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

HOUSE and SENATE

The Senate began debate on amendments to the United States Innovation and Competition Act of 2021 (also known as the Endless Frontier Act). Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) filed a substitute amendment with debate and consideration of amendments on the bill scheduled to resume on Monday.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) opened registration to publicly testify at the virtual hearing kicking off the implementation of President Biden’s Executive Order calling for a comprehensive review of ED’s existing regulations related to Title IX and other protections designed to prevent discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity.

ED formally turned down a request by Student Defense, a consumer organization focused on post-secondary students, to reverse the prior Administration’s decision to eliminate the gainful employment regulation.

ED’s Inspector General found that $1.2 million in Federal COVID-19 relief funding was allocated to institutions of higher education that were closed.

A Federal judge ruled that former U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos must testify in a student loan forgiveness class-action lawsuit.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that K-12 schools continue to use current COVID-19 prevention strategies for the 2020-2021 school year.

EVENTS

Penn Hill Group plans on providing clients a summary of the following event next week:

May 27: House Education and Labor Subcommittee Hearing on “Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Reauthorization: Creating Employment Pathways for Dislocated Workers”

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

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