Hold For-Profit "Colleges" Accountable

Six members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) are supporting a Republican-sponsored amendment that would make it impossible for the Department of Education to regulate the for-profit industry and protect students. They’re pushing their colleagues in the CBC to vote with them, and the vote will probably happen today.

Can you call one or more of the Congressmen below and tell them to stop advocating for the for-profit college industry over the interest of students, and vote NO on this amendment?

Rep. Charlie Rangel — (202) 225-4365
Rep. Andre Carson — (202) 225-4011
Rep. Ed Towns — (202) 225-5936
Rep. Donald Payne — (202) 225-3436
Rep. Alcee Hastings — (202) 225-1313
Rep. Bobby Scott — (202) 225-8351

Here's a sample script you can use:

Hi, my name is [your name]. I’m calling to ask the Congressman to withdraw his support for the Foxx-Kline-Hastings-McCarthy Amendment and to stop pressuring his colleagues. It is sad to see the Congressman echoing arguments of the for-profit college industry’s lobbyists. Low-income students will benefit from a strong gainful employment rule and I ask the Congressman to stop obstructing the administration’s proposed regulation.

Once you've called, please let "colorofchange" know by sending an email to edcalls@colorofchange.org.

The Department of Education is preparing to stop federal financial aid from going to higher ed programs that don’t actually help students get jobs and pay off their debt. Not surprisingly, the for-profit college industry is fighting back hard, despite its atrocious record: their students make up 10% of those in higher ed, but 40% of students who stop making payments on their loans.

Now the industry has help from a handful of Democrats, including CBC members Reps. Alcee Hastings, Donald Payne, Ed Towns, Andre Carson, Bobby Scott and Charlie Rangel. These representatives have signed onto a letter in support of the amendment, and they’re pushing their colleagues in the CBC to vote with them and against the interests of their constituents.

This is what one staff member of who works for the CBC had to say about it:

“It’s disgusting to see Democrats, especially members of the CBC, actively shilling for an industry that disproportionately preys on low-income and minority students.”1

Thankfully, the Obama administration is fighting back:

The administration, through the Department of Education, is advising Democratic supporters, particularly in the CBC, to back off. “The rule will protect students at for-profit colleges – who are disproportionately black, Hispanic and low-income – from poor quality programs that leave students with very high debts and poor employment prospects,” reads an internal email from the Department of Education to members of the CBC. “Contrary to industry rhetoric, no students would lose access to college: they could continue to be able to choose from tens of thousands of postsecondary programs…. Congress should not tie the hands of the Department before even seeing the final rule. Such action would deprive everyone from seeing how the final standards will protect vulnerable students and their families, as well as taxpayers.”2

These CBC members need to know that we’re watching, and that we’ll hold them accountable for their efforts to protect this predatory industry from regulation.

Please take a moment to call one or more of the Congressmen and ask them to do the right thing for low-income students and taxpayers. And after you do, please email us at edcalls@colorofchange.org.