The Department of Education announced today its intention to delay the implementation of “state authorization” regulations on distance education programs. The announcement by the department, which is expected to appear tomorrow in the Federal Register, cites a number of remaining questions surrounding the issue, including various unresolved operational and definitional uncertainties. The department has proposed to delay the regulations by two years to July 1, 2020.
News and updates
2 Spending Bills Clear Senate Subcommittees
The Senate appropriations subcommittees responsible for Energy and Water and Agriculture spending bills cleared their respective bills yesterday. While most of the details are not yet available, the Energy and Water bill reported out yesterday would fund the Department of Energy Office of Science would be funded at $6.65 billion, an increase of $390 million above the FY2018 level and $1.26 billion above the Administration’s budget request.
In the House, the markup of the Interior spending bill that was scheduled before the full Appropriations Committee has beenpostponed and will be rescheduled after the week-long Memorial Day recess.
Senate Starts to Move on FY2019 Appropriations
The Senate is scheduled to officially start moving on its FY2019 appropriations bills today, with both the Agriculture and Energy and Water bills slated for markups by the respective subcommittees today. The full Appropriations Committee is expected to take up the bills on Thursday. Office of Federal Relations will provide relevant details about the bills when they become available.
Meanwhile, the House Appropriations Committee is set to mark up the Interior Appropriations bill this morning. A copy of the bill and the accompanying report are available here.
Interior Appropriations Bill to Move Next
The next item on the agenda for the House Appropriations Committee is its FY2019 Interior spending bill, with the committee scheduled to take it up tomorrow, Tuesday, May 22.
Among the agencies that the bill funds is the U.S Geological Survey (USGS), which in turn supports a number of programs of interest to the University of Washington. For example, the bill would instruct the USGS to support the Earthquake Early Warning system on the West Coast at a total of $21.1 million, with $16.1 million dedicated to the continued development of the system and $5 million for its capital infrastructure needs.
The legislation would dedicate $19.29 million for the Cooperative Research Units (CRUs), another USGS program, which represents an increase of $1.9 million. The increase would be dedicated to filling the number of vacancies across the country at participating universities. The CRUs were proposed for elimination by the Administration.
The newly renamed Climate Adaptation Science Centers program would be level-funded at $25.3 million. The Administration is seeking a cut of more than $12 million to the program.
A copy of the bill report is available here.
This Week in Congress, May 21-25
Here is a selection of committee meetings taking place on the hill this week.
U.S. House of Representatives
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS
Full Committee Markup
Interior and Environment Appropriations
May 22, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg.
HOUSE EDUCATION & THE WORKFORCE
Full Committee Hearing
Education Department Policies/Priorities
May 22, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn Bldg.
HOUSE RULES
Full Committee Business Meeting
National Defense Authorization Act
May 22, 3 p.m., H-313, U.S. Capitol
HOUSE OVERSIGHT & GOVERNMENT REFORM
Subcommittee Joint Hearing
Freedom of Speech on College Campuses (Part Two)
May 22, 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn Bldg.
HOUSE OVERSIGHT & GOVERNMENT REFORM
Subcommittee Joint Hearing
Freedom of Speech on College Campuses (Part Two)
May 22, 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn Bldg.
HOUSE ENERGY & COMMERCE
Subcommittee Hearing
Children’s Hospital Graduate Medical Education Program
May 23, 1 p.m., 2322 Rayburn Bldg.
U.S. Senate
SENATE ARMED SERVICES
Subcommittee Markup
Defense Authorization Act
May 22, 9:30 a.m., 232-A Russell Bldg.
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR & PENSIONS
Full Committee Hearing
Healthcare Workforce Issues
May 22, 10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS
Subcommittee Markup
Energy and Water Development Appropriations
May 22, 2:30 p.m., 138 Dirksen Bldg.
SENATE ARMED SERVICES
Full Committee Markup
Defense Authorization Act
May 24, 9:30 a.m., 222 Russell Bldg.
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS
Full Committee Markup
Agriculture Appropriations/Energy-Water Appropriations
May 24, 10:30 a.m., 106 Dirksen Bldg.
SENATE FINANCE
Full Committee Hearing
Rural Health Care
May 24, 9 a.m., 215 Dirksen Bldg.