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

HOUSE 

The House approved H.J. Res. 57, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to repeal the Department of Education’s (ED) recently promulgated ESEA State Plans and Accountability regulations. The final vote was 234—190. The resolution has been received in the Senate.

The House approved H.J. Res. 58, a CRA resolution to repeal ED’s recently promulgated Title II Teacher Preparation and TEACH Grant regulations. The final vote was 240—181. The resolution has been received in the Senate.

The House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing on the challenges and opportunities in higher education. The webcast and testimony can be found here. Additionally, Committee Republicans and Democrats released statements on their priorities.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) released a statement congratulating Betsy DeVos on her confirmation to serve as ED Secretary.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) released a statement opposing DeVos’ confirmation and commending Senate Democrats on their investigation of DeVos’ record.

The House Appropriations Committee announced Members’ Day hearings for February and March.

SENATE 

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) released a statement supporting the confirmation of DeVos, which includes his remarks given on the Senate floor.

HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) released a statement opposing the confirmation of DeVos, which includes her remarks given on the Senate floor.

The Senate voted to confirm DeVos as ED Secretary. The final vote was 51—50, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote.

Senate Democrats on the HELP Committee requested the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate the stock market trading activities of Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) nominee Representative Tom Price (R-GA) and postpone his confirmation vote until the investigation is complete.

Senate Democrats sent a letter to Price asking whether he supports President Trump’s Executive Order on immigration.

The Senate voted to confirm Price as HHS Secretary. The final vote was 52—47.

The HELP Committee rescheduled Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor nominee Andrew Puzder’s confirmation hearing from February 7 to February 16.

ADMINISTRATION  

President Trump released the final list of his nominees to serve on his Cabinet.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) revoked the designations of the companies that had been approved as broadband providers for the Lifeline program. The decision limits the companies’ ability to provide subsidized broadband access.

The FCC rescinded its report “E-Rate Modernization: Progress and the Road Ahead,” which describes the FCC’s 2014 effort to overhaul the E-rate program and subsidize the cost of telecommunications services.

EVENTS

Penn Hill Group plans to provide clients with a summary of the following event next week:

• February 15: House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee hearing on “Providing Vulnerable Youth the Hope of a Brighter Future Through Juvenile Justice Reform”
• February 16: Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on the “Nomination of Andrew Puzder to serve as Secretary of Labor”