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News and updates

News and updates

House Passes Second Supplemental

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The House of Representatives held votes just after midnight on Saturday to pass a second supplemental appropriations bill to fund the American COVID-19 response.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, H.R. 6201, is bipartisan legislation resulting from negotiation between House Democrats and the White House. The bill guarantees free COVID-19 testing, paid emergency leave, and strengthens food security among other things. A summary can be found here.

The supplemental is with the Senate, which canceled its scheduled recess (district work period). The House is now in recess until March 23rd.

Education Department Releases FAQs on FERPA and COVID-19

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Earlier this week, with the numbers of both K-12 districts and institutions of higher education trying to deal with COVID-19 concerns growing, the federal Department of Education released an FAQs document with respect to what institutions can and cannot do in the area of sharing of students’ educational records and personally identifiable information.

In the document, ED discusses a number of situations in which student information can and cannot be shared.  The FAQs are available here.

Senator Murray Unveils Bill to Help Schools Address COVID-19

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US Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) unveiled today a $2.7 Billion package aimed to assist schools and colleges with providing for student needs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Senator Murray is the Ranking Member on both the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, as well as the Appropriations subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.

The Supporting Students in Response to Coronavirus Act would provide over $1 Billion to ensure college students have access to food, housing, child care, and other basic needs, as well as help institutions prepare for closures and pay cleaning fees. The bill would also ensure students do not have to pay back financial aid if they are forced to withdraw, and gives the Department of Education more flexibility regarding financial aid. Additionally, the proposal would help staff childcare centers and increase funds for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. The bill is cosponsored by Democratic Leader Senator Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Gillibrand (D-NY).

Read the full story at Forbes.

Congress Looks to Correct COVID-19-related GI Bill Problems

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Both chambers of Congress are expected to take up legislation that would correct a problem in the GI Bill program caused by Covid-19.

As a result of how the current statutes and regulations are written and interpreted, the sudden transition of academic programs from traditional on-campus models to on-line programs without prior approval would lead to the loss of education and associated housing benefits for the recipient of the GI Bill.  The veterans community as well as the higher education community, including individual institutions like the University of Washington, have become aware of the problem and have weighed in, asking for a solution.

The letter to the Senate from the higher education associations is available here while the letter to the House is available here.  We will share a letter led by Student Veterans of America as it becomes available.

Office of Federal Relations Notice on DC Hill Visits

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As of Thursday, March 12th, the Office of Federal Relations strongly advises members of the UW community not to travel to Washington, DC for meetings. The US Capitol complex is closed to the general public through April 1st, and most offices in the area, including the Office of Federal Relations, are instituting telework policies. Our office is unable to schedule in-person meetings, or attend in-person meetings on behalf of the University. This is a fluid situation, and we will post updated information as it becomes available.

We are happy to try and arrange conference calls to discuss issues of relevance to UW.

For university-wide updates, please go to https://www.washington.edu/coronavirus/