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

HOUSE and SENATE

The House of Representatives voted 219-212 to pass the American Rescue Plan. The Senate began debating the chamber’s version of the bill and is presently in its “vote-a-rama” period.

House Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) announced her plan on how to restore the authority for Members of Congress to use earmarks in the upcoming Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 appropriations cycle.

ADMINISTRATION

The Senate voted 64-33 to confirm Miguel Cardona to serve as U.S. Secretary of Education on Monday. Secretary Cardona was sworn into office on Tuesday evening.

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) met this week and voted to recommended to end the U.S. Secretary of Education’s recognition of the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) as an accreditor of institutions of higher education.

The U.S. Department of Education Inspector General released a report that finds the Obama Administration’s original termination of ACICS’ recognition was handled improperly. The report also finds that the Trump Administration’s temporary reinstatement of the accreditor’s authority was not improper.

Federal Student Aid Chief Operating Officer General Mark Brown submitted his resignation to U.S. Secretary of Education Cardona.

The Institute of Education Sciences released an Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System report.

The National Center for Education Statistics released its 2019 Digest of Education Statistics.

EVENTS

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

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

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