This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases. POTUS’ Schedule* *The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change. Saturday, August 22, 2020 7:00 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY participate in a reception celebrating … Continue Reading
This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases. POTUS’ Schedule* *The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change, as is the White House press briefing schedule. 12:30 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT has lunch with the Vice … Continue Reading
This weekly report captures developments from the US executive and legislative branches related to higher education policy, and also includes relevant information such as reports and upcoming events.… Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Speaker Ryan’s Education Outlook Last Thursday, the House voted to confirm the current House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) as the 54th Speaker of the House. Rep. Ryan is a 16-year veteran of the House and received the support of all but nine of his Republican colleagues. As Speaker Ryan took … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Alternative Accreditation Proposal In a speech at the Heritage Foundation on October 29, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) unveiled his plans to introduce the Higher Education Reform and Opportunity Act next week. The proposed legislation would provide a new option for states to create alternative accreditation systems while also keeping the existing system of … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Upcoming Hearings: Wednesday, October 30: A hearing and business meeting in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee to mark up legislation (including H.R. 2094, the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act) and review Department of Education nominations has been postponed until October 30. This is the second time the hearing … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Student Loan Interest Rates Last week, the Senate passed its student loan interest rate compromise bill by an 81-18 vote. As previously noted, this proposal would peg interest rates to the 10-year Treasury note, plus 2.05 percent for both the subsidized and unsubsidized portions of the undergraduate loans, plus 3.6 percent for graduate … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Student Loan Interest Rates A bipartisan group of senators, led Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), announced another agreement on student loan interest rates last week. The deal, which represents a new scheme that shifts to market-driven variable interest rates, was announced after Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) ultimately agreed to support it. According to reports, … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Student Loan Interest Rates The agreement reached on a student loan interest rate package last week has been disrupted after a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score estimated a $22 billion (over 10 years) cost to the proposal. A bipartisan group consisting of Democratic Senators Joe Manchin (WV), Tom Carper (DE), and Dick Durbin … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Student Loan Interest Rates As the Senate continues consideration of the Farm Bill, there may be discussion on an amendment (S.A. 976) that would extend the 3.4 percent fixed student loan interest rate for two years, although consideration of this issue will likely take place separate from the Farm Bill. This week, the … Continue Reading