Hi everyone, From a CEF Update sent out today by Sarah Abernathy, with my additional notes: > August recess – Both chambers are now officially in recess until September 5th, as the Senate wrapped up its legislative business last night. Congress will have an extremely busy month when it returns, with the appropriations and budget process yet to be completed, and potential tax reform and health care items at the top of the Republicans’ list of priorities. Until then, members have headed back home to their constituents for the next four weeks. A week or two ago there was some yammering among House conservative about pushing for a 12-bill omnibus funding package to completed by to the August recess. That would have been pretty tough to do with the limited time that was left in the calendar — which promoted some talk of canceling the first week of the recess. Anyway, what they ended up doing was passing a 4-bill security omnibus (which — fun fact — does not include Homeland Security funding). The other eight appropriations bills (including the one we most care about, the Labor-HHS-Education bill) are still pending floor action when the House returns in September. Here is the four-bill package, if you’re interested (although I don't think there is likely much of interest in it for us): https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr3219/BILLS-115hr3219rh.pdf My understanding is that the Speaker has promised to schedule the House budget resolution for a vote on the floor during the first week in September. Here is the House budget resolution: https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hconres71/BILLS-115hconres71rh.pdf Here is the Budget Committee's report on the resolution: https://budget.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/HBC-Res.-Rpt.-FY-2018.pdf Note that the report puts education funding in a second tier of “Domestic Priorities,” which it characterizes at “activities that may be best administered or initiated by State and local governments or the private sector.” (page 50). It also talks about reforming federal job training programs that “are notorious for their failure and duplication” (page 119). > Education Department appointment – As part of the last minute flurry of legislative activity yesterday afternoon, the Senate confirmed Peter Oppenheim to be Assistant Secretary of Education for Legislation and Congressional Affairs. I know many CEF members know him from his previous position on Senator Lamar Alexander’s HELP Committee staff where he served as Education Policy Director and Counsel. I read somewhere that Sen. Warren was making some noise about delaying the Oppenheim confirmation over her ongoing annoyance over lack of responsiveness by Sec. DeVos. But I guess that didn’t happen. As Sarah notes, Oppenheim is very well known to education folks in this town. He comes across as kind of cranky to me, which I sorta like. And Sen. Warren seems to be constantly annoyed, which I also like. MORE STUFF: Congressional TRIO Caucus I mentioned a while back that i was going to be a panelist at a briefing hosted by the Congressional TRIO Caucus entitled, "Educational Opportunity Centers — Engines of Economic Mobility.” It happened. Video here, if you are curious: https://www.facebook.com/councilforopportunityineducation/videos/vb.283242650263/10154627847380264/?type=2&theater <https://www.facebook.com/councilforopportunityineducation/videos/vb.283242650263/10154627847380264/?type=2&theater> I bring i too your attention because the order panelists (skip over my remarks) were wonderful: Alfie Mincy, Upward Bound alumna and Director of the Educational Opportunity Center at Midlands Technical College in Columbia, South Carolina; Brent Holley, an alumnus of the Educational Opportunity Center at Marshall University and Machinist at Tri-State Coating & Machine in Salt Rock, West Virginia; and Darryl Carrington, an alumnus of the Educational Opportunity Center at Wichita State University, where he now serves as the Community Liaison of the University’s Public Policy and Management Center. It’s worth watching. Thanks to Regina Suitt for putting me in touch with her colleague who runs the EOC at Pima CC, who in turn connected me with the director of the statewide EOC in Maine. Both of whom were a big help in preparing for this event. CBPP Webinar Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, August 9, from 2 to 3 p.m. ET that may be of interest: > When Congress returns to Washington, D.C., after Labor Day, they will have a busy fall ahead of them. The decisions Congress will make on the Fiscal Year 2018 budget resolution, FY18 appropriations, the debt ceiling, tax legislation, and health care will have sweeping implications for communities and families around the country. > > On this webinar, CBPP staff will connect the dots among all the federal policy debates that are likely to come to a head in the fall and answer questions. We will also discuss how to make the most of the current