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

HOUSE and SENATE

The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to reconvene for legislative business on January 10, 2022.

The U.S. Senate reconvened for legislative business on Monday, January 3, 2022.

ADMINISTRATION

The Biden Administration announced that it has extended the pause on student loan payments, interest and collections until May 1, 2022.

The White House sent the nomination of Amy Loyd to be Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to the Senate.

ED announced that the Missouri Higher Education Loan Authority (MOHELA) will be the new servicer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program and the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grant program.

ED released updated guidance on COVID-19 mitigation strategies for K-12 schools.

ED released guidance on school compliance with Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) accountability requirements.

ED approved two more State plans (Mississippi and Vermont) for the use of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds under the American Rescue Plan.

ED announced that it is working in collaboration with the Department of Transportation to address the nationwide school bus driver shortage by providing States flexibility on the administration of the Commercial Driver’s License skills test.

EVENTS

January 12: Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Executive Session on the Nomination of Robert Califf to be Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, the Nomination of Jose Javier Rodriguez to be Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training at the Department of Labor, the Nomination of Lisa Gomez to be Assistant Secretary for the Employee Benefits Security Administration at the Department of Labor, the Nomination of Amy Loyd to be Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical, and Adult Education at the Department of Education, the Nomination of Javier Ramirez to be the Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the Nomination of David Weil to be the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor, the Nomination of Linda Puchala to be a Member of the National Mediation Board and the Nomination of Susan Harthill to be a Member of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

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