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

HOUSE and SENATE

The House is expected to consider Democrat’s infrastructure package, the Moving Forward Act, (H.R.2) next week. This legislation includes the school infrastructure provisions of the Reopen and Rebuild America’s Schools Act.

House Appropriations Chair Nita Lowey (D-NY) announced that all 12 Appropriations Subcommittee markups will take place during the week of July 6, with full Committee markups beginning on July 9.

The Government Accountability Office’s ongoing audit required by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act (P.L.116-136) reported on the U.S. Department of Education’s (ED) administration of funds under this law.

The House failed to pass a veto override of H.J.Res.76, a Congressional Review Act resolution which would have repealed the Administration’s final Borrower Defense to Repayment rule.

ADMINISTRATION

ED published an interim final rule regarding implementation of the equitable services provision under the Education Stabilization Fund’s portions of the CARES Act.

ED released a new online portal for institutions of higher education (IHEs) to report foreign gifts.

ED’s office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) announced it signed contracts with five companies to assist in servicing of Federal student loans.

President Trump signed an executive order on strengthening the child welfare system.

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI), ED’s advisory committee on higher education accreditation issues, announced it would not decide whether the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) is meeting established Federal standards until February 2021.

ED approved the career and technical education (CTE) State plans for Arkansas, Mississippi, Nevada and Tennessee. To date, 35 CTE State plans have been approved.

EVENTS

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

• June 30: Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on “COVID 19: Update on Progress Toward Safely Getting Back to Work and Back to School”

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

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