Penn Hill Group’s Washington Wrap Up – September 5, 2017
A quick look back at the news from last week. Compiled by Penn Hill Group.
HOUSE and SENATE
The House Rules Committee will meet on Tuesday, September 5 to discuss the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018 (H.R. 3354), indicating that the House will consider this legislation this week. This bill includes 8 of the 12 remaining appropriations bills not yet passed by the House, including the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
The Senate Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee announced that they will mark up their fiscal year 2018 appropriations bill on Wednesday, September 6. The bill will be marked up by the full Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday, September 7.
ADMINISTRATION
ED published a notice on their intent to establish two negotiated rulemaking committees on the Borrower Defense to Repayment and Financial Responsibility regulations, as well as on the Gainful Employment Regulations. The notice states that nominations are due by September 29, 2017 and outlines the schedule of the committee meetings.
President Trump announced that the Administration will decide whether or not to terminate the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program by Monday, September 4.
ED Secretary Betsy DeVos announced ED’s new approach to how Federal Student Aid (FSA) enforces compliance by institutions participating in the Federal student aid programs, as well as the hiring of additional FSA personnel: Dr. Julian Schmoke, Jr. to lead enforcement activities, Dr. Michael Dean as the chief enterprise risk officer, Dr. Charles Patterson as the senior advisor for executive-level compliance and enforcement outreach and Chris Greene to head the communications, outreach and customer experience teams.
ED activated its emergency response contact center following Hurricane Harvey to assist school districts and institutions of higher education in their recovery efforts. Additionally, ED created an information page on the ED website.
Education Week reported that former Florida lieutenant governor Frank Brogan is a top contender for a position at ED, speculating that this position may be the Assistant Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education.
ED approved the District of Columbia, Illinois, Oregon, Tennessee, Maine and Vermont’s State plans under the Every Student Succeeds Act.
EVENTS
Penn Hill Group plans to provide clients with summaries of the following events next week: