Rep. Mark Takano Seeks to Protect Student Veterans and Taxpayers

Washington DC – Earlier today, Representative Mark Takano announced that he will offer two amendments to the MilCon/VA Appropriations legislation that will help ensure that student veteran and taxpayer dollars are being spent appropriately. 

 

The first amendment would help guarantee that student veterans in career-education programs are receiving an education that properly prepares them for their future career. 

 

The second would prevent colleges and universities from using veterans’ education benefits for marketing and recruiting purposes. 

 

“Far too many of our nations’ heroes are being taken advantage of by so-called career education programs that leave student veterans with useless credentials and insurmountable debt. These institutions should not be receiving federal dollars without properly preparing our veterans for their desired career,” said Takano. “Furthermore, veterans’ education benefits should be dedicated toward instruction, not marketing or recruitment. I hope that the these amendments are adopted into the final appropriations language so that our heroes receive the quality education that they deserve and need.”

 

A Senate HELP Committee report found that for-profit colleges tend to use nearly a 23 percent of revenue on marketing and recruiting, but just over 17 percent on academic instruction. At the same time, many for-profits receive over 80 percent of their revenue from federal student aid, including veterans’ education benefits. Student veterans and taxpayers should not be subsidizing schools’ marketing and recruiting costs.