August recess to shape the narrative on these issues and prepare for the key moments for action in the fall. > You can register for the webinar at this link. <http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=v9YEyN6hhtrUh89V9Fm8yi57pC192dKP> Education Department Hiring Hits A Wall Interesting lead story in Politico’s Morning Education last Friday about hiring (rather, the lack of it) at the Dept. of Education: > The task of staffing the Education Department with fresh political faces appears to have hit a wall. Dozens of individuals have dropped out, frustrated by the drawn-out, rigorous hiring process. Those in the pipeline are wondering what's taking so long. And fewer folks are throwing their hats in the ring, doubting whether the Trump administration's pledge to dramatically expand private school choice options for working class families will ultimately go anywhere, according to multiple sources plugged into the hiring process. "The White House looks so chaotic, I think people are starting to wonder if you will be able to do much" on education, one source told Pro Education's Caitlin Emma. > > - Amid the chaos, the Hill doesn't seem interested in funding the president's school choice budget proposals and it's unclear if the White House will get behind a plan to expand private school choice through tax reform - a huge lift for Congress and the administration. Folks who support private school choice are "increasingly pessimistic," the source said. "There still seems to be people in the pipeline that could get through. But it seems like no one new is getting in line." > > - Education Department press secretary Liz Hill said, "We are making progress on staffing and more announcements on are on the horizon soon. The notion that the secretary doesn't have an agenda is ridiculous. The secretary is championing a robust agenda to reduce the federal role in education, expand school choice and empower parents, retool the Higher Education Act for the 21st Century, and modernize [Federal Student Aid] to better serve students and taxpayers. The secretary hears from those inside and outside the government who are excited about her agenda and are ready and willing to help advance it." > > - Political vacancies will make it more difficult for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to figure out and implement an agenda. At least a quarter of the Education Department's political vacancies have been filled, but a number of potential hires have been held up, thwarted or vetoed by the White House or Education Department, sources say. The Office of Government Ethics, in particular, has presented enormous hurdles. For example, the rigorous financial expectations set out by the Office of Government Ethics prompted Allan Hubbard, an economic adviser during both Bush administrations, to drop out of the running  <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9994c6986285c2aea86dff3eaab504cfdbb95019308f3938e5d88094ace80a6fe40bc279b92cb88df2124e055493fb679569effb904f4d2f>for the Education Department's No. 2 job in early June. Rumored names of a potential front-runner for that position have yet to surface. > > - A lack of senior political hires has failed to attract other talent, compounding the problem, sources say. And the political hires now at the Education Department have way too much on their plate. President Donald Trump has only formally nominated two individuals for politically appointed, Senate-confirmable positions: Sen. Lamar Alexander aide Peter Oppenheim as assistant secretary for legislation and congressional affairs, and Florida attorney Carlos Muñiz as general counsel. Jim Blew, director of the education advocacy group, Student Success California, is the front-runner to become the Education Department's assistant secretary of the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development - but has yet to be formally nominated. > CEF Budget Book Briefing Update A article from Tennessee’s Columbia Daily Herald that features Jan McKeel, our speaker from the South Central TN Workforce Alliance high the of interest: http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/news/20170723/what-do-we-have-to-lose-with-federal-education-cuts <http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/news/20170723/what-do-we-have-to-lose-with-federal-education-cuts> Have a good weekend, Jeff

Contrary to what I wrote below, It’s maybe not so clear that the House is really going to vote on their budget resolution as soon as they get back. From CQ RollCall: > Abandonment of Border Tax Helps Build GOP Support on Budget. The chances of adopting a fiscal 2018 budget resolution in the House have improved, thanks to the border adjustment tax fizzling. With a clearer picture of what a tax overhaul might entail, GOP lawmakers say getting votes for a budget may come easier. But it's not a done deal. Republicans could still fall short on the tax and spending blueprint (H Con Res 71) when the House returns in September, writes Paul M. Krawzak Jeff > On Aug 4, 2017, at 2:15 PM, Jeff Carter <jcarter@literacypolicy.org> wrote: > > Hi everyone, > > From a CEF Update sent out today by Sarah Abernathy, with my additional notes: > >> August recess – Both chambers are now officially in recess until September 5th, as the Senate wrapped up its legislative business last night. Congress will have an extremely busy month when it returns, with the appropriations and budget process yet to be completed, and potential tax reform and health care items at the top of the Republicans’ list of priorities. Until then, members have headed back home to their constituents for the next four weeks. > > A week or two ago there was some yammering among House conservative about pushing for a 12-bill omnibus funding package to completed by to the August recess. That would have been pretty tough to do with the limited time that was left in the calendar — which promoted some talk of canceling the first week of the recess. Anyway, what they ended up doing was passing a 4-bill security omnibus (which — fun fact — does not include Homeland Security funding). The other eight appropriations bills (including the one we most care about, the Labor-HHS-Education bill) are still pending floor action when the House returns in September. > > Here is the four-bill package, if you’re interested (although I don't think there is likely much of interest in it for us): > https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr3219/BILLS-115hr3219rh.pdf <https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr3219/BILLS-115hr3219rh.pdf> > > My understanding is that the Speaker has promised to schedule the House budget resolution for a vote on the floor during the first week in September. Here is the House budget resolution: > https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hconres71/BILLS-115hconres71rh.pdf > > Here is the Budget Committee's report on the resolution: > https://budget.house.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/HBC-Res.-Rpt.-FY-2018.pdf > > Note that the report puts education funding in a second tier of “Domestic Priorities,” which it characterizes at “activities that may be best administered or initiated by State and local governments or the private sector.” (page 50). It also talks about reforming federal job training programs that “are notorious for their failure and duplication” (page 119). > >> Education Department appointment – As part of the last minute flurry of legislative activity yesterday afternoon, the Senate confirmed Peter Oppenheim to be Assistant Secretary of Education for Legislation and Congressional Affairs. I know many CEF members know him from his previous position on Senator Lamar Alexander’s HELP Committee staff where he served as Education Policy Director and Counsel. > > I read somewhere that Sen. Warren was making some noise about delaying the Oppenheim confirmation over her ongoing annoyance over lack of responsiveness by Sec. DeVos. But I guess that didn’t happen. As Sarah notes, Oppenheim is very well known to education folks in this town. He comes across as kind of cranky to me, which I sorta like. And Sen. Warren seems to be constantly annoyed, which I also like. > > MORE STUFF: > > Congressional TRIO Caucus > > I mentioned a while back that i was going to be a panelist at a briefing hosted by the Congressional TRIO Caucus entitled, "Educational Opportunity Centers — Engines of Economic Mobility.” It happened. Video here, if you are curious: https://www.facebook.com/councilforopportunityineducation/videos/vb.283242650263/10154627847380264/?type=2&theater <https://www.facebook.com/councilforopportunityineducation/videos/vb.283242650263/10154627847380264/?type=2&theater> > > I bring i too your attention because the order panelists (skip over my remarks) were wonderful: Alfie Mincy, Upward Bound alumna and Director of the Educational Opportunity Center at Midlands Technical College in Columbia, South Carolina; Brent Holley, an alumnus of the Educational Opportunity Center at Marshall University and Machinist at Tri-State Coating & Machine in Salt Rock, West Virginia; and Darryl Carrington, an alumnus of the Educational Opportunity Center at Wichita State University, where he now serves as the Community Liaison of the University’s Public Policy and Management Center. It’s worth watching. > > Thanks to Regina Suitt for putting me in touch with her colleague who runs the EOC at Pima CC, who in turn connected me with the director of the statewide EOC in Maine. Both of whom were a big help in preparing for this event. > > CBPP Webinar > Center on Budget and Policy Priorities is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, August 9, from 2 to 3 p.m. ET that may be of interest: > >> When Congress returns to Washington, D.C., after Labor Day, they will have a busy fall ahead of them. The decisions Congress will make on the Fiscal Year 2018 budget resolution, FY18 appropriations, the debt ceiling, tax legislation, and health care will have sweeping implications for communities and families around the country. >> >> On this webinar, CBPP staff will connect the dots among all the federal policy debates that are likely to come to a head in the fall and answer questions. We will also discuss how to make the most of the current August recess to shape the narrative on these issues and prepare for the key moments for action in the fall. >> > You can register for the webinar at this link. <http://org.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=v9YEyN6hhtrUh89V9Fm8yi57pC192dKP> > > Education Department Hiring Hits A Wall > Interesting lead story in Politico’s Morning Education last Friday about hiring (rather, the lack of it) at the Dept. of Education: > > >> The task of staffing the Education Department with fresh political faces appears to have hit a wall. Dozens of individuals have dropped out, frustrated by the drawn-out, rigorous hiring process. Those in the pipeline are wondering what's taking so long. And fewer folks are throwing their hats in the ring, doubting whether the Trump administration's pledge to dramatically expand private school choice options for working class families will ultimately go anywhere, according to multiple sources plugged into the hiring process. "The White House looks so chaotic, I think people are starting to wonder if you will be able to do much" on education, one source told Pro Education's Caitlin Emma. >> >> - Amid the chaos, the Hill doesn't seem interested in funding the president's school choice budget proposals and it's unclear if the White House will get behind a plan to expand private school choice through tax reform - a huge lift for Congress and the administration. Folks who support private school choice are "increasingly pessimistic," the source said. "There still seems to be people in the pipeline that could get through. But it seems like no one new is getting in line." >> >> - Education Department press secretary Liz Hill said, "We are making progress on staffing and more announcements on are on the horizon soon. The notion that the secretary doesn't have an agenda is ridiculous. The secretary is championing a robust agenda to reduce the federal role in education, expand school choice and empower parents, retool the Higher Education Act for the 21st Century, and modernize [Federal Student Aid] to better serve students and taxpayers. The secretary hears from those inside and outside the government who are excited about her agenda and are ready and willing to help advance it." >> >> - Political vacancies will make it more difficult for Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to figure out and implement an agenda. At least a quarter of the Education Department's political vacancies have been filled, but a number of potential hires have been held up, thwarted or vetoed by the White House or Education Department, sources say. The Office of Government Ethics, in particular, has presented enormous hurdles. For example, the rigorous financial expectations set out by the Office of Government Ethics prompted Allan Hubbard, an economic adviser during both Bush administrations, to drop out of the running  <http://go.politicoemail.com/?qs=9994c6986285c2aea86dff3eaab504cfdbb95019308f3938e5d88094ace80a6fe40bc279b92cb88df2124e055493fb679569effb904f4d2f>for the Education Department's No. 2 job in early June. Rumored names of a potential front-runner for that position have yet to surface. >> >> - A lack of senior political hires has failed to attract other talent, compounding the problem, sources say. And the political hires now at the Education Department have way too much on their plate. President Donald Trump has only formally nominated two individuals for politically appointed, Senate-confirmable positions: Sen. Lamar Alexander aide Peter Oppenheim as assistant secretary for legislation and congressional affairs, and Florida attorney Carlos Muñiz as general counsel. Jim Blew, director of the education advocacy group, Student Success California, is the front-runner to become the Education Department's assistant secretary of the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development - but has yet to be formally nominated. >> > > CEF Budget Book Briefing Update > > A article from Tennessee’s Columbia Daily Herald that features Jan McKeel, our speaker from the South Central TN Workforce Alliance high the of interest: > http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/news/20170723/what-do-we-have-to-lose-with-federal-education-cuts <http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/news/20170723/what-do-we-have-to-lose-with-federal-education-cuts> > > Have a good weekend, > > Jeff > > > > _______________________________________________ > National Coalition for Literacy Members mailing list > Members@lists.national-coalition-literacy.org > To unsubscribe: http://lists.national-coalition-literacy.org/mailman/listinfo/members_lists.national-coalition-literacy.org