Education

Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act

United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2017

Alice Cogswell and Anne Sullivan Macy Act This bill amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to require a state to identify, evaluate, and provide special education and related services to children who have visual or hearing disabilities (or both) and also are, or may be, classified in another disability category. A state must ensure that it has enough qualified personnel to serve children who have such disabilities and that a full continuum of alternative placements is available to meet the needs of disabled children for special education and related services. The individualized education program for each child that is either (or both) visually or hearing impaired must include specified components and must provide the child with instruction that meets the child's unique learning needs. Similarly, the individualized family service plan for an infant or toddler with a hearing disability must include specified components. A state's closure of a special school serving deaf or blind children shall count as a reduction of its financial support for special education and related services for purposes of the prohibition against reducing state financial support for such services from one fiscal year to the next. The bill also: (1) authorizes grants for training special education personnel, to be used in preparing individuals to become qualified teachers and early intervention specialists for children with hearing disabilities; and (2) establishes within the Department of Education the Anne Sullivan Macy Center on Visual Disability and Educational Excellence to better support students with visual disabilities.

Community Partnerships in Education Act

United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2017

Community Partnerships in Education Act This bill modifies various Department of Education programs to establish requirements for including nonprofit organizations, such as community partners and intermediary organizations, in the planning and delivery of education and career training programs.

A resolution supporting the goals and ideals of American Diabetes Month.

United States · United States Congress · 7 November 2017

Expresses support for: (1) the goals and ideals of American Diabetes Month, including encouraging individuals to fight diabetes through public awareness about prevention and treatment options and enhancing education about the disease; and (2) decreasing the prevalence of type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes in the United States through increased research, treatment, and prevention.

Women in Aerospace Education Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2017

Women in Aerospace Education Act This bill amends the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 to require the National Science Foundation (NSF) to encourage eligible entities that administer a fellowship program using grant funds awarded on or after October 1, 2018, under the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program to include in such fellowship program opportunities for the placement of fellows in research or education internship opportunities at national laboratories and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) centers. The NSF may give priority to proposals for placements that provide female fellows with research experience in aerospace engineering and related fields in which women are underrepresented. By October 1, 2018, NASA must institute a process to prioritize the promotion and recruitment of qualified candidates who are women or individuals who are historically underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and computer science for internships and fellowships that are relevant to the aerospace sector and related fields.

Advancing Conservation and Education Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2017

Advancing Conservation and Education Act This bill allows the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming (western states) to relinquish state land grant parcels wholly or primarily within eligible areas and select, in exchange, public land within the state. The bill defines "eligible areas" as lands within the outer boundaries of units or components of the National Park, National Wilderness Preservation, National Wildlife Refuge, or National Landscape Conservation Systems, areas identified by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of the Department of the Interior as having wilderness characteristics, certain designated lands within the National Forest System or administered by the BLM, and sentinel landscapes designated by the Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, or Interior. Interior shall create a process for the relinquishment of such parcels. A western state may select, and Interior may convey, lands that are mineral in character. The overall value of the state land grant parcels and the public land to be conveyed shall be equal. The bill sets forth requirements regarding hazardous materials on land conveyed, water rights, grazing permits, and road rights-of ways and other valid existing rights.

Advancing Conservation and Education Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2017

Advancing Conservation and Education Act This bill allows the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, or Wyoming (western states) to relinquish state land grant parcels wholly or primarily within eligible areas and select, in exchange, public land within the state. The bill defines "eligible areas" as lands within the outer boundaries of units or components of the National Park, National Wilderness Preservation, National Wildlife Refuge, or National Landscape Conservation Systems, areas identified by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) of the Department of the Interior as having wilderness characteristics, certain designated lands within the National Forest System or administered by the BLM, and sentinel landscapes designated by the Department of Agriculture, Department of Defense, or Interior. Interior shall create a process for the relinquishment of such parcels. A western state may select, and Interior may convey, lands that are mineral in character. The overall value of the state land grant parcels and the public land to be conveyed shall be equal. The bill sets forth requirements regarding hazardous materials on land conveyed, water rights, grazing permits, and road rights-of ways and other valid existing rights.

Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act

United States · United States Congress · 6 November 2017

Empowering Students Through Enhanced Financial Counseling Act This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify loan counseling requirements applicable to institutions of higher education (IHEs). Currently, an IHE must provide entrance counseling to a student who is a first-time federal student loan borrower. This bill replaces required entrance counseling with required annual financial counseling concerning information on the terms, conditions, and responsibilities of the grant or loan. Also, it expands the required recipients of such annual counseling to include, in addition to student borrowers, Pell Grant recipients and parent PLUS Loan borrowers. Additionally, the bill revises, expands, or establishes specific annual counseling information requirements for student borrowers, Pell Grant recipients, or parent PLUS Loan borrowers. The bill revises and expands exit counseling information requirements for borrowers to include an outstanding loan balance summary, the anticipated monthly payments under standard and income-based repayment plans, an explanation of the grace period preceding repayment, the option to pay accrued interest before it capitalizes, the right to request an annual credit report, and loan servicer contact information. It directs the Department of Education to maintain a consumer-tested online counseling tool that provides annual and exit counseling. The Institute of Education Sciences must study the impact and effectiveness of exit counseling, annual counseling, and the online counseling tool.

Transportation Access and System Connection Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 3 November 2017

Transportation Access and System Connection Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Transportation to carry out a pilot program to improve transportation planning, including acquiring for participating states and metropolitan planning organizations data sets containing information measuring the level of access by all transportation modes to important destinations in the state or metropolitan planning organization such as jobs, education, health care, and food sources.

Veterans Access to Care Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2017

Veterans Access to Care Act This bill automatically designates medical facilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) as health professional shortage areas, therefore allowing primary care providers at VA hopsitals to participate in the National Health Service Corps program and receive scholarships or loan repayment. Individuals may not participate in both the VA's Health Professionals Education Assistance Program and the National Health Service Corps program. The Department of Health and Human Services, in carrying out the National Health Service Corps program, must consult with the VA regarding health professional shortage areas that are VA medical facilities.

Preparing Homeless Youth for Education and Employment Act

United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2017

Preparing Homeless Youth for Education and Employment Act This bill amends the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to allow grants awarded through the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program to be used for providing in-person dropout prevention services and college and career counseling services.

CEASE Resolution

United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2017

Congressional Education About Sexual harassment Eradication Resolution or the CEASE Resolution Amends Rule XXIII (Code of Official Conduct) of the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, and employee of the House of Representatives to: (1) complete the Office of Compliance's program of sexual harassment prevention and response training in employment annually; and (2) certify to the House Committee on Ethics by January 31 of each year that the individual has completed the program in the previous year. Requires each current Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, and employee to meet such training and certification requirement not later than the earlier of 120 days after the adoption of this resolution or December 31, 2018. Requires each new Member, Delegate, Resident Commissioner, officer, and employee to certify completion of such program within 60 days after beginning service. Considers failure to meet such requirement a violation of Rule XXIII. Expresses the sense of the House that the Office of Compliance should: update, as specified, its program of sexual harassment prevention and response training in employment; and consult with the Workplaces Respond to Domestic and Sexual Violence: A National Resource Center in updating and implementing such program.

Fruit and Vegetable Access for Children Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2017

Fruit and Vegetables Access for Children Act of 2017 This bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to allow the Department of Agriculture Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to include canned, dried, frozen, or pureed fruits and vegetables. (Under current law, the program provides grants to states to make fresh fruits and vegetables available in elementary schools.)

An act to provide for reconciliation pursuant to titles II and V of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.

