Representative Mike Kelly Votes in Support of the Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act

Representative Mike Kelly Votes in Support of the Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act

Mercyhurst president is hopeful the bill will pass the Senate as well

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (PA-03) voted today in support of  the Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act (H.R. 2117), which would streamline the federal role in higher education and protect states, schools, and students from excessive and costly regulatory burdens. In particular, H.R. 2117 would eliminate two regulations released by the U.S. Department of Education in 2010: the credit hour regulation, which establishes a federal definition of a college credit; and the state authorization regulation, which imposes a one-size-fits-all requirement that infringes on the right of states to regulate their higher education systems while giving states unprecedented authority over private and religious institutions. The cost to comply with both regulations would be passed down to students, raising the price of tuition and limiting the availability of federal financial aid.

“Last year, tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities increased 8.3 percent, even though inflation only rose by approximately three percent, “ said Rep. Kelly. “To address these rising costs, the House passed the Protecting Academic Freedom in Higher Education Act, which will remove two costly and overreaching federal regulations that limit a school’s ability to design programs that best meet their students’ needs, including the use of distance learning programs and other low-cost alternatives to the traditional classroom. With the average four-year public college student graduating with roughly $22,000 in debt, the federal government should not be forcing them to attend schools that offer fewer learning options and limit their ability to get the best return on their educational investment.”

Dr. Thomas Gamble, president of Mercyhurst University in Erie, said he supports the bill’s repeal of these “excessively bureaucratic federal regulations,” and is hopeful that the Senate will follow the House’s lead and pass this legislation. “With these unnecessary encumbrances out of the way, Mercyhurst University will be able to continue to fulfill its mission and provide quality higher education not only here in Pennsylvania, but also across the United States through our online and distance learning courses,” said Dr. Gamble.

H.R. 2117 passed the House with bipartisan support by a vote of 303 to 114.

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