A Government Accountability Office (GAO) study criticized the Department of Education's (ED) performance in overseeing its student loan servicers, the companies it hires to manage and collect the payments of federal student loans. Some 40 million Americans make payments on these loans every month. The November 18 report spelled out the key weaknesses that prevent ED from adequately managing its servicers. The GAO found that ED gives no consistent instructions to servicers on how to deal with bor...
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WASHINGTON – Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., today voted in favor of legislation that would strengthen the vetting system for Syrian and Iraqi refugees being admitted to the United States. “Obama administration officials have said there are inherent shortcomings in the current screening process for refugees, especially those fleeing embattled Middle East countries where government databases are unreliable or nonexistent,” said Foxx. “Comparing an individual's information against such deficient data ...
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A top Education Department official was on the defensive Wednesday, responding to a wide range of criticisms from congressional lawmakers and government watchdogs about the department’s management of the federal student aid system. James Runcie, chief operating officer of the Office of Federal Student Aid, which disburses student loans and grants and oversees colleges' participation in those programs, testified at a congressional hearing that focused largely on his office’s failings. The Republi...
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Government watchdogs criticized the Office of Federal Student Aid, in charge of managing more than $1 trillion in federal student loans and grants, for inadequate communications with borrowers, colleges and loan servicing companies, raising questions from lawmakers about the division's ability to continue administering the programs. The Government Accountability Office on Wednesday chided the FSA, which issues subsidized, unsubsidized and Plus loans, for lax oversight and "absent, unclear and in...
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It started with a single fingerprint in Paris, and now governors from more than half the of the United States of America -- including North Carolina -- are saying they will not accept asylum seekers from Syria, which is arguably the most war-ravaged nation on the planet. The number of governors calling for a close of their state borders to Syrian refugees comprises one Democrat and 26 Republicans, including North Carolina’s Pat McCrory. While numerous European nations have agreed to accept tens,...
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Government watchdogs skewered the financial arm of the Department of Education on Wednesday for sloppy communication with contractors, colleges and borrowers, raising concerns about the division’s ability to manage more than $1 trillion in federal student loans and grants. The aptitude of the Office of Federal Student Aid, which administers all federal loan, grant and work-study programs, came into question at a joint House hearing on the division. Testimony from the Government Accountability Of...
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WASHINGTON-- This afternoon, the ten Republican members of North Carolina's U.S. House of Representatives delegation released the following statement in response to Friday's terrorist attacks in Paris and Governor Pat McCrory's request that the Obama Administration cease sending Syrian refugees to North Carolina. The joint statement was issued by Congresswoman Renee Ellmers (NC-2), Congressman Walter Jones (NC-3), Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-5), Congressman Mark Walker (NC-6), Congressman Da...
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The House voted Tuesday to begin negotiations with the Senate on legislation to renew the No Child Left Behind law. Both chambers passed their respective versions of the bill in July. Lawmakers hope to finish conference negotiations by the end of the year to send a final reconciled measure to President Obama’s desk. The original 2002 law expired in 2007. In the absence of Congress passing a reauthorization since then, the Obama administration has been issuing waivers since 2011 following request...
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WASHINGTON – Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, today was appointed by House Speaker Paul Ryan to participate in the committee that will iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions of legislation to improve K-12 education by replacing No Child Left Behind. “It is a privilege to serve on this conference committee, and I'm glad North Carolina will have a seat at the table,” Foxx said. “As a grandmother, educator and former sc...
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A visit by U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-5th, brought more than a dozen city officials and local business people to Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce on Friday. Invited guests interested in hearing how national policy has affected Davidson County exchanged questions and answers with Foxx during an hour-long lunchtime meeting. Foxx – who represents a district that includes a very small part of northern Davidson County – spent most of her time in the Chair City railing against the federal governme...
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