United States · United States Congress · 2 November 2017

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to reduce tax rates and modify policies, credits, and deductions for individuals and businesses. With respect to individuals, the bill: replaces the seven existing tax brackets (10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35%, and 39.6%) with four brackets (12%, 25%, 35%, and 39.6%), increases the standard deduction, repeals the deduction for personal exemptions, establishes a 25% maximum rate on the business income of individuals, increases the child tax credit and establishes a new family tax credit, repeals the overall limitation on certain itemized deductions, limits the mortgage interest deduction for debt incurred after November 2, 2017, to mortgages of up to $500,000 (currently $1 million), repeals the deduction for state and local income or sales taxes not paid or accrued in a trade or business, repeals the deduction for medical expenses, consolidates and repeals several education-related deductions and credits, repeals the alternative minimum tax, and repeals the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes in six years. For businesses, the bill: reduces the corporate tax rate from a maximum of 35% to a flat 20% rate (25% for personal services corporations), allows increased expensing of the costs of certain property, limits the deductibility of net interest expenses to 30% of the business's adjusted taxable income, repeals the work opportunity tax credit, terminates the exclusion for interest on private activity bonds, modifies or repeals various energy-related deductions and credits, modifies the taxation of foreign income, and imposes an excise tax on certain payments from domestic corporations to related foreign corporations. The bill also repeals or modifies several additional credits and deductions for individuals and businesses.

Douglas Webster, of Virginia, to be Chief Financial Officer, Department of Education, vice Lawrence A. Warder, resigned.

United States · United States Senate · 1 November 2017

POST Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2017

Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers Act of 2017 or the POST Act of 2017 This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to modify requirements for a proprietary (i.e., for-profit) institution of higher education (IHE) to participate in title IV (Student Assistance) federal student aid programs. Current law requires a proprietary IHE to derive at least 10% of its revenue from sources other than title IV federal student aid. This legislation requires a proprietary IHE to derive at least 15% of its revenue from sources other than federal funds (i.e., it replaces the so-called 90/10 rule with an 85/15 rule). It defines federal funds to mean title IV federal student aid, as well as education benefits for military personnel and veterans. Additionally, the bill limits what a proprietary institution may treat as revenue to the school in calculating whether it derives at least 15% of its revenue from sources other than federal funds. Finally, the bill moves the 85/15 rule from title IV to title I (General Provisions) of the HEA, making compliance a condition of institutional eligibility to participate in title IV federal student aid programs (i.e., failure to comply results in immediate loss of institutional eligibility). Currently, a proprietary IHE must violate the rule for two consecutive years before losing eligibility for title IV programs.

Investing in American Workers Act

United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2017

Investing in American Workers Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a business-related tax credit for employers who increase worker training expenditures. The credit is equal to 20% of the excess of: (1) the qualified training expenditures for the year, over (2) the average of the adjusted qualified training expenditures for the three previous years. If the employer had no qualified training expenditures in any one of the three previous years, the credit is equal to 10% of the adjusted qualified training expenditures for the year. The credit applies to expenditures for the training of non-highly compensated employees (annual compensation does not exceed $82,000). The training must result in the attainment of a recognized postsecondary credential and be provided through: an apprenticeship program; a program of training services that is included on a list of eligible training providers that states are required to maintain under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act; a program which is conducted by an area career and technical education school, a community college, or a labor organization; or a program which is sponsored and administered by an employer, industry trade association, industry or sector partnership, or labor organization. Certain small businesses and tax-exempt organizations may apply the credit against payroll taxes, subject to specified limits and requirements. Eligible small businesses may also apply the credit against the alternative minimum tax.

POST Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 31 October 2017

Protecting Our Students and Taxpayers Act of 2017 or the POST Act of 2017 This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to modify requirements for a proprietary (i.e., for-profit) institution of higher education (IHE) to participate in title IV (Student Assistance) federal student aid programs. Current law requires a proprietary IHE to derive at least 10% of its revenue from sources other than title IV federal student aid. This legislation requires a proprietary IHE to derive at least 15% of its revenue from sources other than federal funds (i.e., it replaces the so-called 90/10 rule with an 85/15 rule). It defines federal funds to mean title IV federal student aid, as well as education benefits for military personnel and veterans. Additionally, the bill limits what a proprietary institution may treat as revenue to the school in calculating whether it derives at least 15% of its revenue from sources other than federal funds. Finally, the bill moves the 85/15 rule from title IV to title I (General Provisions) of the HEA, making compliance a condition of institutional eligibility to participate in title IV federal student aid programs (i.e., failure to comply results in immediate loss of institutional eligibility). Currently, a proprietary IHE must violate the rule for two consecutive years before losing eligibility for title IV programs.

Kenneth L. Marcus, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Department of Education, vice Catherine Elizabeth Lhamon.

