E-Update for the Week of June 25, 2018
Highlights:
- On June 26, the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS) Appropriation Subcommittee conducted a markup of its fiscal year (FY) 2019 Labor/HHS Appropriations bill. Bill is here and report is here.
- On June 26, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee reported out a reauthorization of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act and the nomination of Scott Stump to be Assistant Secretary of Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education (USED). More information here.
- On June 27, the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled in the Janus v. AFSCME case that public-sector unions may not charge non-members mandatory fees. The case was decided 5-4.
Budget & Appropriations:
House Appropriations Committees Postpones Consideration of the FY2019 House Labor/HHS Bill: The House Appropriations Committee announced it was again postponing the markup of the FY2019 House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS) Appropriations bill. There has been no announcement as to when this markup will be rescheduled, but it will most likely be sometime after the July 4th recess. The postponement announcement is here. Statement from Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Nita Lowey (D-NY) and Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) here.
June 25, 2018
Senate Appropriations Committee Approves the FY2019 Senate Labor/HHS Bill: On June 26, the Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee conducted a markup of its FY2019 Labor/HHS Appropriations bill. Notable changes include increases in funding for Title I by $125 million, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) State Grants by $125 million, and Head Start by $250 million. The bill also provided level funding for the Child Care and Development Block Grant. The bill was approved favorably by the Subcommittee by a voice vote and was approved by the full Senate Appropriations Committee by a vote of 30-1. The next step could be full consideration by the Senate. No amendments were offered during the markup. Bill is here and report is here. Majority press release is here. Minority press release is here.
June 26, 2018 and June 28, 2018
Congress:
Senate:
Senate HELP Committee Approves CTE Reauthorization Bill and USED Nominee: The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee approved a bill to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act with unanimous bipartisan support. The House passed a companion bill reauthorizing the Act in May 2017. During this markup, the Committee also approved the nomination of Scott Stump to be Assistant Secretary of Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education (USED). Minority press release here and Ranking Member Patty Murray’s (D-WA) statement here. House companion bill here. White House nomination announcement here.
June 26, 2018
Senate Approves the Farm Bill: The Senate passed its version of the farm bill — S. 3042, the “Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018” — by a vote of 86-11. The House passed its companion bill last week, potentially setting the legislation up for consideration by a conference committee. No announcement has been made regarding a timeline for a conference on the bill. The current law expires on September 30. Statement from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) here. Full Senate bill text is here. Full House bill text is here.
June 28, 2018
House:
House Rejects “Ryan Compromise” Bill: The House rejected an immigration bill by a vote of 121-300. The “Ryan Compromise” bill — H.R. 6136, the “Border Security and Immigration Reform Act of 2018” — had been delayed since the prior week, when it was originally scheduled to be taken up. No alternative legislation has been proposed. Press release from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) here. The full bill text is here.
June 27, 2018
House Oversight Committee Holds a Hearing on Government Reorganization Plan: The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing titled “Examining the Administration’s Government-Wide Reorganization Plan.” The hearing’s purpose was to examine the government-wide reorganization plan announced by President Donald Trump, and to understand Congress’ role in evaluating and enacting government reorganization proposals. President Trump’s plan includes the consolidation of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and USED into one agency to be titled the Department of Education and the Workforce. The only witness was Margaret Weichert, the Deputy Director for Management for the Office of Management and Budget. More information on the hearing here. The reorganization plan is here.
June 27, 2018
Administration:
U.S. Department of Education (USED):
U.S. Senate Confirms Frank Brogan: The Senate confirmed Frank Brogan to be Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education by a voice vote. Mr. Brogan has been working since last fall in the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development as a Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. In addition, he has been serving as the Acting Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education since earlier this year. USED Secretary DeVos’s statement here.
June 25, 2018
Federal Commission on School Safety Conducts a Second Listening Session: The Federal Commission on School Safety held a second listening session in Lexington, Kentucky. None of the four Cabinet members who make up the commission were present, and instead sent officials from each of their agencies to participate. USED Deputy Secretary Mick Zais led the day’s events on USED Secretary DeVos’ behalf. During the listening session, local stakeholders and members of the public were invited to share their perspectives on how to improve school safety. Video here.
