Perkins Extension Passes House, Still In Danger

Posted on September 28, 2015September 29, 2015

The House has passed by voice vote, HR 3594, a measure which would extend the Perkins program for a year until it may be fully considered with the impending Higher Education Act reauthorization, which is expected this fall and spring. The Perkins program would expire on September 30th without the extension.

The Perkins program is a critical tool that allows UW to combine federal funds with additional investment by the university to offer needy students fixed, low interest loans. UW receives more Perkins loan volume than any other public institution in the nation — about 4,700 recipients in the 2013-14 school year for UW.

While the measure passed the House, the fate of the program is unclear in the Senate. Senate HELP Committee Chair Lamar Alexander (R-TN) has expressed a desire to let the program simply expire, which is in line with his ultimate goal of one loan, one form for higher education. Expiration would effectively kill the program.

Senate Democrats are working on passing the measure by Unanimous Consent, but it is unclear if the measure will be considered in time (i.e. today).

Boehner’s Retirement Means CR Likely to Pass

Posted on September 28, 2015September 28, 2015

With Speaker John Boehner’s (R-OH) surprise retirement announcement on Friday, the forecast for Congress to actually pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) and keep the federal government operating are better than ever. Last week, prior to Boehner’s announcement, the Senate failed to pass a CR because the legislation included language to withhold any federal funds going to Planned Parenthood. With the failure of that Senate bill, the path was cleared to have the Senate pass a “clean” CR, meaning a measure without political policy riders such as the Planned Parenthood language.

While something may pass the Senate, passing a clean measure in the House was always going to be more challenging given the Republican caucus. Many Republican House Members had declared that they would never vote for a measure that allowed Planned Parenthood access to federal funds.Conservative Republicans have demanded such a provision, but it has already failed in the Senate and the President has pledged to veto it. Further, the same Members have vocally castigating the Speaker for “compromising” on legislation and working with the House Democratic caucus to craft a bill that would pass the House. Rhetoric prior to the retirement announcement was similar on the CR for potentially eliminating Planned Parenthood language.

Boehner stated shortly after his retirement announcement that he would ensure the House would pass a clean CR, which would fund the federal government until December 11th. Additionally, Boehner has said that he will rely on Democratic support to pass a CR in the House.

While Friday’s announcement may avert an immediate shutdown, what happens later this fall is far from clear. The threat of another funding funding cliff is more than likely, with the expiration date of the short-term CR potentially coinciding with the debt ceiling fight and the expiration of tax breaks. There’s also the highway bill, two major education bills, and reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration.

Congress has until midnight September 30th to pass an appropriations bill to keep the federal government running.

Meanwhile, Boehner’s retirement has set off a scramble for the House Republican Leadership positions, so who will land where, in what role, and how they will handle the ever polarized caucus remains to be seen.

What We’re Reading This Week, September 21-25

Posted on September 25, 2015

Here’s a selection of articles the Federal Relations team is enjoying this week.

Rotunda Interior Restoration Work September 2015, Looking Up (AOC)

Bad Management – Congress faces another government shutdown on October 1st, and to Wall Street’s leading CEO, Jamie Dimon, it’s a simple case of bad management. Congress’s failure to fund the government, and embroil it with gridlock is damaging the US economy. See more at NBC’s Meet the Press.

Boehner Done – He had to wait for the Pope to finish addressing the United Nations, but the day after the Pope’s historic visit to Washington and address of Congress, House Speaker John Boehner has announced he is leaving from Congress as of October 30th. He will help fashion a deal with Congressional Democrats to continue to fund the federal government and then retire. Read more at the Washington Post. Also, this means there will not be a shutdown. Politico has a long form piece on the challenges Boehner has faced as speaker.

Understanding China – Chinese President Xi visits both Washingtons this week on his first official trip to the United States as president. While relations with China have recently been strained, the trip will hopefully help relations on both sides as Chia make concessions on environmental issues. The Washington Post explains China in graphs. Also, WaPo has a brief on what to expect from the visit.

Sexual Assault Survey – New numbers from AAU’s campus survey reveal that one in five women are sexually attacked while in college, while more than 1 in and those assaults are massively underreported. Read more at the Huffington Post and the Washington Post.

College Cost$ – The need to reduce or eliminate college debt is a topic growing in momentum on Capitol Hill. It’s a sentiment echoed by Republicans and Democrats, but it is a complicated issue and topic. Rising college debt is being called the next financial crisis, but how do policy makers go about tackling it? Politico looks at eight innovative proposals.

Throwing Elbows – Ed Secretary Arne Duncan has been a vital ally to helping the Administration move their agenda forward. One of Obama’s closest friends has put a strong stamp on America’s educational system. But what will his legacy be? Read more at Politico.

Mind the Gap – The gulf between rich and poor is growing and this divide is sharply seen in education. the achievement gaps between more affluent and less privileged children is wider than ever. Read more at the New York Times.

Politico has every photo you need to see of Pope Francis while he was in DC.

Speaker Boehner to Retire in October

Posted on September 25, 2015

Today, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has announced his intent to retire from Congress at the end of October. This move will relinquish both the House seat and the Speakership. Originally, Boehner intended to serve through the end of the last Congress, but with the loss of Republican Whip Eric Canter in 2014, made Boehner change his plans. Boehner’s leadership has endured a tumultuous time in Congress including growing divisiveness both within Congress as well as strident factions within the Republican party. The retirement could set off a distinct shift in Republican party leadership and Congress.

Move to Defund Planned Parenthood Fails in Senate

Posted on September 24, 2015September 25, 2015

Senate Democrats and a eight Republicans blocked a proposal that a constituted a continuing resolution that would run through December 11 and prohibit for one year federal funding for Planned Parenthood or its affiliates unless they certify that they will not perform or fund abortions during that period. The Senate rejected, 47-52, the motion to invoke cloture on the substitute amendment to the joint resolution. The measure failed to even win a simple majority vote.

Sixty votes were needed to advance the measure. Republican senators voting with Democrats included Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Dean Heller (R-NV), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Ben Sasse (R-NE).

Following the failure, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell moved to set up a vote on a clean spending bill that would avert a government shutdown on Oct. 1, although House Speaker John Boehner still has not said whether his chamber will take up the Senate legislation.

The Senate is expected to take a cloture vote in relation to a “clean” continuing resolution on Monday, September 28th, two days before the government’s funding authority expires.