Today, the Senate on Thursday confirmed Ashton B. Carter to be the next defense secretary by a vote of 93 to 5. The installation of the new Pentagon chief comes on the same day that the President has asked Congress for the authority to formally authorize (and increase) military action by the US against the Islamic State.
Carter, a former deputy defense secretary, and replaces Chuck Hagel in what has been a fairly swift confirmation process — the first hearings started in early February.
Today, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce marked up HR 5, the Student Success Act, a bill to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
There were 26 amendments offered. Only five amendments passed (including a Chairman’s substitute), 16 failed, 4 were withdrawn and one was ruled not germane to the bill by the Chair. The amendments also with largely down party lines.
The committee passed HR 5 by a final, party line vote of 21-16.
Today, the House of Representatives yesterday approved HR 810, the NASA Authorization Act of 2015 as a noncontroversial measure under suspension of the rules. The bill is identical to the bipartisan bill that passed the House last year by a vote of 401-2 but failed to be considered in the Senate.
It remains uncertain if the Senate will consider the bill.
Today, the House Education and Workforce committee announced they will markup HR 5, the Student Success Act on Wednesday, February 11 at 10:00 am. Chairman Kline and Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Chairman Todd Rokita (R-IN) introduced the Student Success Act this month.
The Senate has announced that they are taking a bipartisan approach to crafting the ESEA and will not simply be taking up HELP Chairman Alexander’s (R-TN) mark by the end of the month, as was previously announced.
Here’s a selection or articles we are reading this week.
Hitting Home – What does Obama’s 2016 Budget Means for States and Localities? The president’s budget would be a boon in a host of areas (infrastructure, certain block grants) but also includes cuts to popular programs. Read it at Governing.
Agreed! – Five Things Republicans can Agree to in Obama’a Budget: simplifying student aid makes the list. Read it at The Washington Post.
Growing Locally – Brookings released a report of the three sectors of advanced industry that will sustain a region’s local economy. Read an overview at Governing. View an interactive map showing growth and loss of these sectors. Read the Brookings report here.
Follow the $$ – Every year, groups release reports and charts of the college majors that make the most money. The message is clear: here are the subjects you should major in if you want to get rich quick (or at least pay off your student loans). The answer is “you should major in petroleum engineering,” almost always. Read about it at Vox.
Student Loan Stress – As the use of student loans escalates, so too do conversations about the possible ramifications of increasingly-high debt for young Americans. It’s widely known that inability to pay student debt can result in a host of problems, like damaged credit or garnished wages, but a new study from the University of South Carolina suggests that some ill effects, such as increased stress levels or feelings of depleted health, can surface just from accumulating student-loan debt. Read about it at The Atlantic.
Ch-ch-cha-changes! – Preparing campus for the new FAFSA. Read about it at University Business.
Helping Hand – Burried in the FY16 President’s Budget Request is a little known $21.8 billion shortfall. The main cause of the shortfall was President Barack Obama’s recent efforts to provide relief for borrowers drowning in student debt. Read more at Politico.
Disenfranchising – One central complaint about the Administration’s proposed college rating system is the unintended consequences of select universities being less inclusive and more exclusive to rate better. Read more at diversityeducation.com.
?uestions – Key questions on President Obama’s Budget Request for FY16. Read more at Ed Central.