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

Last Week in Congress and the Administration
 
ADMINISTRATION 

The White House sent three nominations for ED positions to the Senate for confirmation. These nominations include: Matthew Lehrich to be Assistant Secretary for Communications and Outreach; Amy McIntosh to be Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development; and Antonia Whalen to be Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education.

ED proposed new standards around how and when college accreditors have to alert ED about troubled institutions. ED is soliciting public comments on a letter it plans to send to accreditors that outlines these new standards and a spreadsheet that accreditors will use to report this information. Comments are due June 6, 2016.

ED announced plans to implement a new student loan servicing system that includes: standard, ED-branded communication to borrowers; a single web portal; reduced instances of loan transfers; enhanced oversight and accountability; and a single platform for all federal student loans.

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

Students in Online Credit Recovery Fare Worse Than Peers, Research Finds [Education Week]

Why Talented Black and Hispanic Students Can Go Undiscovered [The New York Times]

Black, Latino Parents Say Expectations for Poor Children Too Low in Public Schools [Education Week]

Michelle Obama’s Graduation Speeches Show Her Personal Side [The New York Times]

Study: black colleges pay more to issue bonds than colleges in similar financial circumstances [Inside Higher Ed]

Community colleges trying to increase pathways for students [Inside Higher Ed]

Cal State and faculty union agree to 10.5% salary raise over three years [The Los Angeles Times]

Obama Announces Three Assistant Secretary Nominations for the Ed. Dept. [Education Week]

Free College, Political Support: Survey of Community College Leaders [Inside Higher Ed]

‘If America Wants to Kill Science, It’s on Its Way’ [The Chronicle of Higher Education]

Committee News and Schedule, Schedule for House and Senate Floor

Senate Committee on the Budget
April 13: Hearing: “Fixing the Broken Budget Process: Outcome Budgeting to Maximize Taxpayer Value”
Witnesses: Dr. Paul Posner, Director, Center for Public Service, George Mason University; Honorable Maurice McTigue, Vice President for Outreach – Mercatus Center; Dr. Roy T. Meyers, Professor of Political Science, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in 608 Dirksen or webcast

Press Release: Enzi: Federal Financial Mismanagement Contributes to Broken Budget Process

Senate Committee on Appropriations
Press Release: Hearing and Markup Schedule for the Week of April 11, 2016

U.S. Department of Education and the Administration

White House:

• Press Release: President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts

Department of Education:

• Blog: No, You Won’t Be Arrested For Falling Behind On Your Student Loans
• Blog: A New Vision for Serving Student Loan Borrowers

Department of Labor:

• Press Release: Labor Department Announces Availability Of $5M In Grants To Help At-Risk Youth Explore Career Pathways In Justice Careers
• Press Release: Labor Department Announces $1.9M Funding Opportunity To Expand Apprenticeships, Support For Women in Nontraditional Occupations

Legislative Movement in Congress

S.2753: A bill to amend title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
Sponsor: Sen Hatch, Orrin G. [UT] (introduced 4/6/2016) Cosponsors (3)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 4/6/2016 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Press Release: Hatch, Bennet, Cornyn, Warner Introduce Bill to Better Prepare Teachers For the Classroom

H.R.4742: Promoting Women in Entrepreneurship Act
Sponsor: Rep Esty, Elizabeth H. [CT-5] (introduced 3/15/2016) Cosponsors (10)
Committees: House Science, Space, and Technology; Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Major Action: 4/4/2016 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

H.R.4755: Inspiring the Next Space Pioneers, Innovators, Researchers, and Explorers (INSPIRE) Women Act
Sponsor: Rep Comstock, Barbara [VA-10] (introduced 3/16/2016) Cosponsors (9)
Committees: House Science, Space, and Technology; Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Latest Major Action: 4/4/2016 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

S.2014: Next Generation Researchers Act
Sponsor: Sen Baldwin, Tammy [WI] (introduced 9/9/2015) Cosponsors (2)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 4/4/2016 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 410.

S.2687: Plan of Safe Care Improvement Act
Sponsor: Sen Casey, Robert P., Jr. [PA] (introduced 3/15/2016) Cosponsors (5)
Committees: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Latest Major Action: 4/4/2016 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 411.

Federal Education Training and Grant Opportunities, Notices

HHS Comment Request: Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) Performance Measures and Adult Preparation Subjects (PMAPS) Studies—Data Collection Related to the Performance Measures Study. Comments due within 60 days.

Department of Treasury Comment Request: Financial Literacy and Education Commission on the Draft National Strategy Update, Entitled Promoting Financial Success: National Strategy for Financial Literacy Update. Comments due May 11, 2016.

DOL Grant Notice: Pathways to Justice Careers for Youth. Applications due May 9, 2016.

ED Comment Request: Proposed Priority- Training of Interpreters for Individuals Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Individuals Who Are Deaf-Blind program. Comments due May 9, 2016.

ED Announcement: Early Implementation of certain regulations for the Federal Student Aid programs authorized under title IV of the Higher Education Act