Legislative Activity Senate Banking to Vote on Treasury and Commerce Nominations This Week This week, on Tuesday, May 23, the Senate Banking Committee will vote on the nominations of several individuals to fill key posts within the Treasury and Commerce Departments (see below for additional details). Last week, Senate Banking Democrats concentrated on potential Trump … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Betsy DeVos Testifies at Confirmation Hearing On Tuesday, January 17 Betsy DeVos, President Donald Trump’s designee for Secretary of Education, testified in a confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP). Mrs. DeVos has faced harsh criticism from Democrats in Congress and education groups off Capitol Hill, and … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Minor Changes to Congressional Education Committees In the Senate, Republicans maintained their control and Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) will most likely remain chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) is expected to remain on as Ranking Member after easily winning her re-election. The … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Congressional Republicans Place DOL’s Fiduciary Rule in Crosshairs Last week, on April 19, just one day after Senate Republicans introduced a resolution to disapprove and nullify the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Fiduciary Rule, House Republicans introduced a companion resolution also targeting the rulemaking. Two days later, on April 21, the House Education and … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Lawmakers Still Divided on Labor’s Fiduciary Rule With the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Fiduciary Rule now with the Office of Management and Budget and being prepared for release in final form later this spring, last week Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) emphasized his opposition to the proposal, noting that he is … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Committees Mark-Up Fiduciary Rule Legislation as Senators Introduce Companion Bills With the Department of Labor (DOL) having recently submitted its Fiduciary Rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) – officially beginning the countdown before DOL’s proposal is released in final form – last week, the House Ways and Means and … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Congress Turns Focus to Puerto Rico Debt Crisis This week, House lawmakers are set to hold a hearing on Puerto Rico’s debt crisis, which is likely to kick off several weeks’ worth of debate on the matter. Importantly, in accordance with House leadership, lawmakers are expected to move legislation addressing the Commonwealth’s fiscal … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Lawmakers Continue Oversight of DOL’s Fiduciary Rule On Wednesday, December 2, the House Education and the Workforce Committee will hold a hearing titled “Principles for Ensuring Retirement Advice Serves the Best Interests of Working Families and Retirees.” This hearing comes on the heels of House lawmakers having recently adopted a proposal by … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Work Begins on ESEA Reauthorization Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) recently released his draft Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization bill – the Every Child Ready for College or Career Act of 2015. Last week, the Senate HELP Committee held its first hearing on ESEA … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Education Priorities for the 114th Congress After the Republicans took the Senate in last week’s mid-term elections, former Education Secretary Lamar Alexander (R-TN) will now be leading the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and we expect his education policies to align closely with House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman … Continue Reading