E-Update for May 5, 2017
Highlights
- On May 4, the Senate passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Consolidated Omnibus Appropriations bill by a vote of 79-18, after the bill was passed on May 3 by the House of Representatives by a vote of 309-118.
- On May 4, the House passed the American Health Care Act by a vote of 217-213. The bill will now be considered in the Senate. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan’s statement regarding the bill can be found here.
- On May 4, Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) introduced H.R. 2353, the “Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act” to create pathways to education and training for students interested in pursuing careers in high-demand industries and technical fields.
Congress:
Budget and Appropriations:
Congress Passes FY 2017 Omnibus Bill: The Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Consolidated Omnibus Appropriations bill passed the Senate by a vote of 79-18, after being passed by the House on May 3 by a vote of 309-118. The Omnibus bill provides discretionary funding for the federal government through September 30, 2017 and includes the following funding levels:
- $180 million increase for early childhood education programs, including a $85 million increase for Head Start, $95 million increase for the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and level funding for Preschool Development Grants.
- $15.5 billion for Title I (includes the full amount that was provided for now consolidated Title I and School Improvement Grants in FY 2016 plus an additional $100 million.
- $90 million increase for IDEA grants to states.
- $400 million for the new Student Support Academic Enrichment Grants program authorized in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which is an increase of $122 million over the total level for the consolidated programs in FY 2016.
- The agreement allows Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants funding provided in this Act to be distributed within a State on a competitive basis at a State’s discretion.
- $9 million increase for the Charter Schools Program, of which not more than $100 million is available for grants for the replication and expansion of high-quality charter schools.
- $294 million decrease for Title II State Grants. It is important to note that Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) Grants were funded at $94 million in FY 2016 within Title II State Grants. For FY 2017, SEED Grants are funded as a separate program, meaning the actual reduction for Title II State Grants is $200 million. SEED Grants in FY 2017 as a separate program are reduced from $94 million to $65 million.
- $1.31 billion of the Pell Grant surplus was rescinded.
- $22.5 billion for Pell Grants, which is the same as the 2016 enacted level. When combined with mandatory funding, these discretionary funds enable the maximum grant to increase to $5,920, an increase of $105 in the 2017-2018 school year. The bill reinstates year-round or summer Pell grants, which is estimated to provide one million students an additional Pell grant of, on average, $1,650.
- Pell Grants -The agreement includes a provision as included in the Senate bill regarding year-round Pell grants. The Department should implement this provision to maximize flexibility for institutions of higher education and avoid unnecessary administrative burdens while ensuring the best interests of students. The Department is directed to issue guidance on this expanded eligibility and flexibility in the Pell grant program not later than July 1, 20 1 7. The Department is also directed to provide reliable data on the implementation of this provision.
The text of the FY 2017 Omnibus bill can be found here along with the accompanying Joint Explanatory Statement here.
May 4, 2017
Statements from Members of Congress Regarding the FY 2017 Omnibus Bill: The House Appropriations Committee press release can be found here and Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee Rodney Frelinghuysen’s (R-NJ) floor statement here. Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee Nita Lowey’s (D-NY) statement is available here here. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran’s (R-MS) statement can be found here and Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chair Patrick Leahy’s (D-VT) statement here. Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee Lamar Alexander’s (R-TN) statement can be found here and Ranking Member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee Bobby Scott’s (D-VA) statement here.
- Chairman of the Senate HELP Committee Lamar Alexander and Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) also released a statement in support of the restoration of year-round eligibility for the Pell Grant program. Their statement can be found here.
May 3 & 4, 2017
House:
Reps. Thompson and Krishnamoorthi Introduce H.R. 2353, the “Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act”: On May 4, Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) introduced H.R. 2353, the “Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act” to create pathways to education and training for students interested in pursuing careers in high-demand industries and technical fields. The bill text can be found here.
May 4, 2017
House Oversight Committee Holds Hearing on FAFSA Data Breach: The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing entitled, “Reviewing the FAFSA Data Breach,” to discuss the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Data Retrieval Tool which was suspended due to security concerns. The hearing explored the decisions made by the U.S. Department of Education (USED) and the IRS regarding the tool’s data breach. Chairwoman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee Virginia Foxx’s (R-NC) statement during the hearing can be found here. In addition to the hearing, Chairman of the Senate HELP Committee Lamar Alexander and Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee Patty Murray (D-WA) sent a letter to USED Secretary Betsy DeVos to ask for regular briefings on the outage of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool. The Senators also requested an action plan to address the security concerns and expedite the process of getting the tool back in use. The press release regarding the Senators’ letter can be found here and the letter is available here.
May 3, 2017
Senate:
Senate Democrats Introduce S. 1006, the “Equality Act of 2017”: A group of Senate Democrats, led by Ranking Member of the Senate HELP Committee Patty Murray and Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Cory Booker (D-NJ), introduced S. 1006, the “Equality Act of 2017,” to ensure full federal non-discrimination equality by adding sexual orientation and gender identity to other protected classes, such as race or religion, in existing federal laws. The bill text can be found here.
May 2, 2017
Senate Passes National Charter Schools Week Resolution: The Senate unanimously passed S.Res.148, a resolution celebrating National Charter Schools Week which ran from May 1 to May 5. In a statement on the resolution, Chairman of the Senate HELP Committee Lamar Alexander highlighted the history of bipartisan support for charter schools and the importance of school choice for families. The resolution text can be found here.
May 1, 2017
Bipartisan Senators Send Letter to USED Secretary DeVos on Upward Bound Applications: A group of bipartisan senators, led by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jon Tester (D-MT), sent a letter to USED Secretary DeVos asking her to change the Department’s decision to reject Upward Bound applications based on formatting requirements. The Upward Bound program assists low-income and first-generation students in accessing higher education. Press release and letter here.
