Federal Update – What’s Up in Congress and the Administration James P. Bergeron, President National Council of Higher Education Resources

2014 Midterm Elections: All Seats in Play, by Party Source: The Cook Political Report. Senate House All seats in play, but 64 considered competitive or potentially competitive Governors Senate: To win the majority, Republicans would have to score a net gain of six seats. House: Democrats need a net gain of 17 seats to reach a majority in

Competitive Senate Midterm Races 3 Recommendations and detected threats OH WV VA PA NY ME NC SC GA TN KY IN MI WI MN IL LA TX OK ID NV OR WA CA AZ NM CO WY MT ND SD IA UT FL AR MO MS AL NE KS VT NH MA RI CT NJ DE MD AK HI NC: Sen. Hagan (D) is holding on to an ever- slimming lead in the polls as election day nears AR: Sen. Pryor (D) faces an uphill battle against Republican opponent Tom Cotton in an increasingly conservative state AK: Sen. Begich (D) is facing former Natural Resources Commissioner Dan Sullivan (R); Sullivan has recently polled well against Begich LA: Sen. Landrieu (D) is likely to head to a December runoff election against Rep. Bill Cassidy (R) KY: Sen. McConnell (R) is running neck and neck in the polls with Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Grimes (D), but the DSCC has pulled funding from the race GA: Michelle Nunn (D) has seen good polling numbers during October, but may face a January runoff against Republican David Perdue (R) with a less favorable electorate Source: Scott Bland, Andrea Drusch, and Alex Roarty, “Hotline’s Senate Race Rankings: Republicans On The Brink,” National Journal’s Hotline, October 13, MI: Rep. Gary Peters (D) is slightly favored to win this open seat after a weak campaign from Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land (R) Republican Senators Democratic Senators Open Senate Seats SD: A once-sure Republican victory has escalated into a competitive three-way race as front-runner Mike Rounds (R) has been embroiled in scandal and Rick Weiland (D) and Larry Pressler (I) have seen increased outside spending on their behalves CO: Sen. Udall (D) has fallen behind in the polls to Rep. Cory Gardner (R) as the race nears its conclusion, but a strong turnout operation may save him NH: Sen. Shaheen (D) has seen a once-strong polling lead collapse after a barrage of outside spending on behalf of opponent Scott Brown (R) KS: Sen. Roberts (R), even without a Democratic opponent, is facing an extremely close re-election battle against businessman Greg Orman (I) IA: Rep. Bruce Braley (D) has been unable to escape a series of gaffes and is now an underdog against State Sen. Joni Ernst (R)

4 Senate Appropriations Committee Overview Jurisdiction Committee Members Republicans (14) Vice Chairman: Richard Shelby (R-AL) Thad Cochran (R-MS)* Mitch McConnell (R-KY)* Lamar Alexander (R-TN)* Susan Collins (R-ME)* Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) Lindsey Graham (R-SC)* Mark Kirk (R-IL) Dan Coats (R-IN) Roy Blunt (R-MO) Jerry Moran (R-KS) John Hoeven (R-ND) Mike Johanns (R-NE) John Boozman (R-AR) Democrats (16) Chair: Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) Patrick Leahy (D-VT) Tom Harkin (D-IA) Patty Murray (D-WA) Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) Richard Durbin (D-IL)* Tim Johnson (D-SD) Mary Landrieu (D-LA)* Jack Reed (D-RI)* Mark Pryor (D-AR)* Jon Tester (D-MT) Tom Udall (D-NM)* Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)* Jeff Merkley (D-OR)* Mark Begich (D-AK)* Chris Coons (D-DE)* The Senate Appropriations Committee is responsible for all discretionary spending legislation in the Senate. It is also the largest committee in the Senate. *Up for re-election in 2014 Sen. Retiring after 2014

