Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Higher Education
Does President Trump’s Next VA Secretary Oppose the House GOP Higher Education Proposal?
07.12.18 WASHINGTON - In response to Questions for the Record submitted by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Dr. Robert Wilkie, President Trump's nominee to be the next Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), expressed strong support for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which encourages talented professionals to enter public service. The program is eliminated in House Republican higher education bill, the PROSPER Act (H.R. 4508). The VA Secretary nominee also recognized that the GI… Continue Reading
Scott, Murray Oppose Rule Delay to Hold Online Education Programs Accountable
06.12.18 WASHINGTON - Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee submitted a public comment to the Department of Education opposing the delay of a rule that would provide consumer protections for students enrolled in predatory online college programs, many of which are at for-profit colleges, no matter where the school is physicall… Continue Reading
In Secretary Devos’s First Appearance Before the Committee, Democrats Seek Answers on Conflicts of Interest, Support for For-Profit Colleges, and Attacks on Civil Rights
05.22.18 WASHINGTON - Today, in Secretary Betsy DeVos's first appearance before the Committee in her 16 months in office, Committee Democrats expressed deep concerns about the Department of Education's support for for-profit education, its numerous apparent conflicts of interest, and its efforts to undermine students' civil rights in schools and campuses across the country. Members used the rare opportunity to question Secretary DeVos to seek explanations for the Department's agenda, which has undermin… Continue Reading
Bipartisan Lawmakers Challenge Education Department’s Attempt to Block State Consumer Protection Laws
05.16.18 WASHINGTON, DC [05/16/18] - Today Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Rob Bishop (R-UT), Jared Polis (D-CO), and Mia Love (R-UT) challenged the Department of Education to reconsider its decision to block states from regulating student loan companies. "States have a historic role in consumer protection regulation, including protecting residents from predatory, unfair, and deceptive business practices," the lawmakers wrote. "The Department's interpretation, if implemented, would preempt stat… Continue Reading
Rep. Takano Statement on Mulvaney’s Unconscionable Decision to Close the Office for Students at the CFPB
05.09.18 Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement in response the announcement from Acting Director Mick Mulvaney to shut down the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) Office for Students and Young Consumers. "The Office for Students and Young Consumers is a vital resource we should be expanding rather than closing. It is the only entity within the federal government entirely focused on protecting young consumers. To date, it has helped return over $750 mi… Continue Reading
Closing the CFPB’s Office for Students is Reckless and Harmful
05.09.18 his morning, the Trump administration announced it is dismantling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau office that protects student borrowers from fraud. Roughly 42 million Americans owe more than $1.5 trillion in student loans. Here is how Committee Democrats responded: Vice Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01): "The Trump Administration has once again shown that it cares more about corporate interests than it does about the interests of students who are trying to afford higher educat… Continue Reading
Bonamici Slams Mulvaney for Closing CFPB Office for Students
05.09.18 WASHINGTON, DC [05/09/18] - Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, a leader on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, made the following statement after Acting Director Mick Mulvaney announced that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) will be closing its Office for Students and Young Consumers: "The Trump Administration has once again shown that it cares more about corporate interests than it does about the interests of students who are trying to afford higher education. … Continue Reading
House Democratic Leaders Unveil A Better Deal: Tools to Succeed in the 21st Century
04.27.18 Alexandria, Virginia - Today, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats held a press conference at Northern Virginia Community College to unveil the newest plank of their bold economic agenda, A Better Deal: Tools to Succeed in the 21st Century, which focuses on Democrats' commitment to investing in America's workers, pioneering future frontiers and modernizing government. "Too many families have been left behind by technological change, and left wondering where they fit in the economy… Continue Reading
GAO Report: Shadowy Industry is Manipulating Student Loan Borrowers, Default Rates
04.26.18 Washington, D.C. - Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report - commissioned by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) - revealing how the little-known but increasingly harmful "default management industry" is using misleading information, coercion, and even $25 gift cards to manipulate student loan default rates. In response to the report's findings, Mr. Takano and Ms. DeLauro joined the GAO in calling for improvements to the Cohort Default Rate (CD… Continue Reading
Bonamici Statement on Simplifying Student Loan Discharge for Disabled Veterans
04.17.18 WASHINGTON, DC [04/17/18] - Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, a leader on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after the Departments of Education and Veterans Affairs announced a new action to simplify the student loan discharge process for disabled veterans: "Veterans have sacrificed for our country, and we must honor their service. Disabled veterans must not be burdened with student loan debt, and we should be helping them access the loan forgiveness t… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on the Eighth Anniversary of SAFRA
