Madam Chairman, I wish to thank you for holding these two days of hearings and for bringing to our attention the use of diploma mills by federal agencies and their employees. I would also like to thank our witnesses and assure them that their testimonies will aid this Committee tremendously.

As our Chairman noted, and our witnesses will confirm, the Internet is allowing diploma mills to use highly sophisticated and creative ways to reel in prospective clients. These activities have helped to propel diploma mills into a 500 million-dollar-a-year industry.

As a former teacher, I am alarmed because I understand the threat diploma mills pose to the integrity of our educational system. I have witnessed how education opens doors, and I know that when sound instruction takes place, students experience the joys of new-found knowledge and the ability to excel. Diploma mills fail to provide the rewards and returns of a true education.

Up until five years ago, my state of Hawaii was a haven for these businesses. Faced with an influx of unaccredited, degree-granting schools, the Hawaii State Legislature passed a bill that tightened requirements on diploma mills. The new law requires a school to have a physical presence in the state, employ at least one person who resides in the state, and have 25 students enrolled within the state. Although those steps alone will not eliminate such schools, the numbers have dropped significantly. More importantly, Hawaii now has the legal means to close down schools and file lawsuits against those who claim they are operating under state law.

As one who has long championed making sure that the federal government has the resources to recruit, retain, and train employees, I do not condone agencies funding training courses offered by diploma mills. I am disheartened to learn that these businesses may be providing the very training that I have worked so hard to promote. Although current rules prohibit agencies from funding non-accredited degrees, loopholes exist which enable employees to obtain a degree by applying for reimbursement of individual classes at non-accredited institutions. The use of taxpayer money to fund diploma mill programs is the essence of government waste.

Again, I commend our Chairman for holding these hearings, which I believe will guarantee that federal employees have the academic qualifications and training that enable them to bring value to their agencies and the nation. I look forward to hearing from today's panels.