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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE SAFEGUARDING STUDENT VETERANS ACT
______
HON. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS
of maryland
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Mr. CUMMINGS. Madam Speaker, I rise to discuss the Safeguarding
Student Veterans Act.
In recent years, we have seen a wave of abrupt closures of colleges
in Maryland and around the country, particularly those operating for
profit. When a college closes, students are the ones that bear the
burden and are left asking ``what's next?''
Students who have spent thousands of dollars can just be left with
credits they are often not able to transfer. This leaves entire
families placed in financial limbo due to circumstances of which the
student was unaware.
In the last five years, close to a half million students were
impacted by closures of around 1,200 campuses. They were robbed of
their education and a chance to better themselves.
When these schools close, student veterans using the GI Bill benefits
they have earned through their courageous service are
disproportionately impacted. Furthermore, many for-profit schools have
been found to target veterans for enrollment with deceptive and
predatory practices.
Between 2014 and 2018, the closure of for-profit colleges impacted
almost 22,000 students using the GI Bill.
In 2016, when ITT Technical Institute closed its doors, about 7,000
of its 40,000 students were on the GI Bill.
Last year, Education Corporation of America suddenly ceased
operations. Nearly 4,000 of its 18,000 students were using the GI Bill.
In addition to harming veterans, these closings also leave taxpayers
on the hook because the Department of Veterans Affairs has to double
the amount of funding it provides for GI Bill beneficiaries when a
school closes and their credits do not transfer.
After serving our nation, veterans using their GI Bill benefits
should have faith that they will be able to complete their degrees
without their schools suddenly closing.
We must do better for our veterans.
Our veterans have served our country, and we must honor the
sacrifices they made as they transition back into civilian life and
seek to better themselves through education.
That is why I am introducing bipartisan legislation to protect these
student veterans. This week I am introducing the Safeguarding Student
Veterans Act with Congressman Ted Yoho of Florida. Our bill will
increase coordination between the Department of Veterans Affairs and
the Department of Education, require the Department of Veterans Affairs
to better understand and track the risks that certain schools pose to
veterans, and empower veterans when deciding on which schools to
attend.
Under the bill, when the Department of Education determines that any
school, including for-profits, are facing significant financial and
compliance issues, the Department of Education would need to notify and
coordinate with the Department of Veterans Affairs.
The Department of Veterans Affairs would then need to undertake a
risk analysis for these schools. The analysis would include information
the Department of Veterans Affairs receives from the Department of
Education as well as additional factors such as the volume of student
complaints, rates of Federal student loan defaults by veterans, and
veteran completion rates.
The Department of Veterans Affairs would then notify veterans of the
results of the risk analysis and include the findings in the Department
of Veterans Affairs' online GI Bill Comparison Tool.
I am proud that our bill has wide-ranging support, including from the
American Legion, Veterans Education Success, Vietnam Veterans of
America, and Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh.
I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting the Safeguarding Student
Veterans Act. We must do better to protect our student veterans.