Senate Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Subcommittee Overview 5 Jurisdiction Committee Members Republicans (7) Ranking Member: Jerry Moran (R-KS) Richard Shelby (R-AL) Lamar Alexander (R-TN)* Lindsey Graham (R-SC)* Mark Kirk (R-IL) Mike Johanns (R-NE) John Boozman (R-AR) Democrats (10) Chair: Tom Harkin (D-IA) Patty Murray (D-WA Mary Landrieu (D-LA)* Richard Durbin (D-IL)* Jack Reed (D-RI)* Mark Pryor (D-AR)* Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) Jon Tester (D-MT) Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)* Jeff Merkley (D-OR)* The Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee is responsible for all discretionary spending legislation for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education in the Senate. *Up for re-election in 2014 Sen. Retiring after 2014

Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Overview 6 Jurisdiction Committee Members Republicans (10) Ranking Member: Mike Crapo (R-ID) Richard Shelby (R-AL) Bob Corker (R-TN) David Vitter (R-LA) Mike Johanns (R-NE) Pat Toomey (R-PA) Mark Kirk (R-IL) Jerry Moran (R-KS) Tom Coburn (R-OK) Dean Heller (R-NV) Democrats (12) Chairman: Tim Johnson (D-SD) Jack Reed (D-RI)* Chuck Schumer (D-NY) Bob Menendez (D-NJ) Sherrod Brown (D-OH) Jon Tester (D-MT) Mark Warner (D-VA)* Jeff Merkley (D-OR)* Kay Hagan (D-NC)* Joe Manchin (D-WV)* Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee focuses on legislation related to banking, insurance, financial markets, housing, mass transit, and other economic issues. *Up for re-election in 2014 Sen. Retiring after 2014

Senate Budget Committee Overview 7 Jurisdiction Committee Members Republicans (10) Ranking Member: Jeff Sessions, (R-AL)* Chuck Grassley (R-IA) Mike Enzi (R-WY)* Mike Crapo (R-ID) Lindsey Graham (R-SC)* Rob Portman (R-OH) Pat Toomey (R-PA) Ron Johnson (R-WI) Kelly Ayote (R-NH) Roger Wicker (R-MS) Democrats (12) Chairman: Patty Murray (D-WA) Ron Wyden (D-OR) Bill Nelson (D-FL) Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Mark Warner (D-VA)* Jeff Merkley (D-OR)* Chris Coons (D-DE)* Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Tim Kaine (D-VA) Angus King (I-ME) The Senate Budget Committee is responsible for oversight of the federal budget process, including regular appropriations as well as the budgets of agencies and programs funded outside of the normal budgetary process. *Up for re-election in 2014 $ Two Independents caucus with the Democrats

Senate HELP Committee Overview 8 Jurisdiction Committee Members Republicans (10) Ranking Member: Lamar Alexander (R-TN)* Mike Enzi (R-WY)* Richard Burr (R-NC) Johnny Isakson (R-GA) Rand Paul (R-KY) Orrin Hatch (R-UT) Pat Roberts (R-KS)* Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) Mark Kirk (R-IL) Tim Scott (R-SC)* Democrats (12) Chairman: Tom Harkin (D-IA) Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) Patty Murray (D-WA) Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Bob Casey (D-PA) Kay Hagan (D-NC)* Al Franken (D-MN)* Michael Bennet (D-CO) Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Chris Murphy (D-CT) Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) The Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions) Committee deals with the wide range of issues encompassed by its acronym, including higher ed policy, occupational health and safety, and medical research and development. *Up for re-election in 2014 Sen. Retiring after 2014

Current House Breakdown 9 * Includes two currently vacant Democratic seats Analysis Democrats need a 17-seat gain to win control of the House in 2014 Number of House seats in the 113 th Congress, by party* Source: Cook Political Report House Elections

Only 64 Competitive or Potentially Competitive Seats in the House in Number of House seats in the 113 th Congress, by party Source: Cook Political Report House Elections 218 Only 64 seats currently competitive or potentially competitive

Democrat-held seats (38) Republican-held seats (26) Breakdown of competitive* House seats by Cook Political Report Rating 64 total competitive or potentially competitive seats House Elections Source: The Cook Political Report