03.30.18 "The higher education reforms and investments made in SAFRA were historic in size and scope. As working families struggled to recover from the Great Recession, SAFRA brought relief to millions of students and parents. Notably, SAFRA made higher education more accessible and affordable by increasing the maximum Pell Grant award and indexing it to inflation; establishing the direct lending program that stopped using billions of taxpayer dollars to subsidize corporate lenders; and strengthening inv… Continue Reading
Scott Statement on the Omnibus Bill
03.22.18 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after he voted in favor of the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2018. "While this spending bill is about funding the government, it also a statement of values. When Congress prioritizes federal investments, the country makes progress. As a whole, I see this as a win for students. I support the increased investments in education from birth through college and rejection of misguided cuts proposed by the Trump administrati… Continue Reading
STEAM Day of Action Highlights Bipartisanship, HBCUs & Diversity in the Workforce
03.20.18 Washington, D.C.-Today, the Bipartisan Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Caucus and the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) Caucus hosted the first HBCU STEAM Day of Action on Capitol Hill. This unique event brought HBCU presidents and administrators from thirty-four schools and industry leaders to Capitol Hill to meet with key Members of Congress and senior staff from both parties and in both chambers. The meetings allowed the coalition to advocate f… Continue Reading
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Denounces Betsy DeVos’ Decision to Block Protections For Americans With Student Loans
03.09.18 SCHAUMBURG, IL - Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the Committee on Education and the Workforce issued the following statement in response to the Department of Education's decision to block states from enforcing consumer protections against student loan collection companies: "Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' decision to strip states of their ability to protect Americans from fraud and abuse in student loans is unprecedented and poses serious challenges for working and middle-class fa… Continue Reading
Bonamici Stands Up for Student Loan Borrowers, State Consumer Protection Laws
03.09.18 WASHINGTON, DC [03/09/18] - Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, a leader on the House Education and the Workforce Committee and a former consumer protection attorney, issued the following statement after the Department of Education announced its plans to block states from regulating student loan servicers and debt collectors: "It is unacceptable that Education Secretary DeVos and the Department of Education are trying to interfere with the rights of states to protect student loan borrowers fr… Continue Reading
Trump Administration Usurps State Law on Student Loans
03.09.18 Washington: Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., gave the following statement after the U.S. Dept. of Education usurped states by saying that federal student loan servicers do not have to comply with state law to protect students from predatory student loan lenders. "The Trump Administration is more worried about protecting fraudulent student loan companies than students themselves. This is an attempt to take away a state's right to protect students, giving student loan servicers free reign to scam the… Continue Reading
Rep. Takano: Education Department Betrays Students…Again
03.09.18 Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement in response to the Department of Education's "notice of interpretation" that exempts federal student loan servicers from state regulation. "The Trump administration's attempt to block states from holding unethical student loan companies accountable is a disgraceful escalation of its attack on students and the integrity of the higher education system. At a time when 42 million Americans owe roughly $1.4 trillion in f… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Statement on ED Prioritizing Profits Over People
03.09.18 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the Department of Education (ED) published a 'notice of interpretation' of state's rights to protect federal student loan borrowers. "In recent years, there have been numerous credible claims of servicing failures stemming from potentially unethical practices and purposeful misinformation provided to student loan borrowers. States under both Democratic and Republican leadership have rightly increased their inve… Continue Reading
Scott: ED OIG Confirms H.R.4508 Makes College More Expensive for Students
03.06.18 WASHINGTON - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement after the Department of Education (ED) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released their recommendations for H.R.4508. "Independent analysis continues to confirm what we have said about H.R. 4508 from the beginning, it makes college more expensive for students and is a wish list for for-profit schools. Our claim that it will make college more expensive was … Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Condemns DeVos for Prioritizing Privatization
03.05.18 WASHINGTON - Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), ranking member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement after the Department of Education announced their final list of priorities last Friday, March 2, 2018. "As with many recent actions by the Department, I am deeply disappointed with Friday's announcement. I am disappointed by the Secretary's failure to heed the advice of many commenters, including Members of Congress, who urged her to abandon school privatiz… Continue Reading