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News and updates

Today in Congress

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The Senate is in at 10:00am and will vote on a number of amendments to and final passage of the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (S 47). It is expected to pass. The Senate will recess from 12:30pm to 2:15pm for weekly party caucus lunches.

The House returns at noon and will consider three bills under suspension of the rules: the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act (HR 267), the Collinsville Renewable Energy Promotion Act (HR 316), and the Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act (HR 235). The House will recess no later than 5:30pm to allow a security sweep of the chamber prior to President Obama’s State of the Union address.

At 8:20pm, the Senate will proceed to the House of Representatives for President Obama’s State of the Union address, set for 9:00pm. The House will meet again at about 8:35pm for the purpose of receiving, in a joint session with the Senate, the President of the United States.

Another Short Term Sequestration Fix?

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Senate Democrats plan to announce a short-term sequester replacement bill this week aimed at combining alternative spending cuts and new tax revenue to avert $85 billion in automatic spending reductions scheduled to begin taking effect March 1st. Republicans, who adamantly oppose any use of tax revenue to replace the sequester, are not part of the broader discussions with democratic senators. It is possible that the Senate will consider the yet-to-be-released measure the week of February 25th, after next week’s Presidents Day recess.

Newly Introduced Legislation

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A roundup of bills introduced this week that may be of interest to the higher education community:

S. 216: A bill to prevent harassment at institutions of higher education. (Also known as the Clementi Act)
Sponsor: Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) Introduced: 2/4/2013 Last Major Action: Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Cosponsors: 5 (including Patty Murray) Lautenberg Press Release
House version: H.R. 482 (Introduced by Rush Holt [D-NJ], 22 Cosponsors including Rick Larsen and Jim McDermott) Holt Press Release

H.R. 459: A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to promote innovation, investment and research in the United States, to eliminate the diversity immigrant program. This would allocate 55,000 visas per year for foreign students receiving advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Sponsor: Darrell Issa (R-CA) Introduced: 2/4/2013 Last Major Action: Referred to House Judiciary Committee Cosponsors: None Issa Press Release

H.R. 487: A bill to provide for a Medicare primary care Graduate Medical Education pilot project in order to improve access to the primary care workforce.
Sponsor: Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) Introduced: 2/4/2013 Last Major Action: Referred to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Energy and Commerce. Cosponsors: 1 McMorris Rodgers Press Release

H.R. 521: A bill to award grants to encourage state educational agencies, local educational agencies, and schools to utilize technology to improve student achievement and college-and-career readiness, the skills of teachers and school leaders, and the efficiency and productivity of education systems at all levels.
Sponsor: George Miller (D-CA) Introduced: 2/6/2013 Last Major Action: Referred to House Committee on Education and the Workforce Cosponsors: None Press Release

H.R. 532: A bill to amend Title II of the United States Code to modify the dischargeability of debts for certain educational payments and loans. The bill would require privately issued student loans to be treated the same as other types of private debt in bankruptcy. Sponsor: Steve Cohen (D-TN) Introduced: 2/6/2013 Last Major Action: Referred to House Judiciary Committee Cosponsors: 14 Cohen Press Release

H.R. 536: Amend the ESEA of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants for recruiting, training, and retaining individuals, with a preference for individuals from underrepresented groups, as teachers at public elementary and secondary schools.
Sponsor: Susan Davis (D-CA) Introduced: 2/6/2013 Last Major Action: Referred to House Committee on Education and the Workforce Cosponsors: 3 Davis Press Release

H.R. 551: A bill to authorize the Secretary of Education to make grants to support early college high schools and other dual enrollment programs.
Sponsor: Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) Introduced: 2/6/2013 Last Major Action: Referred to House Committee on Education and the Workforce Cosponsors: 1 Hinojosa Press Release

H.R. 561: A bill to amend the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act to provide further clarity for institutions of higher education.
Sponsor: Patrick Meehan (R-PA) Introduced: 2/6/2013 Last Major Action: Referred to House Committee on Education and the Workforce Cosponsors: 6

S. 257: Amend Title 38, United States Code, to require courses of education provided by public institutions of higher education that are approved for purposes of the educational assistance programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to charge veterans tuition and fees at the in-State tuition rate.
Sponsor: John Boozman (R-AR) Introduced: 2/7/2013 Last Major Action: Referred to Committee on Veterans Affairs Cosponsors: 2 Boozman Press Release

S. 262: Amend Title 38, United States Code, to provide equity for tuition and fees for individuals entitled to educational assistance under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are pursuing programs of education at institutions of higher learning.
Sponsor: Dick Durbin Introduced: 2/7/2013 Last Major Action: Referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs Cosponsors: None

The full text of these bills can be found by searching for their respective bill number at thomas.loc.gov

The Week Ahead

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Both the House and Senate are out of session today. The Senate returns to work at 2:00pm Monday and will vote on a series of amendments to the Violence Against Women Act (S 47). A vote on final passage could come as early as Monday night. The House returns to work on Tuesday.

President Obama will deliver his State of the Union address on Tuesday evening. It is widely expected that he will focus on fiscal issues, including the deficit and taxes, and will call for Congress to come together to avoid the next fiscal cliff. It is also expected that he will address energy and climate issues, as well as gun control and immigration. All of these priorities will likely be reflected in his budget request, which will be released to Congress in early March.

On Tuesday morning the Senate Budget Committee, chaired by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), will hold a hearing on the budget and economic outlook prepared by the Congressional Budget Office, and then on Wednesday that same committee will hold a hearing on the impact of budget decisions on families and communities. The House Budget Committee will hold also hold a hearing on the economic outlook on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, the House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing titled “Impacts of a Continuing Resolution and Sequestration on Defense.” Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA) is the ranking member on this committee.

The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold hearings on comprehensive immigration revision Wednesday morning, this first of many hearings on this topic.

On Thursday (Valentine’s Day), the House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on the itemized deduction for charitable contributions and on previous proposals to modify the deduction and its value. Congressmen Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Dave Reichert (R-WA) are both members of this committee.

Also on Thursday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing titled “Sustainable Growth Rate: Data, Measures and Models; Building a Future Medicare Physician Payment System.”

President to Nominate Sally Jewel for Interior

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According to Politico.com, President Obama will nominate current REI President and CEO Sally Jewell to lead the Interior Department. Sally is also a current member of the UW Board of Regents.

If confirmed, Sally would replace current Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who held the post throughout Obama’s first term. Salazar announced last month that he would step down in March.

Congratulations Sally!