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

HOUSE and SENATE

The House and Senate passed a Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 budget resolution, which provided reconciliation instructions for Committees to produce legislation to enact budget proposals.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a confirmation hearing for Commissioner Miguel Cardona, the nominee to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education and a confirmation hearing for Mayor Marty Walsh, the nominee to serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor. HELP Committee votes on both nominees are scheduled for February 11.

The Senate approved an organizing resolution which finalized how committees will operate under the 50-50 split in the Senate, as well as certain procedures for consideration of bills on the Senate floor.

The House Education and Labor Committee is scheduled to have its organizing meeting for the 117^th Congress on February 8.

The House passed the National Apprenticeship Act by a vote of 247 to 173.

ADMINISTRATION

In the final days of the Trump Administration, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued a determination after many years of deliberation that Navient, a student loan company that participated in the Federal Family Education Loan program (FFEL), improperly sought interest on certain Federal student loans.

The Biden Administration dropped a lawsuit against Yale University that had been filed during the Trump Administration over how heavily the University considers race in its admissions practices.

ED announced additional appointees to the agency.

The Institute of Education Sciences announced a national survey to collect national data on school reopening and students’ learning statuses.

SUPREME COURT

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case on student athlete compensation limits, Alston v. NCAA, during its March 2021 session. 

EVENTS

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

February 9: House Education and Labor Committee Markup: Committee Print to comply with reconciliation directives included in section 2001 (b) of the Concurrent Resolutions on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2021, H.Con.Res. 11 and S.Con.Res. 5.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

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