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E-Update for June 9, 2017

09 Jun

E-Update for June 9, 2017

E-Update

Highlights:

  • The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing with U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on the FY2018 U.S. Department of Education’s budget request.
  • The House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee held a hearing with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price on the FY2018 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ budget request.
  • The U.S. Department of Education announced that it is seeking comments on a Weighted Student Funding and School-Based systems study.

Congress:

House:

House Ways and Means Committee Holds a Hearing on the FY2018 HHS Budget Request: The House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing on the Fiscal Year (FY)  2018 President’s budget request for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Committee members questioned HHS Secretary Tom Price about his commitment to the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program and the budget’s proposed cuts to social service programs that benefit children, such as Medicaid, the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG), the Community Services Block Grant, and childcare support programs. The House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Kevin Brady’s (R-TX) opening statement can be found here. The House Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal’s (D-MA) opening statement can be found here.
June 8, 2017

House Democrats Introduce Bills on Dual Enrollment and Competency-Based Education: House Committee on Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) and House Subcommittee Ranking Member Susan Davis  (D-CA) introduced H.R. 2845, the “Jumpstart on College Act,” which would expand dual enrollment and early college high school programs. Ranking Member Scott and Rep. Davis also joined Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education, in introducing H.R. 2859,  the “Advancing Competency-Based Education Act of 2017,” which would provide flexibility for competency-based education programs, while at the same time establishing new levels of transparency and accountability. Both bills are part of the House Democrats #AimHigher initiative. Press release here.
June 8, 2017

House Republicans Introduce a Bill to Reauthorize MIECHV: On June 8, House Ways and Means Human Resources Subcommittee Chairman Adrian Smith (R-NE) and Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee Chairman Michael Burgess (R-TX) introduced H.R. 2824, the “Increasing Opportunity through Evidence-Based Home Visiting Act,” to reauthorize the MIECHV program, which provides funding for home visiting services, through FY2022. Press release here.
June 8, 2017

Senate:

Senate Finance Committee Holds a Hearing on the FY2018 HHS Budget Request: The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing at which HHS Secretary Tom Price testified on the FY2018 President’s budget request for HHS. During his opening statement, HHS Secretary Tom Price highlighted proposed investments in the FY2018 President’s budget request to prevent childhood obesity, invest in mental health services, and Healthy Start. Senators used the hearing to primarily ask HHS Secretary Price about plans to cut Medicaid, as well as plans to repeal and replace the Affordable Healthcare Act. The Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch’s (R-UT) statement can be found here. The Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden’s (D-OR) statement can be found here. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray’s (D-WA) statement on HHS Secretary Price’s comments at the hearing can be found here.
June 8, 2017

Senate Finance Committee Holds a Hearing on the Nomination of HHS’ Deputy Secretary: The Senate Finance Committee held a hearing  to consider the nominations, including Eric Hagan for HHS’ Deputy Secretary. Chairman Orrin Hatch’s (R-UT) statement can be found here.  Ranking Member Ron Wyden’s (D-OR) opening statement can be found here.
June 7, 2017

Senate Labor/HHS Subcommittee Holds a Hearing on the FY2018 USED’s Budget Request: The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor/HHS) held a hearing on the FY2018 President’s budget request for the U.S. Department of Education (USED). During the hearing, members highlighted the proposed significant reduction or elimination of programs, including Federal Work Study, TRIO, and 21st Century Community Learning Centers. Members also expressed concerns with the proposed Pell Grant surplus rescission and changes to student loans and student loan repayment. Subcommittee Chairman Roy Blunt’s (R-MO) statement can be found here. Full Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy’s (D-VT) statement can be found here. Secretary Betsy Devos’ opening statement can be found here. June 6, 2017

Weighted Student Funding and School-Based Systems Study Announced: USED announced in the Federal Register its intention to conduct a  study of school districts engaging in weighted student funding (WSF) systems offering more per-pupil funds to low-income students.  Comments are due August 7, 2017.
June 6, 2017

Senator Warren Requests a Hearing on the Status of FSA: Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) sent a letter to Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) urging the committee to hold a hearing on the state of the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) following the resignation of the former Chief Operating Officer, James Runcie, and on his appointed successor.
June 5, 2017

Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Murray Releases a Statement on the Availability of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool: Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray released a statement regarding USED’s announcement that the IRS Data Retrieval Tool is now available for borrowers applying for and rectifying an income-driven repayment for their student loans. Ranking Member Murray noted, while the Department has taken an important first step in aiding struggling student borrowers, that she will continue to push for all students to have full access to the tool by October 1, 2017.
June 2, 2017

Administration:

Transition:

  • Peter Oppenheim has been nominated to be USED’s Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs. He currently services as the Education Policy Director for the Senate HELP Committee under Chairman Alexander.
    • Senate HELP Committee Chairman Alexander issued a statement regarding the selection of Peter Oppenheim to serve as Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs. Read the statement here.
  • Carlos G. Muñiz has been nominated to be USED’s General Counsel.
  • Lynn A. Johnson has been nominated to be HHS’ Assistant Secretary for Family Support. Currently, Lynn is the Executive Director of the Jefferson County Department of Human Services in Colorado.
  • Kimberly Richey has been selected as USED’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
  • Adam Kissel has been selected as USED’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs, Office of Postsecondary Education.
    • Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Murray released a statement expressing concerns about the possible rollback of campus sexual assault protections and guidance due to the appointment of Adam Kissel as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs at the U.S. Department of Education (USED). Read the statement here.

U.S. Department of Education:

IES Announces Competition for National Research and Development Centers: USED’s Institute of Education Sciences announced competitions for four new National Research and Development Centers through the Education Research and Development Center Program. The centers engage in research, development, evaluation and national leadership activities to advance student achievement. The new centers will focus on improving education outcomes for disadvantaged students in choice schools, improving rural education, writing in secondary schools, and exploring science teaching in elementary school classrooms, respectively.
June 8, 2017

Events:

  • On June 15, the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development will hold a hearing on “Helping Americans Get Back to Work: Implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act” at 10:00 am. More information here.
  • On June 15, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies will hold a hearing on theFY2018 President’s budget request for HHS at 10:00 am, during which HHS Secretary Tom Price will testify. More information here.

Legislation:

S.1091
A bill to establish a Federal Task Force to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.
Sponsor: Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)

S.1125
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide Federal Pell Grants to Iraq and Afghanistan veteran’s dependents.
Sponsor: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)

S.1176
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a simplified income-driven repayment plan, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Angus King (I-ME)

S.1183
A bill to establish a third-party quality system assessment program.
Sponsor: Joe Donnelly (D-IN)

S.1193
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit for employer-provided job training, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

S.1205
A bill to authorize the establishment of American Dream Accounts.
Sponsor: Sen. Christopher Coons (D-DE)

S.1294
A bill to expand opportunity for Native American children through additional options in education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ)

S.1295
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide students with disabilities and their families with access to critical information needed to select the right college and succeed once enrolled.
Sponsor: Sen. Robert P. Casey (D-PA)

S.1330
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize a dependent to transfer entitlement to Post-9/11 Education Assistance in cases in which the dependent received the transfer of such entitlement to assistance from an individual who subsequently died, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD)

H.R. 2590
A bill to authorize the Secretary of Education to carry out a program to increase access to prekindergarten through grade 12 computer science education.
Sponsor: Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA)

H.R. 2628
A bill to amend titles XIX and XXI of the Social Security Act to provide for 12-month continuous enrollment of individuals under the Medicaid program and Children’s Health Insurance Program, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Gene Green (D-TX)

H.R. 2633
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to enhance the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit and make the credit fully refundable.
Sponsor: Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)

H.R.2782
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide students with disabilities and their families with access to critical information needed to select the right college and succeed once enrolled.
Sponsor: Rep. Mike Coffman (D-OR)

H.R.2845
A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to support early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs.
Sponsor: Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)

H.R.2848
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to allow qualified entrepreneurs to temporarily defer Federal student loan payments after starting a new business.
Sponsor: Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ)

H.R.2859
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish demonstration projects for competency-based education.
Sponsor: Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO)

H.R.2867
A bill to amend the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to establish a pilot program to facilitate education and training programs in the field of advanced manufacturing.
Sponsor: Rep. Norma J. Torres (D-CA)

 

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