Rep. Takano Statement on PROSPER Act
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement after the PROSPER Act was advanced out of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce despite unanimous opposition from Committee Democrats.
“The PROSPER Act would have profound and devastating consequences for America’s higher education system.
“It would make college unaffordable for millions of low-income students by cutting the grant programs and subsidized loans that make a good education accessible for communities across the country. It would cut our investments in institutions that serve minority students, and cut funding for training programs that ensure our schools are filled with qualified teachers. And, most appallingly, it would invite deceptive and fraudulent actors in the for-profit education industry to collect more taxpayer dollars – including veterans’ benefits – with no meaningful accountability.
“Over the course of the day, my colleagues and I introduced dozens of amendments to fix the serious flaws in this legislation and convey the concerns we’ve heard from the education community. In nearly all of those cases, our amendments were rejected.
“As a public school teacher for 24 years and as a community college trustee for more than two decades, I have witnessed the inspiring power of a quality education. Under the PROSPER Act, that power will increasingly be limited to students from wealthy families. I am deeply disappointed in the process and the content of this legislation.”
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