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

CONGRESS
Democrats elected Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) as House Minority Leader, Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) as Minority Whip and Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) as caucus chair.

A group of Republican House Members sent a letter to the House Republican Steering Committee in support of Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC) serving as Chair of the House Education and Labor Committee for the 118^th Congress.

House Republicans voted against a proposal to ban earmarks in the 118^th Congress.

Representative Donald McEachin passed away at the age of 61.

ADMINISTRATION
The Biden Administration extended the student loan pause on payments, interests and collections until June 2023 or 60 days after a resolution has been reached in pending legal challenges filed against the Administration’s student loan forgiveness program.

The U.S Departments of Education, Health and Human Services and Justice presented their first report to Congress on “recruiting, retaining, and training the Department of Education’s highly qualified workforce who investigate complaints and enforce Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) and section 485(f) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Clery Act).”

The U.S. Department of Justice issued guidance to its attorneys on the treatment of student loans in bankruptcy litigation.

THE COURTS
The Supreme Court of the United States agreed to review the legality of the Biden Administration’s student loan forgiveness program during the Court’s current term. The Court is expected to hear oral arguments on the program in February.

The 5^th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Biden Administration’s request to put the lower court’s decision to vacate the program on hold.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Penn Hill Group provides a list of grant opportunities and summaries for select grants. Please visit our website for more information.

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]
Why doesn’t the Education Department collect racial data on college applicants? [Higher Ed Dive]

College completion rates stall at 62.3%, report finds [Higher Ed Dive]

The new Transfer Scholars Network aims to help community college students enroll in selective colleges [The Hechinger Report]

World Cup raises issues of academic freedom for Qatar [Inside Higher Ed]

Grand Canyon U Loses Lawsuit Against Education Department [Inside Higher Ed]

In college admissions, ‘test-optional’ is the new normal [The Hill]

Are U.S. News undergraduate rankings at risk with the exodus of law schools? [Higher Ed Dive]

Op Ed: OPINION: Training programs are welcome, but let’s not overlook the benefits of a bachelor’s degree [The Hechinger Report]

8 strategies for districts looking to add or expand internship program [K-12 Dive]

Battle lines form over new borrower defense to repayment rules [Higher Ed Dive]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:
Speaker of the House
Press Release: Pelosi Statement on Senate Passage of Respect for Marriage Act

House Majority Leader
Press Release: Hoyer Statement on Senate Passage of the Respect for Marriage Act

Press Release: Hoyer Statement on Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries

Press Release: Hoyer Congratulates Leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus for the 118th Congress

Senate Majority Leader
Press Release: Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Urgent Need To Pass An Omnibus Bill And Fund The Government

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Webcasts and statements from the Subcommittee Hearing on “Caring for Our Kids: Supporting Mental Health in the Transition from High School to College”

Press Release: Murray, Colleagues Urge Education Department to Better Protect Students Against Abusive College Recruiting Practices

House Committee on Education and Labor
Press Release: A Degree: No Longer Required!

Press Release: Education Leaders Urge Education Department to Better Protect Students Against Abusive College Recruiting Practices

House Committee on Rules
Press Release: Ranking Member Cole Remarks on H.R. 8876, H.R. 3372 and H.R. 6878

Press Release: Ranking Member Cole Hearing Remarks on H.J. Res. 100

House Committee on Energy and Commerce
Press Release: Leaders Rodgers and Guthrie Statement on Monkeypox Public Health Emergency Declaration

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:
White House Fact Sheet: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Support Indian Country and Native Communities Ahead of the Administration’s Second Tribal Nations Summit

White House Press Briefing: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, December 5, 2022

White House Press Release: Statement by Vice President Kamala Harris on the Respect for Marriage Act

White House Press Release: Statement from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on the Supreme Court Taking Up Student Debt Relief Case

White House Speech: Remarks by President Biden Before a Meeting with Congressional Leadership to Discuss Legislative Priorities Through the End of 2022

ED Press Release: Department of Education, Department of Justice, and Department of Health and Human Services Release First Report to Congress as Part of the Interagency Task Force on Sexual Violence in Education

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor’s 2023 Summer Fellowship Offers Emerging Researchers Opportunities to Support Independent Evaluations, Research

DOL Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor Announces $90M Funding Opportunity to Support Delivery of Academic, Skills Training, Employment Services for Young People

GAO Report: Financial Aid Offers: Action Needed to Improve Information on College Costs and Student Aid

Legislative Movement in Congress Last Week:
H.R.3544 — COVS Act
Sponsor: Spanberger, Abigail Davis [Rep.-D-VA-7] (Introduced 05/25/2021) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: House – Oversight and Reform | Senate – Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Latest Action: Senate – 12/05/2022 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 582.

H.R.8404 — Respect for Marriage Act
Sponsor: Nadler, Jerrold [Rep.-D-NY-10] (Introduced 07/18/2022) Cosponsors: (189)
Committees: House – Judiciary
Latest Action: Senate – 11/29/2022 Passed Senate under the order of 11/28/22, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, with an amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 61 – 36. Record Vote Number: 362.
Press Release: Nadler Commends Senate Passage of Respect for Marriage Act

H.R.9407 — To require the Secretary of Labor to implement the industry-recognized apprenticeship program process, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Good, Bob [Rep.-R-VA-5] (Introduced 12/02/2022) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 12/02/2022 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Press Release: Congressman Good Introduces The Developing America’s Workforce Act

H.R.9429 — To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to publish requirements for financial aid offers to be provided by institutions of higher education to enrolled and prospective students, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: McClain, Lisa C. [Rep.-R-MI-10] (Introduced 12/05/2022) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: House – Education and Labor
Latest Action: House – 12/05/2022 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

S.3846 — Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act of 2022
Sponsor: Cornyn, John [Sen.-R-TX] (Introduced 03/16/2022)
Cosponsors: (14)
Committees: Senate – Judiciary
Latest Action: Senate – 11/30/2022 Message on House action received in Senate and at desk: House amendment to Senate bill.
Press Release: Cornyn, Klobuchar Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Reauthorization Act Passes House

S.5159 — A bill to amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to direct the Secretary of Transportation to seek to provide for the posting of contact information of the national human trafficking hotline in the restrooms of each aircraft, airport, over-the-road bus, bus station, passenger train, and passenger railroad station operating within the United States, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Hassan, Margaret Wood [Sen.-D-NH] (Introduced 12/01/2022) Cosponsors: (3)
Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Action: Senate – 12/01/2022 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.5184 — A bill to promote registered apprenticeships and on-the-job training for small and medium-sized businesses within in-demand industry sectors, through the establishment and support of eligible partnerships.
Sponsor: Baldwin, Tammy [Sen.-D-WI] (Introduced 12/05/2022) Cosponsors: (1)
Committees: Senate – Judiciary
Latest Action: Senate – 12/05/2022 Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:
ED Comment Request: Fiscal Operations Report for 2022-2023 and Application To Participate 2024-2025 (FISAP) and Reallocation Form. Comments due on or before January 31, 2023.

HHS Comment Request: Nurse Corps Scholarship Program-Extension. Comments due by or before February 3, 2023.

VA Comment Request: Student Verification of Enrollment. Comments due on or before February 6, 2023.