Is it within the power of your office, or the military, to disqualify an institution?

We sure do.

Is there a centralized complaint system that has been established for members of the military who are unhappy with the experience they are having in the TA program?

Courses are being offered to the servicemember's spouses at taxpayers' expense through for-profit schools that are not accredited.

Oh, Mr. Gunderson, that's not true.

The Federal taxpayers are basically subsidizing the marketing effort, which is a pretty healthy thing for the for-profit sector.

Yes, please, explain that.

Of course they are, and the Pell grant is the benefit for poor students seeking college admission, but the point is the 90-10 rule does not apply to TA money or GI bill money.

I believe in the critical need of postsecondary education opportunity for everybody in today's world.

if your industry does not establish credible standards of excellence and quality, you are covering up for the bad guys.

Many of the schools participating in that program are not accredited schools. Are you aware of that?

In the last 10 years or so, there has been a dramatic shift in this Tuition Assistance program with some 40 percent of the money going to a handful of for-profit schools.

That's what I was afraid of.

Our next hearing is going to be on another interesting topic. It will be the Joint Strike Fighter, F-35, the most expensive acquisition project in the Federal Government.

I think that may be a misuse of a military facility.

If it were a sizeable number, you would probably know, wouldn't you?

Thanks, Senator Reed.

Excuse me. I am on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and I could swear that the TA program is in our appropriation bill with Government funds.