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News and updates

News and updates

Biden Signs EO on Title IX

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President Biden has signed an Executive Order on Guaranteeing an Educational Environment Free from Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Including Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity (March 8th, 2021).

The EO requires the Secretary of Education to review the Trump Administration rule “Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance,” 85 Fed. Reg. 30026 (May 19, 2020).

Any efforts to repeal or significantly change the rule would likely need to go through the formal rulemaking process.

Senate Passes COVID Relief Bill, Sends It Back to House for Final Clearance

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After a marathon session during which scores of amendments were considered and voted on, the Senate finally cleared its COVID relief bill on Saturday by a vote of 50 to 49.  The Senate made a number of modifications to the House-passed measure, meaning that this version must now be sent back to the House for its approval before it can become law.  With the current set of enhanced federal unemployment benefits running out next Monday, the goal of the Congressional Democrats and the Biden Administration is to have President Biden sign the final bill into law by Sunday.

Read more about the Senate changes and next steps in the process here, here, here, and here.

Raimondo Confirmed as Commerce Secretary

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Gina Raimondo, Governor of Rhode Island, was confirmed yesterday as the Secretary of Commerce.  She is scheduled to be sworn in this evening.  The Commerce Department is the home agency to both NOAA and NIST.

You can read more about Raimondo here, here, and here.