United States · United States Senate · 30 October 2017

Pell Grant Modernization Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 October 2017

Pell Grant Modernization Act This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify eligibility requirements under the Federal Pell Grant Program. Specifically, the bill reduces the numbers of semesters a student is eligible to receive Pell Grants from 12 semesters to 10 semesters. In addition, the bill increases the number of credits students must take each semester in order to be considered a full-time student.

Innovate America Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2017

Innovate America Act This bill requires the Department of Education (ED), in coordination with the National Science Foundation (NSF), to award grants to state educational agencies to establish or expand the number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science, (STEM) secondary schools from approximately 100 to approximately 200. Among other things, the bill requires ED, in coordination with the NSF, to study how to improve retention rates of students in STEM programs at institutions of higher education; funding for research opportunities for postsecondary students; The NSF Partnerships for Innovation Program to administer a Technology Commercialization Awards Pilot Program through which promising technology advances derived from NSF research grants shall be eligible for funding; the Department of Commerce to establish a manufacturing assistance program for small and medium-sized domestic manufacturers to promote the manufacturing of goods in the United States and enable them to be competitive in global markets; and Commerce to report to Congress on the global competitiveness of 20 U.S. industries that export the most goods or services and the domestic and foreign regulatory and policy barriers to increasing their exports. The National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 is amended to expand the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program to include informatics and computer science.

Congressional Sexual Harassment Training Act

United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2017

Congressional Sexual Harassment Training Act This bill amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to require each employing office under the Act to ensure that its covered employees enroll in the Office of Compliance's program of education that informs employees of the rights provided under the Act against sexual harassment: (1) within 60 days after first becoming an employee; (2) for existing employees, within 90 days after enactment of this bill; and (3) every two years.

Protect Student Borrowers Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2017

Protect Student Borrowers Act of 2017 This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education (IHEs) participating in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program to assume some of the risk of default for student loans under the program. For any fiscal year in which at least 33% of the IHE's student body is participating in the Direct Loan program, the IHE must remit a risk-sharing payment that is based on the amount of its defaulted Direct Loans.

Health Care Choice Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 26 October 2017

Health Care Choice Act of 2017 This bill repeals the health insurance and health coverage expansion requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and related provisions of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Provisions of law amended or repealed by those provisions are restored. This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to provide that the laws of a state designated by a health insurer (primary state) apply to individual health insurance coverage offered by that insurer in any state (secondary state) if the coverage, states, and insurer comply with the conditions of this bill. Insurers are exempted from any secondary state's laws that would prohibit or regulate the operation of the insurer in that state. The primary state is given sole jurisdiction to enforce its covered laws in any secondary state. The Government Accountability Office must study the effect of this bill on specified health insurance issues.

Upward Mobility Enhancement Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2017

Upward Mobility Enhancement Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code, with respect to the exclusion for educational assistance programs, to increase the maximum amount of employer-provided educational assistance that may be excluded from the gross income of an employee. The bill: (1) specifies that the exclusion applies only to the first $11,500 of educational assistance furnished to an individual during a calendar year, in the case of assistance for education below the graduate level; and (2) requires the dollar amount to be adjusted for inflation after 2017. (Under current law, the exclusion applies only to the first $5,250 of educational assistance furnished to an individual during a calendar year and is not adjusted for inflation.)

Comprehensive Student Achievement Information Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2017

Comprehensive Student Achievement Information Act of 2017 This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to modify consumer information disclosure requirements related to completion or graduation rates. Currently, an institution that participates in federal student aid programs must disclose the completion or graduation rate of first-time, full-time, certificate- or degree-seeking undergraduate students. This bill expands disclosure requirements to also include the completion or graduation rates of non-first time and half-time certificate- or degree-seeking undergraduate students. The bill also sets forth new time periods for calculating the completion or graduation rates for programs of study that are less than four years.

