DeLauro, Murray Urge Secretary DeVos to Reverse Course and Enforce Student Protections Against High-Debt Career Training Programs
59 Members of Congress sent a letter highlighting concerns that Secretary DeVos is once again putting interests of for-profit colleges ahead of students
Gainful employment protections are designed to prevent students from drowning in debt like those at Corinthian and ITT Tech
WASHINGTON, DC(July 27, 2017) — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) ranking member of the House Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and 59 Members of Congress sent a letter today urging Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to reverse the U.S. Department of Education's decision to delay student protections that require career training programs to disclose potential employment information to prospective students before they make a financial commitment. The Members of Congress highlighted concerns that Secretary DeVos is denying students the ability to make informed decisions about which program best fits their needs and will help them find a good-paying job after graduation.
"Instead of acting to protect students, the Department has chosen to hide behind the weak excuse that for-profit colleges are suing to stop this rule—and keep their profits flowing—to delay and undermine essential protections for students and taxpayers and dismantle regulations issued under the previous Administration," wrote the Members of Congress. "Once again, we fear that the interests of for-profit colleges are being put ahead of students, parents, and what is best for our country and economy."
Gainful employment disclosure provisions require career training programs to distribute basic consumer information to prospective students, including the percentage of students who are able to complete on time as well as the typical levels of student loan debt, earnings, and job placement rates among program graduates. These disclosures are part of a set of rules that protect students and taxpayers and require the worst-performing career training programs – those that consistently leave their graduates with more debt than they can repay – to improve or lose eligibility for federal funding.
The letter was signed by a total of 36 House Democrats. In addition to Congresswoman DeLauro, the letter was signed by Representatives Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU), G. K. Butterfield (D-NC), Judy Chu (D-CA), Katherine Clark (D-MA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI), James A. Himes (D-CT), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Sander M. Levin (D-MI), A. Donald McEachin (D-VA), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), David E. Price (D-NC), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Janice D. Schakowsky (D-IL), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH), Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), Adam Smith (D-WA), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Mark Takano (D-CA), Mike Thompson (D-MS), and Doris Matsui (D-CA).
The letter was signed by a total of 23 Senators. In addition to Senator Murray, the letter was signed by Senators Durbin (D-IL), Baldwin (D-WI), Blumenthal (D-CT), Brown (D-OH), Cardin (D-MD), Carper (D-DE), Coons (D-DE), Cortez Masto (D-NV), Feinstein (D-CA), Franken (D-MN), Harris (D-CA), Hassan (D-NH), Hirono (D-HI), Markey (D-MA), Murphy (D-CT), Reed (D-RI), Schumer (D-NY), Shaheen (D-NH), Van Hollen (D-MD), Warren (D-MA), Whitehouse (D-RI), and Wyden (D-OR).
Full letter PDF can be found HERE.
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