WASHINGTON UPDATES
Capitol Advocacy Partners provides weekly newsletter updates featuring curated news from the executive and legislative branches, along with timely information on federal funding opportunities—tailored to keep you informed and ahead.
DC Update: 11/26/18
Executive Branch and Administration
On 11/24 several news outlets reported that the Trump administration has reached a tentative agreement with the incoming Mexican President to keep asylum seekers... Current policy allows...
Department of Education
On 11/21 a federal judge ruled that the District of Columbia, and states, lack the power to oversee the Education Department’s loan servicers. This ruling could have implications in California…
On 11/16 the US Department of Education released a rewrite of federal Title IX rule, which allows schools to require more evidence to prove claims of sexual assault and harassment…
Congress
Congress has until 12/7 to pass a bill to fund the remaining appropriations bills (Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, State, finance, Homeland Security, Interior Transportation, HUD)…
On 11/20 eighteen Senate Democrats, including Sens. Feinstein and Harris, wrote a letter urging US Citizenship and Immigration Services to rescind a directive issued in August, 2018 that would heighten penalties for…
On 11/14 Sens. Alexander and Murray introduced the FAFSA Act (S 3611), which will allow the IRS to disclose tax return information to Department of Education officials to determine eligibility for, and amount of, federal student financial aid for college students. This would…
Other Articles
On 11/20 the United National Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released a report on the educational needs of refugee and immigrant students a report on the educational needs of refugee and immigrant students…
Funding/Support Opportunities
NSF: Campus Cyberinfrastructure
Office of Naval Research: FY19 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) for the Office of Naval Research (ONR) Navy and Marine Corps Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) Education, and Workforce Program
Department of State: FY2019 Community College Initiative Program: Cooperative Agreement
Education Update: 11/26/18
Executive Branch and Administration
On 11/24 several news outlets reported that the Trump administration has reached a tentative agreement with the incoming Mexican President to keep asylum seekers... Current policy allows...
Department of Education
On 11/21 a federal judge ruled that the District of Columbia, and states, lack the power to oversee the Education Department’s loan servicers. This ruling could have implications in California…
On 11/16 the US Department of Education released a rewrite of federal Title IX rule, which allows schools to require more evidence to prove claims of sexual assault and harassment…
Congress
Congress has until 12/7 to pass a bill to fund the remaining appropriations bills (Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, State, finance, Homeland Security, Interior Transportation, HUD)…
On 11/14 Sens. Alexander and Murray introduced the FAFSA Act (S 3611), which will allow the IRS to disclose tax return information to Department of Education officials to determine eligibility for, and amount of, federal student financial aid for college students. This would…
Other Articles
On 11/20 the United National Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) released a report on the educational needs of refugee and immigrant students a report on the educational needs of refugee and immigrant students…
DC Update: 11/13/18
Executive Branch and Administration
On 11/8 the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a temporary order that keeps DACA…In earlier, separate action last week, the Justice Department petitioned the Supreme Court to take up several cases concerning DACA, which would...
On 11/9 President Trump signed a presidential proclamation that will block migrants who cross the US-Mexico border illegally from seeking asylum. The ban would last...
Department of Education
On 11/13 a California consumer advocacy group (Housing and Economic Rights Advocates) filed a lawsuit against Sec. DeVos for the Department’s handling of automatic loan…
Congress
The House and Senate reconvene on 11/13.
Appropriations discussions are underway as Congress comes back into session. They have until 12/7 to pass a bill to fund the remaining appropriations bills…
Rep. Lowey, who takes over the Chairmanship of the Appropriations committee next year, has identified initial investigative priorities for next year. They include:
On 11/8 the House Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Phil Roe sent the VA a strongly worded letter asking Secretary Wilkie to take immediate and direct action over the oversight of GI Bill claims…
Funding/Support Opportunities
National Science Foundation…
Health Resources and Services Administration…
Post-Midterm Election Update: 11/7/2018
Overview: Democrats capture the majority in the House. As of the morning of 11/7, Democrats have won an additional…seats to reach a minimum majority of...Most outlets project Democrats will reach…
Republicans have retained their majority in the Senate to... There are 4 seats left to call, and Republicans are expected to…
This creates a split government….
Congressional Leadership
House Leadership Shifts: It is expected that current Democrat ranking members will take over House Leaders and Committee Chairs when the new Congress convenes in January. This includes:
Speaker of the House-
Majority Whip-
Appropriations-
Appropriations Subcommittees:
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies-
Homeland Security-
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies-
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies-
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Education and the Workforce-
Veterans’ Affairs-
Transportation and Infrastructure-
Homeland Security-
Budget-
Energy and Commerce-
Financial Services-
Judiciary-
Natural Resources-
Ways and Means-
Minority leader:
Notable California Races: Three of the eight projected swing districts in California are likely to flip from...
CA-10:
CA-22:
CA-25:
CA-39:
CA-45:
CA-48:
CA-49:
CA-50:
Senate Remains Largely Unchanged: With Republicans increasing their majority in the Senate…
Senate President Pro Tem:
Appropriations-
Appropriations Subcommittees-
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies-
Homeland Security-
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies-
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies-
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies-
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions-
Commerce, Science, and Transportation-
Judiciary-
Veterans’ Affairs-
Expected Agendas for 2019
Democrats have said their first three legislative packages will cover:
Additional items on the House Democrats’ agenda include...
Analyst predict that Democrats are more likely to have success...
Democrats are also gearing up an oversight and investigatory agenda to...
This morning President Trump appeared to threaten retaliatory…
Earmarks and Appropriations
Members from both sides have eagerly supported the return of earmarks in order to reduce gridlock and end stopgap funding bills. If they do return…
Immediate Activities: 2018 Lame-duck Session
Congress returns to session next week with significant appropriations deadlines looming before the end of the year. In order to avoid a partial shutdown…
Republicans will still be in charge when Congress comes back in session on November 7th, but, even with a temporary House majority, they will still need votes from Senate Democrats to get a spending package to Trump's desk.
Historically, federal funding has only lapsed once in a post-election session of Congress, when then-President...
If Republicans can find a way to finish appropriations, they may eye a set of policy proposals for their final months with a unified government. This includes…
Election Update: 10/30/18
Executive Branch and Administration
On 10/30 President Trump said he will use executive order to end the right to citizenship for children of non-citizens and unauthorized immigrants born in the US. The White House did not provide additional details…
Midterm Election
Many election modelers predict Democrats are poised to win…while Republicans appear likely to...
David Wasserman, House editor, The Cook Political Report, one of the most respected and accurate outcome predictors, maintains…
Key races in Orange County and California and Cook Political Report ratings include…