HOUSE and SENATE

The House and Senate passed a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the Federal government through December 20 by a 231 to 192 vote and a 74 to 20 vote, respectively, which the President signed into law.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-TN) endorsed the bipartisan Protect VETS Act, which would alter the 90/10 requirements pertaining to for-profit institutions of higher education.

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) was named the Chair of the House Oversight Committee, replacing the late Rep. Elijah Cummings. Rep. Maloney will be the first woman to chair the Committee.

ADMINISTRATION

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) announced that it officially updated the College Scorecard to include median debt and earnings data for individual programs at institutions of higher education.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) posted ED’s updated Fall 2019 unified regulatory agenda. The agenda lists a forthcoming proposed rule regarding campus free speech.

ED opened an investigation into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) over whether the school properly reported foreign gifts as required under Section 117 of the Higher Education Act (HEA).

The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) completed its review of ED’s proposed TEACH Grant regulations.

ED’s Office of Civil Rights opened an investigation into New York University for possible discrimination against Jewish students.

Politico reported that ED recently halted its processing of student loan discharge claims for veterans who are totally and permanently disabled, due to a lack of legal authority to proceed. The report indicates that ED is near issuing an interim final rule to provide the necessary authority to resume processing claims.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES 

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