A quick look back at the news from last week. Compiled by Penn Hill Group. 

HOUSE

The House passed the Midnight Rule Relief Act, which would amend the Congressional Review Act by allowing Congress to overturn simultaneously multiple regulations finalized in the last 60 days of a presidential administration. The Act is awaiting action by the Senate.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Representative Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) issued a statement raising their concerns about loan servicing practices in response to the recently released Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) report.

The House Education and the Workforce Committee released a statement supporting the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) announced that Representatives John Moolenaar (R-MI), Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Scott Taylor (R-VA) will serve on the Committee in the 115th Congress.

SENATE

Senate Democrats sent a letter to ED Secretary Nominee DeVos requesting more information in a variety of areas, prior to the hearing on her nomination.

The congressional members on the HELP Committee have been finalized. There are 12 Republicans and 11 Democrats on the Committee, and Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Todd Young (R-IN) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) will join the Committee.

HELP Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) released a statement voicing her concerns about ED Secretary Nominee DeVos and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Nominee Representative Tom Price (R-GA).

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman John Thune (R-SD) announced the Republican members who will serve on the Committee in the 115th Congress.

The Senate began consideration of a Fiscal Year 2017 budget resolution. The resolution contains reconciliation instructions for the Senate Finance and HELP Committees, as well as for the House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees. Under the instructions, these Committees are required to report their reconciliation bills by January 27.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Mike Enzi (R-WY) released a statement announcing the Republican members of the Senate Budget Committee for the 115th Congress and welcoming Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO), John Kennedy (R-LA) and John Boozman (R-AR) to the Committee.

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-MS) was selected by the Senate Republican Conference to continue serving as Chairman for another term.

ADMINISTRATION

President-elect Donald Trump selected Rob Goad, a former top aide to Representative Luke Messer (R-IN), to serve as the education policy adviser on the White House Domestic Policy Council.

ED released three new sets of guidance on how ED interprets and enforces Federal civil rights laws protecting the rights of students with disabilities.

Vice President Joe Biden released a letter advising college leaders on how to combat sexual assault on their campuses as well as a guide.

The CFPB released a report that found that the number of consumers age 60 and older with student loan debt, as well as the average amount they owe, has increased over the last decade.

The White House released a Fact Sheet on First Lady Michelle Obama’s School Counselor of the Year Ceremony and on recent educational progress.