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Tuesday, January 31, 2017

This Week in Legislation - Weeks of January 30 and February 6

 
Week of January 30, 2017
·         This week, both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate are in session for legislative business. However, neither chamber is expected to consider student financial aid-related legislation.
·         Today through Wednesday, all day, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) holds its annual conference titled, “Quality Assurance and Accreditation: Moving Into the Future.” On Tuesday, Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Chair of the House Education and the Workforce Committee will deliver remarks at 7:45 a.m. while Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) will provide remarks at 11:30 a.m. Attendees will participate in sessions on “The 2016 Presidential Election: What Does it Mean for Accreditation and Higher Education?”, “Accreditation from the Perspective of Students,” “Perceptions of Higher Education,” and “Looking Back and Looking Forward: The Future Role of Accreditation.” For details and to register, visit the event website.
·         Today through Wednesday, all day, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) holds its Annual Meeting and Advocacy Day. During the three-day program, attendees will hear from Charlie Cook, Editor and Publisher of The Cook Political Report, and attend sessions on “Tax Reform: The Future of Higher Education Benefits an Endowments,” “The Budget Progress and Student Aid Funding,” “Deregulation: Pathways Available to Congress and the Administration,” “Student Loans: Changes Ahead in the New Congress, ” “The Trump Administration: Opportunities and Risks for Higher Education.”
 
·         Today through Wednesday, all day, the Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organizations (COHEAO) holds its Annual Conference. The event includes insights from key players on the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and other legislation affecting the student financial services industry as well as updates and perspectives on the U.S. Department of Education and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
 
·         On Tuesday and Wednesday, all day, the Federal Reserve holds a two-day meeting of its Federal Open Market Committee. The minutes for each regularly scheduled meeting of the committee, which include a description of economic and financial conditions, are made available three weeks after its policy decisions are posted in the Federal Reserve Board’s Annual Report.
·         On Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee meets to consider the nomination of Betsy DeVos to serve as the next Secretary of Education, and to organize for the 115th Congress. The meeting will be livestreamed on the Committee’s website.
·         Wednesday is the deadline to submit public comments on the petition filed by the Title IV Additional Servicers and Student Loan Servicing Alliance requesting that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reconsider the order and rule released August 11, 2016, that established rules applicable to calls to collect debt owed to or guaranteed by the federal government under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.
·         On Wednesday at 9:40 a.m., the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee meets to consider the nomination of Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) as the Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, and to organize for the 115th Congress.
 
·         On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., the Brookings Institution hosts an event titled, “Agenda Setting at the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Trade Commission under the New Administration.” The event includes a roundtable discussion with FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn and Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Terrell McSweeny to discuss how the agencies will function and what issues will be prioritized under the new Trump Administration. Each commissioner will speak to her particular agenda, including Commissioner Clyburn’s recent release of the #Solutions2020 Call to Action Plan which presents a comprehensive plan and approach to communications policies, and Commissioner McSweeny’s portfolio to advance intellectual property, competition, and innovation. For details and to register, visit the Brookings website.
·         On Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., the Senate Budget Committee holds a hearing titled, “Congressional Budget Office’s Budget and Economic Outlook for Fiscal Years 2017-2027.” The sole witness will be: The Honorable Keith Hall, Director, Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The committee is also expected to consider the nomination of Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) as the Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget.
 
·         On Wednesday at 5:00 p.m., the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) hosts an event titled, “The Man who Knew: The Life and Times of Alan Greenspan.” Panelists will discuss Chairman Greenspan’s legacy, including his impact on U.S. and foreign central bank monetary policies and our understanding of financial cycles. Participants include: Sebastian Mallaby, Paul A. Volcker Senior Fellow for International Economics, Council on Foreign Relations; J. Alfred Broaddus, former President, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond; and Paul Kupiec, Resident Scholar, AEI.
 
·         On Thursday at 9:30 a.m., the D.C. Court of Appeals hears oral arguments in a case examining whether the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has the power to investigate accreditation at for-profit colleges.
·         On Thursday at 10:00 a.m., the House Budget Committee holds a hearing titled, “The Congressional Budget Office’s Budget and Economic Outlook.” The sole witness will be: The Honorable Keith Hall, Director, CBO.
 
