HOUSE and SENATE

The House was in recess this week and the Senate adjourned after being in session on Tuesday. Both chambers will return next week after the Labor Day holiday.

ADMINISTRATION

The New York Times reported that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is preparing new Title IX regulations that would bolster the rights of students accused of assault, harassment or rape, reduce liability for institutions of higher education and encourage schools to provide more support for victims..

Seth Frotman, the Student Loan Ombudsman at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), resigned over differences between the priorities of CFPB’s political leadership and career staff, saying that leadership had “repeatedly undercut and undermined career CFPB staff working to secure relief for consumers.”

ED further delayed its decision on whether to continue to recognize the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) until September 28. The decision was originally set to come out by July 30.

The Federal Commission on School Safety held its final listening session in Alabama.

ED announced $63 million in Federal assistance under the Emergency Assistance to Institutions of Higher Education program for institutions affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, or Maria or the 2017 California wildfires.

The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) officially launched its new digital platform apprenticeship.gov.

DOL announced a series of listening sessions across the country concerning the salary threshold under which employees who work more than 40 hours a week must be paid overtime. The Obama Administration had issued final regulations raising the salary threshold (increasing the number of workers eligible for overtime pay), but a Federal court enjoined the regulation.

EVENTS:

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

• September 5: House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee hearing on “On-The-Job: Rebuilding the Workforce Through Apprenticeships”

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES 

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