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

HOUSE and SENATE

A version of the “skinny” Senate GOP COVID-19 relief bill (S.178) failed to advance this week.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett. The Senate is expected to vote on the nomination during the week of October 26.

House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (D-VA) issued subpoenas to three U.S. Department of Education (ED) officials as part of an investigation into the Dream Center.

ADMINISTRATION

ED released a report on institutional compliance with Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, in which the Department documents $6.5 billion in unreported gifts from various countries.

ED announced it is no longer recognizing a 2016 handbook that provided guidance to IHEs on reporting campus crime data under the Clery Act and is replacing the guidance with a 13-page supplement to the Federal Student Aid (FSA) handbook.

U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced it has arrested fifteen postsecondary students that, according to ICE, were fraudulently participating in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released updated guidance regarding the definition of a “close contact” for the purposes of COVID-19 contact tracing.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

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