Rep. Takano Statement on Trump Veto of Congressional Resolution to Protect Students from Predatory For-Profit Schools
Riverside, CA – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released this statement following President Trump’s veto of a bipartisan Congressional Resolution to reverse the Department of Education’s Borrower Defense rule. The Department’s rule would deny debt relief to students defrauded by predatory colleges.
“President Trump was presented with an opportunity to support a bipartisan effort to protect students from predatory for-profit schools, but once again, he has chosen to side with Secretary Betsy Devos and her efforts to shield these shady institutions from accountability and deny defrauded students the justice they deserve. This presidential veto comes at the expense of thousands of student veterans, low-income students, women, and minorities who have been exploited by predatory for-profit colleges that provided them with a useless degree and saddled them with insurmountable student loan debt.
“Veteran organizations spoke out against Secretary DeVos’ rule and urged President Trump to uphold this bipartisan resolution – but he failed to heed their call. As Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I hear from student veterans who were aggressively recruited by for-profit colleges that made lofty educational promises. These predatory institutions target veterans for their GI Bill benefits, only to provide them with low-quality instruction, a meaningless degree, and at times, shuttering suddenly and leaving student veterans with credits they cannot transfer and student loans that they cannot repay. With this veto, President Trump is giving for-profits a green light to continue their predatory tactics, failing student veterans in the process.
“The Borrower Defense to Repayment rule was put in place to provide defrauded students with much-needed relief, unfortunately, Secretary DeVos’ new rule will make it harder for students to get the justice they deserve. There is no justice when defrauded student borrowers are forced to pay off loans from predatory for-profit colleges that failed to deliver on their lofty educational promises. Congress must come together to override this veto, otherwise, students will suffer, and for-profit colleges will be able to continue operating without accountability at the expense of taxpayers.”
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Dayanara Ramirez (202) 225-2305