April 28, 2017
Administration:
Transition:
President Trump Appoints HHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs: President Donald Trump announced his decision to appoint Dr. Charmaine Yoest to serve as Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, Public Affairs. Dr. Yoest is currently a Senior Fellow at American Values.
April 28, 2017
U.S. Department of Education (USED):
IES Awards Grants for USED’s Small Business Innovation Research Programs: USED’s Institute of Education Sciences (IES) announced the awarding of $8 million to 18 organizations for USED’s Small Business Innovation Research programs which focus on the development and testing of education technology designed to improve teaching and learning.
May 4, 2017
USED Secretary DeVos had the following meetings and events this week:
- On May 4, USED Secretary DeVos visited Cornerstone, a private religious school, to highlight Washington, D.C.’s school voucher program.
- On May 3, USED Secretary DeVos met with Doug Tuthill, president of Step Up for Students, an organization that administers Florida’s tax credit scholarship program.
- On May 1, USED Secretary DeVos spoke at the Milken Institute Global Conference about the Administration’s education priorities. The webcast can be found here.
- On April 28, USED Secretary DeVos visited North Park Elementary in San Bernardino, California to visit with students, as well as the families of those who were killed in a recent shooting at the school. The press release can be found here.
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue Signs Proclamation Easing Requirements for School Meal Programs: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide greater flexibility in nutrition requirements for school meal programs in regards to whole grains, sodium, and milk. Additionally, the USDA will begin the regulatory process that would allow schools to serve 1 percent flavored milk in their meal programs. A copy of the proclamation can be found here.
May 1, 2017
Publications:
GAO Releases Report on Supporting Transition-Age Youth with Autism: The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report entitled, “Youth with Autism: Federal Agencies Should Take Additional Action to Support Transition-Age Youth.” The report recommends that USED Secretary DeVos should undertake an evaluation of outcomes for students with disabilities who receive transition services at age 16 to determine if the age in which the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides transition services should be lowered.
May 4, 2017
Events:
- On May 9, the Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing entitled, “The Children’s Health Insurance Program: The Path Forward” at 10:00 am. More information can be found here and the live webcast will be available here.
Legislation:
S. Res. 148
A resolution congratulating the students, parents, teachers, and leaders of charter schools across the United States for making ongoing contributions to education, and supporting the ideals and goals of the 18th annual National Charter Schools Week, to be held May 1 through May 5, 2017.
Sponsor: Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
S.998
A bill to improve college affordability.
Sponsor: Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-MN)
S.1004
A bill to amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to support innovative approaches to career and technical education and redesign the high school experience for students by providing students with equitable access to rigorous, engaging, and relevant real world education through partnerships with business and industry and higher education that prepare students to graduate from high school and enroll into postsecondary education without the need for remediation and with the ability to use knowledge to solve complex problems, think critically, communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and develop academic mindsets.
Sponsor: Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA)
S.1006
Equality Act of 2017
A bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
H.Res.294
A resolution recognizing and honoring the essential role of classified school education support employees through the Recognizing Inspirational School Employees Award.
Sponsor: Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV)
H.Res.307
A resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives relating to protecting freedom of speech, thought, and expression at institutions of higher education.
Sponsor: Rep. David Roe (R-TN)
H.Res.312
A resolution recognizing the roles and contributions of America’s teachers to building and enhancing the Nation’s civic, cultural, and economic well-being.
Sponsor: Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO)
H.R.2234
A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to establish the Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award Program recognizing excellence exhibited by public school system employees providing services to students in prekindergarten through higher education.
Sponsor: Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV)
H.R.2236
A bill to amend the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008 to provide certain alternative eligibility requirements applicable to foster care youth, and homeless youth, who are enrolled at least half-time in an institution of higher education.
Sponsor: Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL)
H.R.2245
A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to conduct a study to determine the relationship between school start times and adolescent health, well-being, and performance.
Sponsor: Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA)
H.R.2257
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to consolidate certain eligibility tiers under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of Department of Veterans Affairs.
Sponsor: Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH)
H.R.2260
A bill to improve college affordability.
Sponsor: Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA)
H.R.2268
A bill to authorize the Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the Department of Justice to award grants to local educational agencies to establish, expand, and support programs to train school staff to recognize and respond to signs of labor and sex trafficking and to provide classroom curricula to students on how to avoid becoming victims of labor and sex trafficking.
Sponsor: Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA)
H.R.2270
A bill to amend section 437(d) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for repayment by the Secretary of loans to parents of disabled students.
Sponsor: Rep. James Langevin (D-RI)
H.R.2282
A bill to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI)
H.R.2300
A bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve the determination of cohort default rates and provide for enhanced civil penalties, to ensure personal liability of owners, officers, and executives of institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
H.R.2301
A bill to provide that chapter 1 of title 9 of the United States Code, relating to the enforcement of arbitration agreements, shall not apply to enrollment agreements made between students and certain institutions of higher education; and to prohibit limitations on the ability of students to pursue claims against certain institutions of higher education.
Sponsor: Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
H.R.2303
A bill to establish a task force to share best practices on computer programming and coding for elementary schools and secondary schools, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA)
H.R.2304
A bill to establish a grant program to promote the development of career education programs in computer science in secondary and postsecondary education.
Sponsor: Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA)
H.R.2305
A bill to direct the Secretary of Education to award grants to State educational agencies to develop comprehensive plans to strengthen elementary and secondary computer science education, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA)
H.R.2308
A bill to amend the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 to support maker education and makerspaces.
Sponsor: Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)
H.R.2353
Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act
A bill to reauthorize the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006.
Sponsor: Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA)