[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 28, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         STATEMENT ON H.R. 2117

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2012

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, today I voted against H.R. 2117, the 
``Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act.'' This bill 
infringes on the duties of the Department of Education and it 
undermines efforts to reduce fraud and waste within the federal 
financial aid system.
  The legislation would prohibit the Department of Education from 
issuing regulations regarding the definition of a credit hour and 
regulations requiring institutions of higher education to comply with 
the state laws in which they offer educational services. In effect, it 
undermines efforts to demand accountability in the federal financial 
aid system. There is a clear federal interest in establishing 
consistent definitions for a credit-hour, the underlying unit used to 
determine federal financial aid benefits.
  In addition, requiring institutions of higher education to continue 
to register with the state where they teach distance or correspondence 
classes will help ensure that basic accountability standards are being 
met. We have a responsibility to taxpayers to ensure that the 
institutions receiving support through the financial aid system are in 
compliance with state laws. This bill restricts the Department of 
Education's attempts to reduce fraud and waste within the financial aid 
system, and makes it difficult to ensure that our financial aid systems 
support the institutions that are effectively educating tomorrow's 
workforce.
  The institutions in my district will benefit from a more fair 
financial aid system, as it will ensure long term viability of the 
system and protect their students' access to the very important 
financial aid benefits.

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