Week of February 6, 2017

The NCHER Daily Briefing will be on a publishing break next Monday, February 6, through Wednesday, February 8, due to the 2017 Legislative Conference.
·         On Monday at 4:00 p.m., the Heritage Foundation hosts an event titled, “Tax Reform in the New Congress,” where Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy, will discuss the pillars of pro-growth tax reform: growth, simplicity, and service. He will speak on the urgent need to end the “Made in America” tax, lower tax rates for job creators of all sizes, and allow companies to fully write off the costs of new capital investments.
·         On Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., the National College Access Network (NCAN) hosts a briefing to learn about the barriers students face in trying to apply for financial aid, and share the Streamlined Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with members of Congress. Participants in the event include: Carrie Warick, Director of Policy and Advocacy, NCAN; Stacy Lightfoot, Vice President, College and Career Success, Public Education Foundation of Chattanooga; Yolanda Watson Spiva, President and Chief Executive Officer, College Success Foundation; Annie Wells, College Access Advisor, Davidson College Advising Corps; and Bonnie Sutton, President and Chief Executive Officer, Access College Foundation. For details, visit the event website.
 
·         On Tuesday at 3:00 p.m., the Federal Reserve releases its “Consumer Credit – G.19” report, which includes the amount of outstanding federal and private student loans. 
·         On Wednesday through Friday, all day, House Democrats hold a retreat to discuss their priorities for the 115th Congress in Baltimore, MD.
 
 
This information is shared by SASFAA's Legislative Affairs' Committee and NCHER.

Monday, January 23, 2017

Deadline Approaching: Scholarship Available for Financial Aid Administrators


SASFAA is looking for SUCCESS stories from within! The January 27 deadline is quickly approaching!  Specifically, we are looking to find aid administrators who are currently pursuing higher education degrees.  Do you fall into this category or know someone who does?

In honor of NASFAA’s 50th Anniversary, NASFAA’s Past Presidents and National Chairs made individual donations to the Dallas Martin Endowment with the following criteria:
 
·         Six scholarships, one per region, will be given to a deserving student, based on need; ·         Preference will be given to someone currently working in the financial aid profession; ·         Each scholarship will be $2,750;
·         Each region will select its recipient in a manner appropriate to its membership; and
·         The six recipients will be highlighted on the NASFAA website, conference program and/or in NASFAA’s Annual Report.
 
If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, please send a short essay (no more than 2 pages) entitled, “This is My Story,” along with a photo to:
 
Keith Reeves
SASFAA Past President
Clemson University
sasfaa@gmail.com
 
Make sure that your essay includes the degree that you are pursuing and brief biographical information (institution, position, number of years in financial aid, etc.) in addition to your “This is My Story.”
 
The deadline for submitting this information is FRIDAY, JANUARY 27.  The winner of the scholarship for the SASFAA region will be announced at the annual conference in Biloxi.  The committee for selecting the scholarship recipient will be composed of past SASFAA presidents and executive board members.
 
Information provided by all applicants may be used for “success story” highlights during the upcoming conference, on the SASFAA Facebook page and via SASFAA Nine News releases. 

 

This Week in Legislation - Week of January 23, 2017

 
Week of January 23, 2017
·         This week, both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate are in session for legislative business. However, neither chamber is expected to consider student financial aid-related legislation. Of interest to NCHER members, the House is slated to consider H.R. 290, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Process Reform Act of 2017, which requires the commission to amend its rules to maximize opportunities for public participation and improve its rulemaking process, including setting minimum public comment periods, establishing deadlines for resolving petitions for declaratory rulings, and establishing procedures to allow a bipartisan majority of commissioners to place actions on the agenda.
 
·         Today at 3:30 p.m., the Heritage Foundation hosts an event titled, “Tax Reform in the New Congress.” During the event, Rep. Peter Roskam (R-IL), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Tax Policy, will discuss the pillars of pro-growth tax reform: growth, simplicity, and service.
·         On Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) releases its annual Budget and Economic Outlook. The report will include updated economic and budget projections spanning the period from 2017 to 2027. CBO’s most recent economic and budget projections can be found in An Update to the Budget and Economic Outlook: 2016 to 2026, which was released in August.
·         On Tuesday at 10:30 a.m., the Senate Budget Committee holds a confirmation hearing on the nomination of Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) to serve as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
 
·         On Tuesday at 11:15 a.m., the House Education and the Workforce Committee holds its organizational meeting for the 115th Congress, which will consider and approve the committee’s rules, its subcommittee chairs, ranking members, and membership, and the new name for the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, which has jurisdiction over the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. During the meeting, members will also consider and adopt the committee’s oversight plan, which includes the following mention on higher education policy:
 
