Senate Bill Would Push Education Dept. to Crack Down on Bad Actors
March 12, 2013
Earlier this month, a group of Democratic U.S. Senators introduced legislation that would strengthen the Department of Education’s oversight of institutions of higher education that are “taking advantage of students and taxpayers.”
During its first term, the Obama administration extended the department’s authority to improve program integrity for institutions that participate in Title IV student aid programs. Yet, the Education Department has shied away from enforcement, according to lawmakers.
The proposed bill, the “Students First Act,” would enhance the program review process, creating triggers that require the agency to conduct program reviews of institutions most at risk of violating federal law. It would also strengthen existing sanctions against colleges that violate requirements of federal student aid programs knowingly and willfully, and holds executives of those institutions personally accountable.
“Plain and simple, students and taxpayers expect federal dollars to be spent at colleges and universities that provide a quality education. Unfortunately, there are too many institutions that put other priorities over students’ academic success. This important legislation will help focus the Department of Education’s efforts to effectively detect and stop the patterns of waste, fraud and abuse that leave students with mountains of debt and without degrees,” said Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and one of the bill’s sponsors.
Related Links:
S. 406 – The Students First Act of 2013
https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s406/text
Summary of the Bill
https://www.lautenberg.senate.gov/assets/StudentFirst.pdf
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Press Release
https://www.help.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/?id=0cc7ef6b-40ce-49d8-b9be-35b12b2fdb46
Michelle Cormier Mott
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