House Appropriations Committee Overview 12 Jurisdiction Committee Members Ranking Member: Nita Lowey (D- NY) Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) Pete Visclosky (D-IN) José Serrano (D-NY) Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) Jim Moran (D-VA) Ed Pastor (D-AZ) David Price (D-NC) Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) Sam Farr (D-CA) Chaka Fattah (D-PA) Sanford Bishop (D-GA) Barbara Lee (D-CA) Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) Betty McCollum (D-MN) Adam Schiff (D-CA) Mike Honda (D-CA) Tim Ryan (D-OH) Henry Cuellar (D-TX) Chellie Pingree (D-ME) Mike Quigley (D-IL) Bill Owens (D-NY) The House Committee on Appropriations is responsible for setting expenditures of money by the government. Republicans (29)Democrats (22) Chairman: Hal Rogers (R-KY) Frank Wolf (R-VA) Jack Kingston (R-GA) Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) Tom Latham (R-IA) Robert Aderholt (R-AL) Kay Granger (R-TX) Mike Simpson (R-ID) John Culberson (R-TX) Ander Crenshaw (R-FL) John Carter (R-TX) Ken Calvert (R-CA) Tom Cole (R-OK) Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) Charlie Dent (R-PA) Tom Graves (R-GA) Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) Steve Womack (R-AR) Alan Nunnelee (R-MS) Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) Thomas Rooney (R-FL) Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) Kevin Yoder (R-KS) David Joyce (R-OH) David Valadao (R-CA) Andy Harris (R-MD) Martha Roby (R-AL) Mark Amodei (R-NV) Chris Stewart (R-UT) *Tossup Race According to the Cook Political Report Rep. Retiring after 2014

House Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Subcommittee Overview 13 Jurisdiction Committee Members The House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee is responsible for all discretionary spending legislation for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education in the House. *Up for re-election in 2014 Rep. Retiring after 2014 Democrats (5) Ranking Member: Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) Nita Lowey (D-NY) Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) Barbara Lee (D-CA) Mike Honda (D-CA) Republicans (7) Chair: Jack Kingston (R-GA) Steve Womack (R-AR) Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN) David Joyce (R-OH) Andy Harris (R-MD) Martha Roby (R-AL) Chris Stewart (R-UT)

House Budget Committee Overview 14 Jurisdiction Committee Members Ranking Member: Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) John Yarmuth (D-KY) Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) Tim Ryan (D-OH) Gwen Moore (D-WI) Kathy Castor (D-FL) Jim McDermott (D-WA) Barbara Lee (D-CA) Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) Mark Pocan (D-WI) Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM) Jared Huffman (D-CA) Tony Cárdenas (D-CA) Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) Kurt Schrader (D-OR) Lloyd Doggett (D-TX) Dan Kildee (D-MI) The House Budget Committee is responsible for oversight of the federal budget process, including regular appropriations and funding for other programs. Republicans (21) Democrats (17 ) Chairman: Paul Ryan (R-WI) Tom Price (R-GA) Scott Garrett (R-NJ) John Campbell (R-CA) Ken Calvert (R-CA) Tom Cole (R-OK) Tom McClintock (R-CA) James Lankford (R-OK) Diane Black (R-TN) Reid Ribble (R-WI) Bill Flores (R-TX) Todd Rokita (R-IN) Rob Woodall (R-GA) Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) Alan Nunnelee (R-MS) Scott Rigell (R-VA) Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) Jackie Walorski (R-IN) Tom Rice (R-SC) Roger Williams (R-TX) Sean Duffy (R-WI) $ *Tossup Race According to the Cook Political Report Rep. Retiring after 2014

