Edolphus Towns: “I strongly support the Kline-Foxx-McCarthy-Hastings amendment, which would prohibit the use of funds by the Department…”

“I strongly support the Kline-Foxx-McCarthy-Hastings amendment, which would prohibit the use of funds by the Department of Education for the implementation of the Gainful Employment Act. I am concerned that if this rule is implemented, it will apply an unnecessary broad-brush approach to a complicated situation. This rule, if implemented in its proposed form, will effectively close high-quality programs while leaving programs of questionable value open. So this is not the way to deal with this issue. We all know that a college education, whenever possible, is one of the best paths a student can take to secure employment in a time when our Nation's unemployment rate is just under 10 percent. In some communities, it's double that. Let's not close off any meaningful job training programs. The Department should not forget that these programs serve 2.8 million, and many of them are economically disadvantaged minority students who will lose access to the educational opportunities that they cannot get elsewhere. Supporting this amendment is supporting access and choice. Supporting this amendment is supporting educational opportunities for minorities. A 'yes' vote is a vote for economically disadvantaged students. Many of them are the first in their families to attend college.”