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

CONGRESS

The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations approved topline subcommittee allocations for FY 2024 appropriations legislation. The Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies received an allocation of $195.2 billion.

ADMINISTRATION
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona issued a statement on long-term trends in math and reading for 13-year-olds.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Program Grant Summary
Application Deadline: July 7, 2023

Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Grant Program: Mid-Phase Grant Summary
Application Deadline: July 12, 2023

Education News Headlines
[Click on the link to read the article online]

NCAA demands colleges follow its name, image, likeness rules over state laws [Higher Ed Dive]

Kansas regents to review undergrad programs — some will be on the chopping block [Higher Ed Dive]

On cusp of affirmative action decision, how Supreme Court ruled before [The Washington Post]

Op-Ed: President Speaks: The case for being optimistic about higher education’s future [Higher Ed Dive]

Florida sues Education Department over accreditation [Higher Ed Dive]

DeSantis sues Education Department over higher ed accreditation process [The Hill]

How Enrollment Changed in States That Banned Race-Conscious Admissions [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

More than 7,400 comments submitted on new gainful-employment rule [Inside Higher Ed]

Is college worth it? Recent analysis says yes [Inside Higher Ed]
IHEP Report: “Rising Above the Threshold”

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor:

House Committee on Education and the Workforce

Press Release: Foxx Celebrates Fifth Anniversary of Janus v. AFSCME Ruling

Press Release: Chairwoman Foxx, Ranking Member Cassidy Blast Biden’s Lack of Transparency in Creating Title IX Rule

Press Release: Foxx Shields Students From Biden’s Disastrous Immigration Policies

Press Release: Ranking Member Scott Opening Statement at Hearing on Skills-Based Hiring

June 22: Full Committee Hearing on “Competencies Over Degrees: Transitioning to a Skills-Based Economy”
Witnesses: Dr. Karin Kimbrough, Chief Economist, LinkedIn Corporation; Dr. Mark Smith, Director of HR Thought Leadership, SHRM; Dr. Papia Debroy, Senior Vice President of Insights, Opportunity@Work; Mr. Dan Healey, Head of People for Customer Success, SAP
Statements and Webcast from Yesterday’s Full Committee Hearing on “Competencies Over Degrees: Transitioning to a Skills-Based Economy”

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy, Chair Foxx Demand Briefing on Return to Student Loan Repayment

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy, Braun, Colleagues Call on President Biden to Withdraw Julie Su Nomination for DOL Secretary

Press Release: Ranking Member Cassidy Delivers Remarks During Committee Markup of Partisan Labor Bills

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration:

White House Press Release: Fact Sheet: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Announces Over $40 Billion to Connect Everyone in America to Affordable, Reliable, High-Speed Internet

ED Media Advisory: Secretary Cardona Continues Invest in America Tour with Travel to Troy, New York, with U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko to Discuss Career and Technical Education

Legislative Movement in Congress:

H.R.4244 — To adjust the definition of service in the uniformed services with respect to readmission requirements for servicemembers under the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Sponsor: Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]
Committees: House – Education and the Workforce
Latest Action: House – 06/21/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Press Release: Lawmakers Offer Bicameral, Bipartisan Bill to Guarantee Readmission for Guard, Reserve Students

H.R.4320 — To amend the National Labor Relations Act to clarify employer rights with regard to hiring.

Sponsor: Allen, Rick W. [Rep.-R-GA-12] (Introduced 06/23/2023) Cosponsors: (0)

Committees: House – Education and the Workforce

Latest Action: House – 06/23/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

H.R.4337 — To expand access to graduate education by amending the Federal Pell Grant program to include postbaccalaureate study.

Sponsor: Kuster, Ann M. [Rep.-D-NH-2] (Introduced 06/23/2023) Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: House – Education and the Workforce

Latest Action: House – 06/23/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

Press Release: Kuster, Burchett Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation To Expand Pell Grants for Graduate Education

H.R.4354 — To ensure that certain incidents involving a covered employee that are reported to the title IX coordinator at an eligible institution of higher education have been reviewed by the president of the institution and not less than 1 additional member of the institution’s board of trustees, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Slotkin, Elissa [Rep.-D-MI-7] (Introduced 06/23/2023) Cosponsors: (2)

Committees: House – Education and the Workforce

Latest Action: House – 06/23/2023 Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

S.2113 —A bill to amend the National Labor Relations Act and the Labor Management Relations Act, 1947 to deter labor slowdowns and prohibit labor organizations from blocking modernization efforts at ports of the United States, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Risch, James E. [Sen.-R-ID]

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 06/22/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.2139 — A bill to ensure that certain incidents involving a covered employee that are reported to the title IX coordinator at an eligible institution of higher education have been reviewed by the president of the institution and not less than 1 additional member of the institution’s board of trustees, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Peters, Gary C. [Sen.-D-MI]

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 06/22/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

S.2200 — 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]

Committees: Senate – Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

Latest Action: Senate – 06/22/2023 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices:

ED Comment Request: Comment Request; HEERF No Cost Extension (NCE) Request Form. Comments due on or before June 30, 2023.

ED Comment Request: Consolidation Loan Rebate Fee Report. Comments due on or before July 3, 2023.

ED Comment Request: Federal Family Educational Loan Program (FFEL)-Administrative Requirements for States, Not-For-Profit Lenders, and Eligible Lenders Trustees. Comments are due on or before July 11, 2023.

ED Notice: Personnel Development to Improve Services and Results for Children with Disabilities-Personnel Preparation of Special Education, Early Intervention, and Related Services Personnel at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities, and Other Minority Serving Institutions.  Applications due on or before July 14, 2023.

ED Comment Request: Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; ED-524 Budget Information Non-Construction Programs Form and Instructions Comments due on or before July 17, 2023

LD Comment Request: Student Safety Assessment of Job Corps Centers Comments are due on or before July 26, 2023.

ED Notice: Applications for New Awards; National Center on School Infrastructure. Comments due on or before August 7, 2023.

ED Comment Request: Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education Grant Program Obligation To Repay Grant Regulations. Comments due on or before August 21.

ED Notice: Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records