House Education and the Workforce Committee Overview 15 Jurisdiction Committee Members Ranking Member: George Miller (D-CA) Bobby Scott (D-VA) Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) John Tierney (D-MA) Rush Holt (D-NJ) Susan Davis (D-CA) Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) Tim Bishop (D-NY) David Loebsack (D-IA) Joe Courtney (D-CT) Marcia Fudge (D-OH) Jared Polis (D-CO) Gregorio Sablan (D-MP) Fredrica Wilson (D-FL) Mark Pocan (D-WI) Mark Takano (D-CA) The House Education and the Workforce Committee oversees issues relating to employer/employee relations, workplace regulations, and education policy. Republicans (23)Democrats (17) Chairman: John Kline (R-MN) Thomas Petri (R-CA) Buck McKeon (R-CA) Joe Wilson (R-SC) Virginia Foxx (R-NC) Tom Price (R-GA) Kenny Marchant (R-TX) Duncan Hunter (R-CA) David Roe (R-TN) Glenn Thompson (R-PA) Tim Walberg (R-MI) Matt Salmon (R-AZ) Brett Guthrie (R-KY) Scott DesJarlais (R-TN) Todd Rotika (R-IN) Larry Bucshon (R-IN) Lou Barletta (R-PA) Joe Heck (R-NV) Mike Kelly (R-PA) Susan Brooks (R-IN) Richard Hudson (R-NC) Luke Messer (R-IN) Bradley Byrne (R-AL) *Tossup Race According to the Cook Political Report Rep. Retiring after 2014

House Financial Services Committee Overview 16 Jurisdiction Committee Members Ranking Member: Maxine Waters (D-CA) Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) Nydia Velázquez (D-NY) Brad Sherman (D-CA) Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) Michael Capuano (D-MA) Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX) William Clay, Jr. (D-MO) Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) Stephen Lynch (D-MA) David Scott (D-GA) Al Green (D-TX) Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) Gwen Moore (D-WI) Keith Ellison (D-MN) Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) Jim Himes (D-CT) Gary Peters (D-MI) John Carney (D-DE) Terri Sewell (D-AL) Bill Foster (D-IL) Dan Kildee (D-MI) Patrick Murphy (D-FL) John Delaney (D-MD) Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) Joyce Beatty (D-OH) Denny Heck (D-WA) Steven Horsford (D-NV) The House Finance Committee oversees legislation relating to securities, insurance, banking, and housing. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) Bill Huizenga (R-MI) Sean Duffy (R-WI) Jim Renacci (R-OH) Robert Hurt (R-VA) Steve Stivers (R-OH) Stephen Fincher (R-TN) Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) Randy Hultgren (R-IL) Dennis A. Ross (R-FL) Robert Pittenger (R-NC) Ann Wagner (R-MO) Andy Barr (R-KY) Tom Cotton (R-AK) Keith Rothfus (R-PA) Luke Messer (R-IN) Republicans (34) Democrats (28) Chairman: Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) Gary Miller (R-CA) Spencer Bachus (R-AL) Peter T. King (R-NY) Ed Royce (R-CA) Frank Lucas (R-OK) Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) Scott Garrett (R-NJ) Randy Neugebauer (R-TX) Patrick McHenry (R-NC) John Campbell (R-CA) Michele Bachmann (R-MN) Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) Steve Pearce (R-NM) Bill Posey (R-FL) Mike Fitzpatrick (R-PA) Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA) *Tossup race according to the Cook Political Report Rep. Retiring after 2014

Congressional Leadership 17 Current House Leadership Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD) Current Senate Leadership Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Majority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL) Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX)

What’s Happening in Washington? Senate HEA Reauthorization Process  Almost completed hearing process  Released comprehensive (but incomplete) bill for feedback  Part of major election-year strategy; next year becomes part of policy discussions  Wildcard: Sen. Warren and continued fallout from student loan interest rate fix

What’s Happening in Washington? House HEA Reauthorization Process  Completed hearing process (14 hearings)  Moving a series of ‘small-borne bills’ that keeps their caucus together, bipartisan  Blunts Democrats election-year strategy  Major work punted to next year when may have new Chairman(?)/new members  Wildcard: More conservative Republicans

Major Themes and trends Proper Role of the Federal Government  College access v. college completion Institutional Quality  Return on investment, college rating systems, and gainful employment v. transparency Streamlining Financial Aid  Fewer programs and fewer requirements v. fewer repayment plans Helping Students and Families with Debt  Student loan refinancing v. financial literacy

QUESTIONS?