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

HOUSE and SENATE

The House Appropriations Committee approved its Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations legislation.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee scheduled a vote on several nominations for Senate-appointed positions at the U.S. Department of Education (ED) for Wednesday, July 21 and held a hearing on three of these nominations.

The Senate confirmed Julie Su to serve as Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Labor.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced the House will consider a package of seven appropriations bills, including the Committee passed LHHS appropriations bill, during the week of July 26.

The House Education and Labor Committee approved H.R. 729, the Strength in Diversity Act of 2021, and H.R. 730, the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2021, on party line votes.

Senate Budget Committee Democrats and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced a $3.5 trillion top-line budget reconciliation target for a budget resolution which Schumer has said the Senate will vote on before the August recess.

ADMINISTRATION

President Biden signed an Executive Order on promoting competition in the American economy.

ED approved plans for using American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for 10 States and the District of Columbia.

ED’s Office of Financial Student Aid (FSA) announced that it would limit the scope of its efforts to verify information submitted through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2021-2022 award year.

FSA announced the appointment of multiple individuals focused on improving operations and accountability in student loan servicing and postsecondary institutions compliance.

ED released a Frequently Asked Questions document on using COVID-19 relief funds to support full-service community schools.

The National Center for Education Statistics released a report on “Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2020.”

The National Advisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity (NACIQI) published a dashboard on “Federal Postsecondary Education and Student Aid Data.”

ED published requirements for the Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) program under the ARP.

EVENTS

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

July 21: House Education and Labor Joint Subcommittee Hearing on “Phasing out Subminimum Wages: Supporting the Transition to Integrated Employment for Workers with Disabilities”

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

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