On the recordMarch 2, 2011
I am pleased to be joined by my colleagues, Senators Coburn, DeMint, Johnson and Lee, in introducing the Education for All Act. This important piece of legislation would preserve educational and economic opportunities for all Americans. The U.S. Department of Education is proposing new 'gainful employment' rules that would deny federal financial aid to students who attend proprietary colleges and vocational certificate programs. These rules would disqualify students from receiving federal education loans if their chosen programs do not meet a complex formula comparing student debt to future earning potential. Why should students be discouraged from attending a school they want or a profession they chose because of Washington bureaucrats? The bill I am introducing today would prohibit these regulations from going into effect. The 'gainful employment' rules could deny hundreds of thousands of students access to the training and skills development they need to secure a job in today's troubled economy. There is high demand in some sectors for highly skilled workers and propriety schools are uniquely qualified to meet the training needs of these employers. It is simply irresponsible for the government to throw roadblocks in front of students and institutions at a time when job creation in America should be the administration's number one priority. Further, the 'gainful employment' rules will disproportionately harm low-income and minority students.
