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

HOUSE

House Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) released a statement supporting the Supreme Court’s decision in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District requiring that a school must offer an individualized education program that is reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child’s circumstances. The decision also remanded the case back to the 10^th circuit.

House Education and the Workforce Committee Democrats sent a letter to the leaders of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee regarding the nomination hearing of U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary nominee Alexander Acosta.

The House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Technology held a hearing on the challenges and opportunities facing the National Science Foundation. The documents and webcast can be found here.

The House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a hearing to discuss strategies for improving Federal student aid. The documents and webcast can be found here. Committee Republicans and Democrats released statements on their priorities.

SENATE 

The Senate HELP Committee held a hearing on the nomination of Alexander Acosta to serve as DOL Secretary. The documents and webcast can be found here. The Committee will hold an executive session to vote on his nomination on Thursday, March 30.

Senate HELP Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) released statements supporting the Acosta nomination.

Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) released a statement in opposition of the Acosta nomination.

Ranking Member Murray released a memo to the Democratic caucus discussing the impacts of public and private school choice..

Ranking Member Murray released a statement supporting the Supreme Court’s decision in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District.

Ranking Member Murray issued a statement regarding reports that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has eliminated questions about LGBTQ people from the National Survey of Older Americans Act Participants and Annual Program Performance Report for Centers for Independent Living.

Ranking Member Murray released a statement opposing the appointment of Roger Severino as Director of the Office for Civil Rights at HHS.

Senate Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-VT) released a statement in opposition to President Trump’s fiscal year (FY) 2018 “skinny budget” proposal.

ADMINISTRATION  

President Trump held a roundtable discussion with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as U.S. and German business leaders, on vocational training.

U.S. Department of Education (ED) Secretary Betsy DeVos visited Valencia College, a community college in Kissimmee, Florida.

ED Secretary DeVos gave a speech to the Council of Chief State School Officers, at which she discussed the new Elementary and Secondary Education Act State plan template.

ED Secretary DeVos gave a speech to the National Association of State Boards of Education, at which she voiced her support for President Trump’s FY18 “skinny budget” proposal.

SUPREME COURT

The Supreme Court unanimously decided in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District pertaining to the level of services required for children with disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

EVENTS

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

• March 29: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies budget hearing for the Department of Health and Human Services