Global Development Lab Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2017

Global Development Lab Act of 2017 This bill establishes in the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) the United States Global Development Lab, the duties of which shall include: increasing the application of science, technology, innovation and partnerships to develop new solutions to end extreme poverty; discovering and testing development innovations to increase cost effectiveness and support U.S. foreign policy and development goals; leveraging the expertise, resources, and investment of businesses, nongovernmental organizations, science and research organizations, and universities to increase program impact and sustainability; utilizing innovation-driven competitions to expand the number and diversity of solutions to development challenges; and supporting USAID missions and bureaus in applying science, technology, innovation, and partnership approaches to decision making, procurement, and program design. The lab is authorized to provide innovation incentive awards on a competitive basis that: (1) encourages and rewards the development of solutions for a particular, well-defined problem relating to the alleviation of poverty; or (2) helps identify and promote a broad range of ideas and practices, facilitating further development of an idea or practice by third parties.

Student Loan Disclosure Modernization Act

United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2017

Student Loan Disclosure Modernization Act This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require the student loan disclosure forms under the Federal Family Education Loan Program to include the annual percentage rate applicable to the loan. In addition, the bill requires the student loan disclosure forms under the William D. Form Federal Direct Loan Program to be written in plain language to enable borrowers to understand loan terms, total costs of loans, and estimated monthly repayments. Direct loans may not be issued to borrowers unless they acknowledge in writing that they have read the form.

Condemning the racist and hate-based attacks on our college campuses and reaffirming our support for inclusion and safety in our institutions of higher learning.

United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2017

Condemns the harassment and violence targeted at students because of their racial, ethnic, religious, or sexual background, and affirms Congress's commitment to creating safe learning environments on college campuses.

Tribal Economic Assistance Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2017

Tribal Economic Assistance Act of 2017 This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend and modify several tax provisions relating to Indian reservations. The bill: repeals a provision that limits an Indian tribal government's eligibility for certain excise tax exemptions to transactions involving the exercise of an essential government function; makes permanent the special depreciation rules for property used predominantly within an Indian reservation; makes permanent the Indian employment tax credit; requires the Department of the Treasury to give priority to qualified low-income community investments on Indian reservations when allocating new markets tax credits; and allows qualified school construction bonds allocated for schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to be used for reasonable and necessary predevelopment costs directly associated with the construction, rehabilitation, or repair of a school. The bill also amends the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to establish a federal escrow account to carry out a qualified Indian school construction bond program for schools funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

A resolution recognizing the month of October 2017 as "National Principals Month".

United States · United States Congress · 25 October 2017

Recognizes October 2017 as National Principals Month, and honors the contribution of principals in elementary and secondary schools.

DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR 2018

United States · United States House of Representatives · 24 October 2017

DRAFT LEGISLATION To Establish A Permanent Veterans Choice Program; DRAFT LEGISLATION To Modify VA's Authority To Enter Into Agreements With State Homes To Provide Nursing Home Care To Veterans, To Direct The Secretary To Carry Out A Program To Increase The Number Of Graduate Medical Education Residency Positions, And For Other Purposes; DRAFT LEGISLATION, To Direct VA To Conduct A Study Of The Veterans Crisis Line; DRAFT LEGISLATION, To Direct VA To Furnish Mental Health Care To Veterans At Community Or Non-Profit Mental Health Providers Participating In The Veterans Choice Program; The Department Of Veterans Affairs (VA's) Legislative Proposal, The Veteran Coordinated Access And Rewarding Experiences (Care) Act; H.R. 1133; H.R. 2123; H.R. 2601; And, H.R. 3642

United States · United States House of Representatives · 24 October 2017

School Milk Nutrition Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2017

School Milk Nutrition Act of 2017 This bill revises the requirements for milk provided by the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and other Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. The bill amends the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to permit schools participating in the NSLP to offer students low-fat and fat-free milk, including low-fat flavored milk containing no more than 150 calories per 8-ounce serving. For students who cannot consume fluid milk because of a medical or other dietary need, schools may offer a nondairy beverage that is: (1) nutritionally equivalent to low-fat and fat-free milk; and (2) meets USDA nutritional standards, including fortification of calcium, protein, vitamin A, vitamin D, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, riboflavin, and vitamin B-12. (Under current law, the substitute is only required to include fortification of calcium, protein, vitamin A, and vitamin D to levels found in cow's milk.) In establishing national school nutritional standards, USDA must provide that containers of all beverages sold in schools have the same maximum volume. USDA must also: (1) report to Congress on recent trends in fluid milk consumption in schools; (2) carry out a pilot program to test and demonstrate strategies by which schools can increase the consumption of fluid milk; and (3) make lactose-free milk with an extended shelf life available to schools. If available evidence indicates that woman and children participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) typically consume fewer than the number of daily servings of dairy recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, USDA must ensure that women have access to reduced fat milk for themselves and their children upon request.

