[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 27 (Friday, February 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             FULL-YEAR CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2011

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                               speech of

                     HON. HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 16, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Defense and the other 
     departments and agencies of the Government for the fiscal 
     year ending September 30, 2011, and for other purposes:

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chair, I rise today in strong support of the Kline/
Foxx/Hastings/McCarthy/Payne amendment which will block the 
administration from using any funds to implement the gainful employment 
regulations.
  The overbearing regulations the Department of Education promulgated 
deny students a choice in their educational program and would require 
the federal government to approve new educational programs being 
offered at proprietary schools. This is another attack by an 
administration that is more intent on exerting more government control 
than expanding job creation in America.
  For-profit schools perform a crucial role in higher education; they 
fill a void in providing college education that traditional 
universities cannot meet. Traditional public universities are 
tightening their belts both financially and in terms of the number of 
students entering their programs. For-profit schools are capable of 
being flexible enough to meet the demands of students and businesses 
looking for qualified candidates. This regulation stands to destroy 
that relationship between the needs of the market and the dreams of 
students.
  After hearing the arguments put forward by the Department of 
Education several times, I remain completely unconvinced. After 
receiving over 90,000 comments in the public comment period on the 
proposed rule, the Department has largely ignored the chorus of 
opposition to the rule. The process is flawed, the logic at the 
department is flawed, and the administration's approach on higher 
education is flawed. Therefore, I strongly support this amendment to 
ensure that the Department of Education cannot move forward on the 
gainful employment regulation.

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