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Category: Higher Education

Rep George Miller Announces Retirement

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Yet another Congressional leader of Higher Education announced his retirement today. Rep. George Miller announced he was retiring after four decades of serving his Oakland, CA district. The right-hand of Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Miller currently serves as the House Education and Labor Ranking Member and has served at that committee’s Chairman as well.

Miller’s retirement opens up internal politics on who will be the next Democrat to lead the Education and Labor Committee. Rep Steve Rothman is the next senior Democrat on the committee.

Finally, due to House Republican term limits, Chairman Kline will need a waiver in the next Congress to remain Chair (assuming the RS keep the majority).  If not, the next Republican leader of the committee could be Rep. Virginia Foxx (NC).

This Week in Congress

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Below is an overview of relevant House and Senate committee hearings and markups on the schedule this week.

WEDNESDAY, November 13th

House Education and the Workforce
Federal Student Aid
10am, 2175 Rayburn
Full Committee Hearing

Joint Economic
Fiscal 2014 Budget
10am, 1100 Longworth
Conference Committee Meeting

THURSDAY, November 14th

Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Federal Student Aid
10am, 430 Dirksen
Full Committee Hearing

House Education and the Workforce
ACA in Schools
10am, 2175 Rayburn
Full Committee Hearing

FRIDAY, November 15th

House Energy and Commerce
STEM Education and Manufacturing Workforce
9:30am, 2123 Rayburn
Subcommittee Hearing

House Science Chair: Science vs. Entitlements

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House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-TX, published an op-ed in Politico today. In it, he asserts that federal budget is so taken up with entitlements that the nation’s investment in science is suffering and will continue to suffer as a result. Further, Chairman Smith argues that entitlement reform means more funding for basic science and R&D.

Read the full op-ed here.

Next US Under Secretary of Education?

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Unconfirmed rumors are that Ted Mitchell will be nominated as the next US Under Secretary of Education, replacing Martha Kanter. Mitchell is currently the CEO of NewSchools Venture Fund and the former President of Occidental College. While Kanter’s career has focused on higher education issues, Mitchell’s background is more focused on K-12 issues. The White House has not yet confirmed this information.

This Week in Congress

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Congress returned from their five-week August recess today. There are a few issues of interest to us that they are expected to tackle in the next couple months, but much of the legislative calendar has been rearranged around the situation in Syria. Below are a couple of hearings this week that have been confirmed and we are keeping an eye on.

TUESDAY, September 10, 2013

House Education and the Workforce
Institute of Education Sciences
Full Committee Hearing
10 am, 2175 Rayburn

WEDNESDAY, September 11, 2013

House Education and the Workforce
Higher Education Affordability
Subcommittee Hearing
12 pm, 2175 Rayburn Building