This week in legislative affairs...

 Shared by our Legislative Relations' Committee and NCHER.

Week of April 25

·       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. 

·       On Tuesday at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Finance Committee holds a hearing titled, “Navigating Business Tax Reform.” Witnesses include: Thomas Barthold, Chief of Staff, Joint Committee on Taxation; Dr. James Hines, Jr., L. Hart Wright Collegiate Professor of Law and Richard A. Musgrave Collegiate Professor of Economics, University of Michigan; Sanford Zinman, Owner, Sanford E. Zinman, CPA; Gayle Goschie, Vice President, Goschie Farms; and Dr. Eric Toder, Institute Fellow and Co-Director, Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, Urban Institute.

·       On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee meets to consider S. 2644, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Reauthorization Act, which would authorize the Commission’s operations for fiscal years 2017 and 2018. During the markup, Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) is expected to offer an amendment to the bill repealing Section 301 of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015. Section 301 amended the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) to allow the use of auto-dialer technology in the collection of federally-held or -guaranteed debt. NCHER members with senators on the committee are encouraged to urge them to oppose the Markey amendment.

·       On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., the House Energy and Commerce Committee meets to consider a number of bills, including H.R. 2589, which would require the FCC to publish new rules on the same day that they are adopted; H.R. 2592, which would require the FCC to publish the draft of a rulemaking, order, report, or any other action when it is circulated to the commissioners for a vote; and H.R. 2593, which would require the FCC to publish a list of items that are placed on delegated authority – that is, decided at the bureau level in lieu of a commission vote.

·       On Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee holds a hearing titled, “Government Reform: Ending Duplication and Holding Washington Accountable.” Witnesses include: The Honorable Tom Coburn, Former U.S. Senator, State of Oklahoma; and The Honorable Eugene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States, U.S. Government Accountability Office.

·       On Wednesday at 1:45 p.m., House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) holds a town hall meeting entitled, “Building a Confident America,” with millennials at Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service. His remarks will be followed by a question-and-answer session moderated by Mo Elleithee, the Institute’s Executive Director, and S.E. Cupp, CNN contributor and a member of the Institute’s advisory board. The town hall event will be webcast live on the Institute’s website.

·       On Wednesday at 2:30 p.m., the Senate Budget Committee holds a hearing titled, “Fixing the Budget Process: Better Budgets, Better Results.” Witnesses include: Barry Anderson, Former Acting Director, Congressional Budget Office; James Capretta, Senior Fellow, Ethics and Public Policy Center, American Enterprise Institute; and Stan Collender, Executive Vice President, Qorvis MSLGROUP.

·       On Thursday starting at 8:30 a.m. PDT, the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics meets for its annual meeting in Fullerton, CA. The commission is responsible for advising the President and Secretary of Education on all matters pertaining to the education attainment of the Hispanic community, and the meeting’s agenda includes a discussion on the commission’s 2016 activities, including updates on the Administration’s early learning, K-12, and post-secondary education priorities and proposed outreach and engagement efforts.

·       On Friday at 10:20 a.m., Education Secretary John King, Jr. participates in the District of Columbia’s College Signing Day at George Washington University. He will speak to high school students, parents, and other stakeholders about the importance of a higher education.

·       On Saturday at 9:00 a.m., Education Secretary John King, Jr. delivers the commencement address at Florida A&M University where he will speak to 1,200 graduates and their families about the importance of service and giving back to the community.