June 26, 2018
U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ):
Attorney General Sessions Announces Additional Funding for STOP Act: Attorney General Jeff Sessions, during his remarks to the National Association of School Resource Officers, announced an additional $25 million under the Students, Teachers, and Officers Preventing (STOP) School Violence Act. The funding is in addition to the $50 million that was already included in the grants program. It is unclear if the additional funding will be an annual allocation or one-time appropriation. Attorney General Sessions specified the new funding will be for “better training and for technology to improve emergency reporting.” Full remarks from the announcement here.
June 25, 2018
U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS)
U.S. Supreme Court Issues a Decision in Janus v. AFSCME: The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruled in the Janus v. AFSCME case that public-sector unions may not charge non-members mandatory fees. The case was decided 5-4. The plaintiff, Mark Janus, is a child-support specialist in the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Mr. Janus argued that he should not have to pay the “agency fees” required by Illinois state law to his union to compensate for its expenses in negotiating a contract on his behalf, claiming that the First Amendment gives him the right to do these things himself. The decision is expected to impact various union groups, including teachers’ unions, across the country. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray’s (D-WA) statement here. House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) and Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions and Subcommittee Chairman Tim Walberg’s (R-MI) joint statement here. House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott’s (D-VA) statement here. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings’s (D-MD) statement here.
June 27, 2018
Upcoming Events:
- Both the House and Senate are in recess next week in observance of Independence Day. The Senate will return to session on July 9, and the House will return on July 10.
Publications:
- On June 25, the CBO published a report titled, “Distribution of Federal Support for Students Pursuing Higher Education in 2016.” The report examines the distribution of federal financial aid among households, by income group. Full report here.
- On June 25, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) published a report titled, “High School Longitudinal Study of 2009.” The study follows a nationally representative sample of students who were ninth-graders in fall 2009 from the beginning of high school into higher education and the workforce. The second follow-up was conducted from March 2016 through January 2017, approximately three years after high school graduation for most of the cohort. The data collected allow researchers to examine an array of young-adulthood outcomes among fall 2009 ninth-graders, including delayed high school completion, postsecondary enrollment, early postsecondary persistence and attainment, labor market experiences, family formation, and family financial support. Full report here.
- On June 26, the NCES released a new Statistics in Brief report titled, “Participants in Subbacclaureate Occupational Education: 2012.” This report uses data from the 2011–12 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study to examine how many students participated in subbaccalaureate occupational education, the characteristics of these students, their fields of study, and the types of postsecondary institutions in which they enrolled. Full report here.
- On June 27, the NCES published a report titled, “Revenues and Expenditures for Public Elementary and Secondary School Districts: School Year 2014-15 (Fiscal Year 2015) (NCES 2018-303).” This First Look report presents data on public elementary and secondary education revenues and expenditures at the local education agency (LEA) or school district level for fiscal year (FY) 2015. Specifically, this report includes finance data on topics such as federal, state, and local revenues for the 100 largest LEAs; federal revenues received by LEAs, by program and state; and local revenues by source and by state. Full report here.
Legislation:
H.R.6196
A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to require local educational agencies to implement a policy on allergy bullying in schools.
Sponsor: Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA)
H.R.6259
A bill to allow a State to submit a State management decision to the Secretary of Education to combine certain funds to improve the academic achievement of students.
Sponsor: Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ)
H.R.6279
A bill to amend the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act to include bullying and harassment prevention programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)
H.R.6280
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to include Parent PLUS loans in income-contingent and income-based repayment plans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH)
H.R.6298
A bill to amend the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 to require States to designate public high schools as voter registration agencies, to direct such schools to conduct voter registration drives for students attending such schools, to direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to reimburse such schools for the costs of conducting such voter registration drives, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Frederica Wilson (D-FL)
S.3122
A bill to support coding education.
Sponsor: Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
S.3124
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for no accrual of interest on Federal Direct Loans for individuals employed in public service.
Sponsor: Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
S.3129
A bill to amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 in order to improve career and technical education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI)
S.3141
A bill to amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to provide for career and technical education research and outreach.
Sponsor: Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
S.3158
A bill to appropriate funds to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2019
Sponsor: Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO)
S.3152
A bill to establish a pilot grant program to support career and technical education exploration programs in middle schools and high schools.
Sponsor: Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR)