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

CONGRESS

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) sent a Dear Colleague letter previewing his priorities for the Senate in the remainder of 2023.

The Senate failed to invoke cloture on the nomination of Jose Javier Rodriguez to be the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Administration (ETA) on a 44-51 vote.

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Rules announced that it will meet Monday, December 4 to discuss the following two bills. Both bills are expected to be considered on the House floor next week.

1. Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to repeal the Biden Administration’s Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) income-driven repayment plan; and
2. the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act.

Rep. George Santos (R-NY) was expelled from the U.S. House of Representatives on a 311-114 vote with two members voting present.

ADMINISTRATION

The Biden Administration released a policy statement on the inclusion of children with disabilities in early childhood programs.

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it will commence a new negotiated rulemaking effort in January to develop new proposed regulations for accreditation, institutional eligibility, distance education, return of Title IV funds, cash management and eligibility requirements for Federal TRIO programs. Nominations for constituency groups to serve on the committee and a related subcommittee are due on or before December 13.

ED released a new frequently asked questions (FAQ) document for institutions of higher education on compliance with foreign gift reporting requirements in Section 117 of the Higher Education Act.

ED announced a new effort to distribute free COVID-19 tests to U.S. schools in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

EVENTS

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

December 5: House Committee on Education and the Workforce Full Committee Hearing on “Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism.”

December 5: House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Full Committee Hearing on “The Importance of Protecting Female Athletics and Title IX.”

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

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