House E&W Committee Sends Four Additional Legislative Proposals And Another Congressional Review Act Resolution To the House Floor For Consideration
Overview
Just moments ago, the full House Committee on Education & the Workforce completed the markup and passage of four bills and one resolution seeking changes to higher education, workforce, and labor policy. The initial legislation and a very brief summary of each proposal is outlined below.
Higher Education
H.R. 8932 (house.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=242c4a1c0560b7d513ce7962f&id=d1152fd7de&e=f6794059b8) – The FAFSA Deadline Act
The legislation introduced by Representative Erin Houchin (R-IN) would require the 2025-2026 FAFSA to be released and fully operational by October 1, 2024.
Chairwoman Virginia Foxx stated, “By establishing a hard deadline of October 1, H.R. 8932 will provide students, families, and schools with much-needed clarity and stability. I hope my colleagues agree that our top priority should be to eliminate the possibility of another botched rollout filled with uncertainty and pass H.R. 8932.”
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
H.R. 2574 (house.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=242c4a1c0560b7d513ce7962f&id=a8b5751492&e=f6794059b8) – The EMS Counts Act
The bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Susan Wild (D-PA), Glenn Thompson (R-PA), and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) seeks to address the chronic miscounting of emergency medical services personnel by recognizing firefighters who are cross-educated as emergency medical technicians or paramedics. This will help communities throughout the nation better plan for emergencies and disasters.
H.R. 6319 (house.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=242c4a1c0560b7d513ce7962f&id=ed672f44db&e=f6794059b8), Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act of 2023
The bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Norma Torres (D-CA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) aims to reclassify 911 professionals from clerical workers to protective service workers. 911 professionals play a critical role in emergency response as the initial first responder, and reclassification better reflects the lifesaving work they perform.
H.R. 2941 (house.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=242c4a1c0560b7d513ce7962f&id=fb70797ce3&e=f6794059b8), Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act
The bipartisan legislation introduced by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Joseph Morelle (D-NY) seeks to address the critical shortage of direct support professionals who provide support to individuals with disabilities. This bill will provide federal agencies, states, and the private sector with the data they need to understand and respond to this workforce challenge, without any additional costs to taxpayers.
Labor Rule Revocation
H.J. Res. 142 (house.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=242c4a1c0560b7d513ce7962f&id=80ea27a11d&e=f6794059b8), Congressional Review Act Opposing the Department of Labor’s “Retirement Security Rule: Definition of an Investment Advice Fiduciary”
The legislation introduced by Representative Rick Allen seeks to block implementation of the “Fiduciary Rule” (a.k.a. the “Retirement Insecurity Rule”) by invoking the Congressional Review Act.
Markup Summary
Below is a very brief summary of the deliberations related to each of the five legislative proposals and the voting record.
The FAFSA Deadline Act
An amendment in the nature of a substitute (ANS) was introduced by Representative Erin Houchin (R-IN) requiring publication no later than October 1 prior to the planned year of enrollment. The revision removes language that provided for an outer limit deadline of January 1 of the applicant’s planned year of enrollment, which currently exists in statute. Ranking Member Bobby Scott spoke in opposition to the amendment in the nature of a substitute, while acknowledging the Department’s handling of the underlying FAFSA implementation. Following additional comments from Representative Gregorio Sablan (D-NMI), expressing concerns, but also opposition to the various legislative proposals. Representatives Lucy McBath (D-GA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), and Alma Adams (D-NC) expressed frustration with the FASFA rollout, noting that they would support the bill.
Following these general discussions, Representative Bob Good (R-PA) sought to further modify the ANS, stating that his amendment would “add a layer of proactive accountability to ensure that the Department is truly working to develop the FAFSA in a timely manner by requiring the Department to certify to Congress one month in advance whether or not the FASFA application will be ready by the October 1 deadline. If the Department certifies in the negative or meet the deadline, phase two of accountability would kick in. Within a month, the Secretary would be required to testify before the E&W Committee about the failure to meet the deadline.” Ranking Member Bobby Scott spoke in support of the amendment, while still expressing concerns with the underlying ANS. The amendment to the ANS was approved by voice vote.
With no further amendments to be offered, the Committee passed the ANS – as amended, by voice vote. Ranking Member Scott requested a recorded vote, and the final tally was 34-6 in favor of passage.
The EMS Count Act
An ANS was offered by Representative Susan Wild (D-PA) providing sixty days, instead of thirty days, for the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to report back to Congress on review and potential additions to the classification codes. Representative Glenn Grothman (R-PA), an original co-sponsor of the original bill and ANS spoke in favor of the proposed legislation. The ANS was adopted by voice vote. With no further amendments offered, the Committee passed the revised bill by voice vote. Raking Member Scott requested a recorded vote and the final tally was a unanimous vote in favor of passage 42-0.
Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act of 2023
An ANS was offered by Representative Lori Chavez-Deremer (R-OR) seeking to support 911 dispatchers. An amendment to the ANS was offered by Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) providing sixty days, instead of thirty days, the BLS reporting deadline as described above. The amendment to the ANS was agreed to by voice vote. With no further amendments offered, the Committee passed the ANS – as amended by voice vote. Raking Member Scott requested a recorded vote and the final tally was a unanimous vote in favor of passage 42-0.
Recognizing the Role of Direct Support Professionals Act
An ANS was offered by Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) BLS, The ANS was adopted by voice vote. An amendment to the ANS was offered by Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) providing sixty days, instead of thirty days, the BLS reporting deadline as described above. With no further amendments offered, the Committee passed the ANS – as amended by voice vote. Raking Member Scott requested a recorded vote and the final tally was a unanimous vote in favor of passage 42-0.
Congressional Review Act Opposing the Department of Labor’s “Retirement Security Rule: Definition of an Investment Advice Fiduciary”
The author of the bill, Representative Rick Allen (R-GA) presented the resolution. Discussions both for and against the proposal were offered prior to a voice vote on the resolution. A call for amendments was provided, and no amendments to the resolution were off following a voice vote in favor of the bill, Ranking Member Bobby Scott (D-VA) requested a recorded vote. Raking Member Scott requested a recorded vote on the motion to report the resolution to the House floor and the final tally 23-18 in favor of reporting the bill to the full House.
What’s Next
The Committee will now send these proposals to the full House of Representatives for further consideration and passage. CSPEN will continue to monitor, track, and report further actions on these bills if/when they are placed on the Congressional calendar.