Danny's Law

United States · United States Congress · 24 October 2017

Danny's Law This bill requires the President to establish a commission called the "Anti-Bullying Roundtable" to study bullying in elementary and secondary schools in the United States. The roundtable must submit a report about best practices concerning bullying, including recommendations for: (1) combating bullying, (2) educating school officials to recognize bullying, and (3) helping parents to address the early warning signs of bullying with their children.

Don't Block LGBTQ Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2017

Don't Block LGBTQ Act of 2017 This bill amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit elementary schools, secondary schools, or libraries that receive discount rates for telecommunications services under the universal service support program from blocking Internet access to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer resources. The bill does not prohibit schools or libraries from blocking content that is obscene, child pornography, or harmful to minors.

CAMPUS HATE Crimes Act

United States · United States Congress · 23 October 2017

Creating Accountability Measures Protecting University Students Historically Abused, Threatened, and Exposed to Crimes Act or the CAMPUS HATE Crimes Act This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish measures to hold institutions of higher education accountable for hate crimes that occur on their campuses.

A resolution supporting Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of afterschool programs held on October 26, 2017.

United States · United States Congress · 19 October 2017

Expresses support for Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of after-school programs held on October 26, 2017.

Career Advancement through New Skills Act

United States · United States Congress · 19 October 2017

Career Advancement through New Skills Act This bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for employers that is equal to 25% of the qualified education and training expenses paid or incurred for employees. The expenses taken into account for the credit may not exceed $5,000 with respect to any employee for any taxable year. "Qualified education and training expenses" must be for a program specifically designed to maintain or improve skills of the employee which are necessary or useful either: (1) in the employee's current position with the employer, or (2) in another position with the employer to which the employer reasonably anticipates the employee may transfer. The credit does not apply to expenses for education or training programs that are provided by the employer or by certain family members or business partners of the employer.

Expanding America's Workforce Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 19 October 2017

Expanding America's Workforce Act of 2017 This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to create a workforce Federal Pell Grant program, under which the Department of Education awards grants to students for attending career and technical education programs at institutions of higher education.

A resolution recognizing the 150th anniversary of McDaniel College.

United States · United States Congress · 19 October 2017

Congratulates McDaniel College, located in Westminster, Maryland, on its 150th anniversary.

A resolution expressing support for the designation of October 20, 2017, as the "National Day on Writing".

United States · United States Congress · 19 October 2017

Expresses support for the designation of October 20, 2017, as the National Day on Writing.

A resolution supporting the designation of September 2017 as "National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month".

United States · United States Congress · 19 October 2017

Recognizes the importance of education, prevention, and treatment of substance use disorder. Honors those in recovery from substance use disorder and the allies who support them.

A resolution commemorating the 150th anniversary of Morgan State University.

United States · United States Congress · 18 October 2017

Celebrates the history, legacy, and achievements of Morgan State University on its 150th anniversary.

Code Like a Girl Act

United States · United States Congress · 17 October 2017

Code Like a Girl Act This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award competitive grants to institutions of higher education, local educational agencies, or nonprofit organizations to accelerate research efforts to increase understanding of the factors that contribute to the willingness or unwillingness of girls under the age of 11 to participate in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including computer science) activities. The NSF shall also award competitive grants to such institutions and organizations to enter into partnerships with local educational agencies to develop and evaluate interventions in pre-K and elementary school classrooms that seek to increase participation by such girls in computer science activities. The NSF must: (1) ensure that the materials developed under a program that are demonstrated as being effective in achieving grant goals are made available free of charge to the public on an Internet website, (2) convene an annual meeting of participating partnerships to foster greater national collaboration, and (3) furnish such partnerships with technical assistance in meeting grant program requirements.

