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News and updates

House Passes Black-Davis Student and Family Tax Simplification Act

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The House passed H.R. 3393, the Student and Family Tax Simplification Act (Black-Davis), by a vote of 227-187 yesterday. The bill combines four education tax benefits into a new, permanent American Opportunity Tax Credit. The higher education community has raised concerns about how the bill impacts nontraditional and graduate students. These concerns were echoed in floor debate by Ranking Member Levin and Representatives Doggett, Rangel, Polis, and Kind.

Republicans who voted for the bill noted that consolidating several tuition tax credits will simplify the tax code and make it easier for students and families take advantage of this tax benefit.

Democrats who voted against the bill cited the fact that there is no funding offset. As such, the bill is unlikely to be taken up in its present form in the Senate.

House Passes Series of Student-focused Bills

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The House considered a series of higher education bills this week designed to increase transparency and education for student in how to pay for college.

On Wednesday, the House passed the Advancing Competency-Based Education Demonstration Project Act (H.R. 3136) sponsored by Representative Matt Salmon (R-AZ), Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Jared Polis (D-CO). The bill would:

  • Promotes innovation in higher education by directing the secretary of education to implement competency-based education demonstration projects.
  • Provides accountability by requiring an annual evaluation of each demonstration project to determine program quality.
  • Delivers greater flexibility to institutions that want to provide students a more personalized, cost-effective education.

H.R. 3136 passed the House by a vote of 414 to 0. To learn more about the bill, click here. 

On Thursday, the House considered H.R. 4984 – Empowering Students Through Enhanced Counseling Act, which would change the requirements for the counseling of students who participate in the federal student aid programs, such as federal student loans and Pell grants.   This bill expands the counseling requirements for borrowers (yearly) and includes counseling on Pell eligibility. This Pell counseling provision may have been spurred with the proposed flex Pell system, allowing year-round Pell,  as outlined in the House Education and Workforce Committee principles document. The measure would promote financial literacy counseling for students so they have more information before making financial aid choices.It would:

  • Require the secretary of education to create a consumer-tested College Dashboard that would display key information students need when deciding which school to attend.
  • Instruct the secretary to provide a link to the page of each institution listed on a student’s FAFSA to make sure students know this information is available.
  • Streamline and eliminates unnecessary information and federal transparency initiatives.

Rep. Derek Kilmer offered and amendment to the measure which would ensure each individual is aware of financial management resources provided by the Treasury Department’s Financial Literacy and Education Commission. The amendment was adopted by a vote of  404 – 14 

H.R. 4983 passed the House by voice vote. 

FY 2015 Appropriations Process Stalled

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There are just two weeks left until Congress adjourns for the month of August (August 1st—September 5th). This week lawmakers will return to DC and try to advance a few pieces of legislation – including refilling the Highway Trust Fund and reaching a deal on veterans’ health care legislation – before the end of August.

On the appropriations front, there is not much news to report. With the Senate’s regular appropriations work stalled and an emergency spending request for migrant children taking up time and energy on Capitol Hill, a full government-wide continuing resolution (CR) now appears to be a near certainty for the fall. Congress has until September 30th – the end of the federal fiscal year – to complete appropriations work. Many senior appropriators say they now see a 12-bill CR as a near inevitability. The more pressing question in coming weeks for appropriators will be not if, but how long stopgap legislation would last and if any other provisions, including perhaps some border spending, might be attached to it. If a CR is approved, we are likely to see an omnibus spending bill in the lame-duck session after the midterm elections.

In other news, Cora B. Marrett announced that she will resign her position as Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) effective August 24th. Marrett was confirmed as NSF Deputy Director in 2011. She has also served as NSF’s acting director and acting deputy director. Marrett served as the first assistant director for the Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences directorate, and as assistant director for the Education and Human Resources directorate.

This Week in Congress

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Today the Senate reconvenes at 2 p.m. and is in a period of morning business until 6 p.m. No votes are expected.

In the other chamber, the House reconvenes at 2 p.m. for legislative business and is expected to begin consideration of a number of bills, including HR 5016, which would make appropriations for financial services in FY 2015. Roll call votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Here’s what we’ll be paying attention to in committee this week:

TUESDAY, JULY 15

Senate Appropriations Committee
Fiscal 2015 Appropriations: Defense
Subcommittee Markup
10 AM; 192 Dirksen Senate Building

House Appropriations Committee
Fiscal 2015 Appropriations: Interior-Environment
Full Committee Markup
9 AM; 2359 Rayburn Building

THURSDAY, JULY 17

Senate Appropriations Committee
Fiscal 2015 Appropriations: Defense
Full Committee Markup
10:30 AM; 106 Dirksen Senate Building

Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee
Research and Development Investments
Full Committee Hearing
2 PM; 253 Russell Senate Buliding

House Energy & Commerce Committee
Technological Advancements in Health Care
Subcommittee Joint Hearing
9:30 AM; 2123 Rayburn House Building

House Science, Space & Technology
Innovative Medical Achievements
Subcommittee Hearing
9 AM; 2318 Rayburn House Building