HOUSE 

The House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee has requested Members send their programmatic and language submissions for consideration in the FY2019 appropriations bill by March 19. Please note that other subcommittees have different deadlines for submissions.

SENATE                           

The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) asked the public for comments or suggestions for the Committee’s consideration of the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. Comments are due today, Friday, February 23.

The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee will accept written testimony from outside witnesses for Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriations. Submissions are due by June 1, 2018.

ADMINISTRATION

Earlier this week, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) called for public comment on the criteria that are used to determine whether a student loan borrower has an “undue hardship” as part of a bankruptcy proceeding. Comments are due on or before May 22, 2018.

Pursuant to a recent court order, ED is extending the public comment period until March 1, 2018, for the submission of comments on the application of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) for initial recognition and the compliance report submitted by the American Bar Association (ABA).

Several news outlets have reported that ED has developed a plan to reorganize and shrink the number of offices that oversee Department functions and programs.

Last week, ED completed the final round of negotiations to restructure the Borrower Defense to Repayment (BDR) regulations. The Administration has delayed the current BDR regulations while they have been conducting negotiated rulemaking to develop new rules. The final round ended last week without any consensus on a new regulation.

Earlier this week, ED restarted their efforts to adopt a new student loan servicing system through a bidding process for new contractors to handle various aspects of the servicing process.

The Employment and Training Administration and the Department of Labor announced a meeting notice for the Task Force on Apprenticeship Expansion. The meeting will be held on Thursday, March 15, 2018.

The White House issued a press release on President Trump, Vice President Pence and Secretary of Education DeVos meeting with  students, teachers and community leaders to discuss how America must improve safety at schools across the country.

Secretary Betsy Devos expressed support expanding school choice for military children.

President Trump hosted a School Safety Roundtable at the White House with State and local leaders.

EVENTS

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

• February 28: House Education and Workforce Committee hearing: “Strengthening Access and Accountability to Work in Welfare Programs”

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES 

Penn Hill Group provides a list of grant opportunities and summaries for select grants. Please visit our website for more information