SBIR and STTR Oversight and Pilot Program Extension Act of 2018

United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2017

SBIR and STTR Oversight and Pilot Program Extension Act of 2018 This bill amends the Small Business Act to extend through FY2018 pilot programs under the Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer Program (STTR), specifically: phase flexibility that allows, under specified conditions, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense, and the Department of Education to each provide a small business award under Phase II (research and development) of the SBIR program for a project whether or not the business was provided an award under Phase I (proof of concept); awards for technology development, testing, evaluation, and commercialization assistance for SBIR and STTR Phase II technologies or to support the progress of research, research and development, and commercialization conducted under SBIR or STTR programs to Phase III (commercialization); the NIH Phase 0 Proof of Concept Partnership to accelerate the creation of small businesses and the commercialization of research innovations from qualifying institutions; and the authority of the Small Business Administration (SBA) to allow federal agencies to use up to 3% of SBIR program funds for administrative, oversight, and contract processing costs. The SBA shall establish the Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program to provide awards to specified regional collaboratives to address the needs of small businesses in order to: be more competitive in the proposal and selection process for SBIR and STTR program awards, and increase technology transfer and commercialization.

Improve Addiction Education Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2017

Improve Addiction Education Act of 2017 This bill amends the Controlled Substances Act to require a practitioner (other than a hospital, pharmacy, or veterinarian) to comply with a training or education requirement, as a condition of obtaining or renewing a registration to prescribe or dispense a controlled substance in schedule II or III for the treatment of pain or pain management.

Pathways Out of Poverty Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 16 October 2017

Pathways Out of Poverty Act of 2017 This bill establishes and expands various programs related to education, housing, employment, and social welfare. The Department of Education must award grants to states for the development and implementation of prekindergarten programs. The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention within the Department of Justice may award grants to assist communities in addressing juvenile delinquency and gang prevention. The bill expands: the Pell Grant program, the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program, and the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs. With respect to housing, the bill: phases out the federal mortgage-interest income-tax deduction, replacing it with a new mortgage-interest income-tax credit; expands the federal low-income housing income-tax credit; expands certain affordable-housing programs; and establishes a federal income-tax credit for low-income renters. With respect to employment, the bill: expands unemployment compensation benefits; establishes several new employment-related programs to be carried out by the Department of Labor; establishes a tax credit for employers that hire long-term unemployed individuals; establishes prohibitions on employment discrimination based on an individual's status as unemployed; increases the federal minimum wage, incrementally over a period of seven years, to $15.00 per hour. In addition, the bill: expands the federal earned-income tax credit, makes refundable a federal income-tax credit for dependent care expenses, and expands eligibility for certain child-care benefits. The bill also establishes: within the Congressional Budget Office, a Poverty Impact Division; and within the Department of Health and Human Services, a Federal Interagency Working Group on Reducing Poverty.

Hate Crime Victim Assistance Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2017

Hate Crime Victim Assistance Act of 2017 This bill amends the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to establish new Department of Justice (DOJ) grant programs: (1) for state and local governments, in partnership with stakeholders, service providers, and nonprofit entities, to establish and operate hate crime information and assistance websites and to establish or expand hate crime hotlines; and (2) for state and local law enforcement entities to establish education and training programs on solving and preventing hate crimes and establishing dialogues with members of at-risk groups. Additionally, the bill directs DOJ to establish, in the Office of Victims of Crime, a grant program to support efforts by local organizations to establish or expand programs and activities that serve victims of hate crimes.

Equal Access to Quality Education Act of 2017

United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2017

Equal Access to Quality Education Act of 2017 This bill requires the Department of Education to award competitive matching grants to partnerships between high-need local educational agencies and institutions of higher education to establish or support: (1) teacher preparation programs, and (2) teacher induction and retention programs.

Higher Education and Employment Transparency Act

United States · United States Congress · 12 October 2017

Higher Education and Employment Transparency Act This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Department of Education (ED) to make publicly available on the College Navigator website certain employment and earnings information provided by schools. IHEs must also disseminate to prospective and enrolled students information about the median earnings of their former students, disaggregated by program of study and by completion status of such students, based on data from federal or state agencies.