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

HOUSE

House Republicans released a bill, the American Health Care Act, to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. The House Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce Committees held markups and passed the bill by a vote of 23—16 and 31—23, respectively.

The House Education and the Workforce Committee approved the Small Business Health Fairness Act (H.R. 1101) by a vote of 22—17; the Self-Insurance Protection Act (H.R. 1304) by voice vote; and the Preserving Employee Wellness Programs Act (H.R. 1313) by a vote of 22—17. Committee Democrats released a statement opposing these bills.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee voted to extend Washington D.C.’s federally funded vouchers program, called the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program, for five more years.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) spoke, on the House floor, in support of the American Health Care Act.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) released a statement in opposition to the American Health Care Act.

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held its outside and public witnesses hearings. The documents and webcast can be found here.

The House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing on the overview and oversight of the National Science Foundation. The documents and webcast can be found here.

SENATE 

The Senate passed H.J.Res. 58, a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to repeal the Obama Administration’s recently promulgated Title II Teacher Preparation and Title IV TEACH Grant regulations, by a vote of 59—40. This CRA resolution is expected to be signed into law by President Trump.

The Senate passed H.J.Res. 57, a CRA resolution to repeal the Obama Administration’s recently promulgated ESEA State Plans and Accountability regulations, by a vote of 50—49. This CRA resolution is expected to be signed into law by President Trump.

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) spoke, on the Senate floor, in support of repealing the ESEA State Plans and Accountability regulations.

HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) spoke, on the Senate floor, in opposition to repealing the ESEA State Plans and Accountability regulations.

Chairman Alexander released a statement in support of the repeal of the teacher preparation regulations.

Ranking Member Murray spoke, on the Senate floor, and released a statement in opposition to the American Health Care Act.

HELP Committee Democrats sent a letter to Committee Chairman Alexander requesting hearings on nominees to “critical positions” at the U.S. Department of Education (ED).

Ranking Member Murray sent a letter to Secretary of Labor nominee Alexander Acosta asking him to provide three years of tax returns, as well as released a statement, following her meeting with Mr. Acosta, saying that she had serious concerns about his nomination.

The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing on the oversight of the Federal Communications Commission. The documents and webcast can be found here.

ADMINISTRATION  

President Trump signed Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States, a new executive order (EO) on immigration. The EO, which will go into effect on March 16, will impose a 90-day travel ban on citizens from six designated countries. The EO exempts U.S. visa and U.S. Green Card holders and no longer offers preferential status to persecuted religious minorities.

The States of Hawaii, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon and Washington have moved forward to challenge President Trump’s new EO on immigration in court.

ED published, in the Federal Register, that it is extending the deadlines, until July 1, 2017, for institutions to submit an alternate earnings appeal and to comply with the disclosure requirements in the gainful employment regulations.

Senior White House adviser on education Jason Botel gave a speech supporting school choice to the National Parent Teacher Association’s legislative conference.

The Internal Revenue Service Data Retrieval Tool (IRS DRT), which students utilize to input information from their tax returns into the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is currently unavailable. ED and the IRS released a statement saying they anticipate that the IRS DRT will be unavailable for several weeks to address security concerns.

SUPREME COURT

The Supreme Court of the United States announced that it is sending Gavin Grimm’s case back to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, which is a case regarding transgender student rights.

EVENTS

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

• March 16: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies hearing on “Investing in the Future – Early Childhood Education Programs at the Department of Health and Human Services”