Here’s a quick look at the news from last week (December 3 – 7) in Washington.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education announced that five more states will receive Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge grants. Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wisconsin will receive a portion of the $133 million fund.

HOUSE and SENATE
Rep. George Miller (D-CA) was re-elected to serve as the Senior Democratic Member on the House Committee on Education & the Workforce.

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) was chosen to serve as the Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Committee. She replaces retiring Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA).

Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) will leave the Senate in early January to lead the Heritage Foundation. Governor Haley (R-SC) will appoint a successor for the remaining four years of the term.

BUDGET
The lack of agreement on fiscal cliff issues and the 2013 appropriation bills have delayed final work on the Administration’s 2014 budget. Because of this, it is likely that the issuance of the President’s 2014 budget gets delayed by a week or more.