Student Loans. The U.S. Department of Education manages $1.3 trillion in outstanding federal student loans and disburses billions in grants and work-study funds each year. The Committee will continue to monitor the costs and performance of these programs.
Higher Education Regulations. Institutions of higher education are subject to myriad federal regulations and reporting requirements that are often burdensome and costly. The regulatory burden has only worsened with rules that interfere with academic freedom, infringe on the authorities of the states, limit student choice, and unfairly target particular sectors of higher education. The Committee will continue its oversight of regulatory policies and challenge those that enlarge the federal footprint in higher education.
 
·         On Tuesday at 11:30 a.m., the House Appropriations Committee holds its organizational meeting for the 115th Congress, which includes approving the committee’s rules, subcommittee chairs, ranking members, and membership and adopting the committee’s oversight plan.
 
·         On Tuesday at 12:00 p.m., the Heritage Foundation launches its new Center for Education Policy. The event will feature keynote remarks by Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC), Chairman of the House Republican Study Committee. Panelists will then discuss the Center’s vision that education should be student-centered from kindergarten through college, giving all Americans the freedom to choose learning options that work for them. Panelists include: Jennifer Marshall, Vice President, Institute for Family, Community, and Opportunity, and the Joseph C. and Elizabeth A. Anderlik Fellow, The Heritage Foundation; Lindsey Burke, Will Skillman Fellow in Education Policy, The Heritage Foundation; Patrick Wolf, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Education Policy and 21st Century Endowed Chair in School Choice, Department of Education Reform, University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions; Virginia Walden Ford, Visiting Fellow, The Heritage Foundation; Genevieve Wood, Senior Fellow in Communications and Senior Contributor, The Daily Signal; and J.B. Horton, Senior Counselor and John Von Kannon Fellow in Philanthropy, The Heritage Foundation. For details, visit the Heritage Foundation website.
 
·         On Tuesday at 1:30 p.m., the Senate Career and Technical Education (CTE) Caucus hosts a briefing on the intersection of infrastructure and CTE. Participants include: Kelly Almond, President, Georgia Association for Career and Technical Education,  and Teacher, South Paulding High School; Michelle Gerdes, Designer, Energy Infrastructure Distribution Systems, We Energies; Matt Szollosi, Executive Director, Affiliated Construction Trades; Jorge Valenzuela, Instructional Specialist, Richmond Public Schools Department of Career and Technical Education, and Chair, Virginia Council on Technology and Engineering Education Supervision; and Steve DeWitt, Deputy Executive Director, Association for Career and Technical Education. For details, visit the event website.
 
·         On Tuesday at 2:30 p.m., the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee holds a confirmation hearing on the nomination of Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) to serve as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
·         On Wednesday through Friday, all-day, House and Senate Republicans hold a joint retreat to discuss their priorities for the 115th Congress in Philadelphia, PA. During the event, members are expected to hear from President Donald Trump and discuss efforts to reform the nation’s tax code. The Democratic retreat will be held on February 8-10, 2017.
 
·         On Wednesday through Saturday, all day, the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AACU) holds its 2017 annual meeting in San Francisco, CA. This year’s meeting uses the theme, “Building Public Trust in the Promise of Liberal Education and Inclusive Excellence,” and will respond to the urgent need expressed by educators from campuses across the country for more effective approaches to restoring public trust in higher education and improving public understanding of how liberal education and inclusive excellence are valuable “public” and “private” goods. For details, visit the AACU website.
·         On Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the FCC’s Consumer Advisory Committee holds its first meeting under its renewed charter. The committee makes recommendations to the commission on consumer issues within the jurisdiction of the FCC; facilitates the participation of consumers in proceedings before the commission; and provides guidance to the FCC, gathers data and information, and performs those analyses that are necessary to respond to the questions or matters before it. At the January 27, 2017, meeting, the committee will consider administrative and procedural matters relating to its functions, and receive briefings from commission staff on issues of interest to the committee.
 
 
This information is shared by SASFAA's Legislative Affairs' Committee and NCHER.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

This Week in Legislation - Week of January 17, 2017


 

Week of January 17, 2017

·         This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is in recess in commemoration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. The U.S. Senate is in session for legislative business, but will not consider student financial aid-related legislation. The chamber is expected to consider and approve a number of nominations for Cabinet secretaries beginning on Friday afternoon.

 

·         Today at 10:00 a.m., the Brookings Institution hosted an event titled, “The Impact of Fiscal Policy on Monetary Policy: A Conversation with Fed Governor Lael Brainard,” to discuss the implications of changes in fiscal policy for monetary policy. Participants included: Louise Sheiner, Senior Fellow – Economic Studies, Policy Director, Brookings’ Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy; Donald Kohn, Robert S. Kerr Senior Fellow in Economic Studies, Brookings Institution; and The Honorable Lael Brainard, Member of the Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System.

 

·         Today at 5:00 p.m., the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee holds a confirmation hearing on the nomination of Betsy DeVos to serve as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. The hearing will be shown live on the Committee’s website.

 

·         On Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., the Federal Reserve releases its Beige Book. Eight times a year, the Fed releases its Beige Book, a summary of current economic conditions for the 12 Federal Reserve Districts based on anecdotal information gathered through reports from Bank and Branch Directors and interviews with key business contacts, economists, market experts, and other sources.

 

·         On Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., Federal Reserve Board of Governors Chair Janet Yellen gives a speech titled, “The Goals of Monetary Policy and How We Pursue Them” at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, CA.

 

·         On Thursday at 8:00 p.m., Federal Reserve Board of Governors Chair Janet Yellen gives a speech titled, “The Economic Outlook and the Conduct of Monetary Policy,” at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research in San Francisco, CA.

      ·         On Friday at 12:00 p.m., Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States.

 

This information is shared by SASFAA's Legislative Affairs' Committee and NCHER.


 

Monday, January 9, 2017

This Week in Legislation - Week of January 9, 2017

Week of January 9, 2017
·         This week, both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate are in session for legislative business, though neither chamber is expected to consider student financial aid-related legislation. Of interest to NCHER members, the House is expected to consider two pieces of legislation regarding the development of federal regulations, including:
 
o   H.R. 5, the Regulatory Accountability Act, which would reform the process by which federal agencies analyze and formulate new regulations and guidance documents, clarify the nature of judicial review of agency interpretations, and ensure that agency analysis include the potential impact of the rule on small businesses. In particular, the legislation requires federal agencies, before issuing any major  to conduct
 
o   H.R. 78, the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act, which would require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), before issuing a regulation, to clearly identify the nature and source of the problem that the proposed regulation is designed to address, assess the costs and benefits of the intended regulation, identify alternatives to the regulation that were considered, and ensure that the regulation is accessible, consistent, written in plain language, and is easy to understand.
·         Today beginning at 10:00 a.m. through 3:30 p.m., the Brookings Institution’s Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy is hosting a seminar titled, “From Bridges to Education: Best Bets for Public Investment,” which will investigate questions about public investment in both physical infrastructure and human capital. The event will begin with keynote remarks from Lawrence Summers, Charles W. Eliot University Professor and President Emeritus, Harvard University, and Ed Glaeser, Fred and Eleanor Glimp Professor of Economics, Harvard University. The day will also include a discussion of practical and political challenges to directing investment spending to areas where the returns are likely to be greatest, as well as two new papers: one examining the evidence – or lack thereof – on the long-run benefits of investing in education and the other asking similar questions about income transfers, such as Medicaid and housing assistance, for children. The program will conclude with a moderated discussion between The Honorable Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and The Honorable Tom Reed (R-NY), where they will expand upon the challenges of translating evidence into policy in their respective districts.
·         Today at 3:00 p.m., the Federal Reserve releases its “Consumer Credit – G.19” report, which includes the amount of outstanding federal and private student loans.
·         On Tuesday at 11:00 a.m., MeasureOne holds a webinar to release its semiannual Private Student Loan Report. The webinar will provide data and analytics on private student lending, including repayment and delinquency trends, as well as loan performance activity among borrowers and lenders. After the discussion of the report, Diane Jones, President, AJsquared Consulting, and former Assistant Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education, will speak on the impact of the 2016 election results on higher education policy and private student lending. To register, visit the MeasureOne website.
 
·         On Tuesday at 12:00 p.m., the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) gathers to discuss such topics as whether an investment in a college education has a positive return for students at some colleges and a negative return at others, and how productivity of a college should be measured. Participants include: David Deming, Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and Faculty Research Fellow, NBER; Judy Scott-Clayton, Associate Professor of Economics and Education, Teachers College, Columbia University; and Sarah Turner, Professor of Economics and Education, University of Virginia.
·         On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee holds a confirmation hearing on the nomination of Betsy DeVos to serve as the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. An executive session for senators to vote on Ms. DeVos’ nomination may be held following the hearing. The hearing will be shown live on the Committee’s website.
·         On Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. the American Education Research Association (AERA) hosts a lecture on, “Supporting College Student Access and Success: Making Sure Hard Work Pays Off,” at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion at the Music Center in Los Angeles, CA. The featured speaker will be Bridget Terry Long, Academic Dean and the Saris Professor of Education and Economics at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. To RSVP for the livestream, visit the AERA website.
·         On Thursday at 12:00 p.m., New America hosts an event titled, Where Are They Now: A Look at America’s Next Generation Universities,” which includes a discussion updating a 2013 report on how universities continue to redefine public higher education and are collaborating with their peers. Participants include: Hilary Pennington, Vice President of Education, Creativity, and Free Expression, Ford Foundation; Tina Gridiron, Strategy Director, Lumina Foundation; Alison Griffin, Senior Vice President of External and Government Relations, USA Funds; Kevin Carey, Director, Education Policy Program, New America; David Leonhardt, Columnist, The New York Times (moderator); Bridget Burns, Executive Director, University Innovation Alliance (moderator); Michael Crow, President, Arizona State University; Mark Becker, President, Georgia State University; John Hitt, President, University of Central Florida; Steven Leath, President, Iowa State University; and Tim Renick, Vice Provost and Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Success, Georgia State University. For details and to register, visit the New America website.
·         On Thursday at 7:00 p.m., Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen addresses educators via webcast in an event titled, “Conversation with the Chair: A Teacher Town Hall Meeting,” where she will discuss the mission and responsibilities of the Federal Reserve System.
·         On Thursday at 9:00 p.m., CNN holds a town hall discussion with House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) to discuss the House Republican’s “Better Way” agenda.
 
 
This information is shared by SASFAA's Legislative Affairs' Committee and NCHER.
 

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

This Week in Legislation - Week of January 3


 
 
Week of January 3, 2017

·         Today, the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate convene to start the first session of the 115th Congress. While neither chamber is expected to consider any specific student financial aid-related legislation, both the House and Senate will swear-in their new members, formally approve the leadership teams, and begin appointing members to committees. Other items of note, include:

o   On Wednesday, the Senate will begin consideration of the budget resolution setting spending and policy changes for fiscal year 2017, which began on October 1, 2016. The resolution will be used as a vehicle to expedite consideration of legislation to repeal the Affordable Care Act.  
o   On Thursday, the House is expected to consider the Midnight Rules Relief Act, which would allow for en bloc consideration of resolutions allowing Congress to disprove of rules issued in the final days of a Presidential Administration, and the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, which would require major rules of the executive branch to be approved by Congress before they go into effect.   
o   On Friday, a Joint Session of Congress will convene to count the electoral ballots for the President and Vice President of the United States.

·         On Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC) releases the minutes of its two-day meeting held December 13-14, 2016.

·         On Wednesday at 2:00 p.m., the Brookings Institution’s Brown Center on Education Policy hosts a public forum examining the history and future of federal education policy titled, “Federal Education Policy Under the Trump Administration.” Participants include: Douglas Harris, Professor of Economics and Schleider Foundation Chair in Public Education, Tulane University, and Nonresident Fellow, the Brookings Institution; Lindsay Fryer, Vice President, Penn Hill Group; Gerard Robinson, Resident Fellow, Education Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute; Marty West, Assistant Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education; and Arne Duncan, Former Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, and Nonresident Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, Brown Center on Education Policy. For details, visit the Brookings website.

·         On Friday at 10:00 a.m., First Lady Michelle Obama hosts her final Reach Higher Education Event at the White House. The event will celebrate school counselors across the country for everything they do to support young people – push, guide, and mentor them on their way to earning a postsecondary degree. The event will be broadcast live on the White House website.

·         On Saturday at 11:15 a.m., Federal Reserve Governor Jerome Powell speaks on Low Interest Rates and Financial Markets at the Allied Social Sciences Associations Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL.

 

This information is shared by SASFAA's Legislative Affairs' Committee and NCHER.