partnership Program; Amanda Joyce, Argonne National Laboratory, DOE, on the CyberForce Competition; Holly Carr, Director of the Solar Decathlon, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, DOE; Melinda Higgins, Tribal STEM Advisor, Office of Nuclear Energy, DOE, on STEM education in tribal communities.
2:00 p.m. Eastern
Register here.

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Press Release: Remarks by President Biden on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

White House Press Release: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Advances Environmental Justice

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: President Biden’s Executive Order Establishing Priorities and Task Force for Implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

White House Press Release: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, November 12, 2021

White House Press Release: Remarks by President Biden in Cabinet Meeting

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Announces New Investments to Support COVID-⁠19 Response and Recovery Efforts in the Hardest-Hit and High-Risk Communities and Populations as COVID-⁠19 Health Equity Task Force Submits Final Report

ED Press Release: Departments of the Interior, Education, and Health & Human Services Launch Multi-Agency Initiative to Protect and Preserve Native Languages

DOL Press Release: US Department of Labor opens online dialogue with stakeholders to expand access among underrepresented communities to Registered Apprenticeships

HHS Press Release: Statement from Secretary Xavier Becerra on President Biden’s Intention to Nominate Dr. Robert Califf for Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration

IES Report: Oregon Promise: Student outcomes and program impacts

Legislative Movement in Congress This Past Week:
H.R.4233 — Student Veterans Counseling Centers Eligibility Act
Sponsor: Rep. Murphy, Gregory [R-NC-3] (Introduced 06/29/2021)
Cosponsors: (17)
Committees: House – Veterans’ Affairs
Latest Action: House – 11/16/2021 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection
Press Release: Murphy Veteran Mental Health Bill Passes House!

H.R.5990 — To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a program to recognize high schools and local educational agencies for expanding high-quality dual credit programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Taylor, Van [R-TX-3] (Introduced 11/16/2021) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 11/16/2021 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
EOP Proclamation: American Education Week, 2021

EOP Proclamation: National Apprenticeship Week, 2021

HHS Comment Request: Head Start Evaluation of a Trauma-Informed Care Program (New Collection).Comments due on or before December 17, 2021. 

NEH Grant Notice: Institutes for K-12 Educators National Endowment for the Humanities. Applications due on or before February 22, 2022. 

ED Grant Notice: American Indian Vocational Rehabilitation Services. Applications available November 16, 2021. Applications due on or before March 16, 2022.