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BILL TO REDUCE REGULATORY BURDEN ON HIGHER EDUCATION INTRODUCED IN U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A bill designed to reduce the regulatory burden on higher education through the repeal of several federal regulations was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 10, 2013. H.R. 2637 - the "Supporting Academic Freedom through Regulatory Relief Act" - is cosponsored by Education and the Workforce Committee chair John Kline (R-Minnesota), Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training chair Virginia Foxx (R-North Carolina) and Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-Florida).

The legislation would repeal existing regulations related to state authorization, definition of credit hour, gainful employment and other regulations. The bill also would prohibit the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) from promulgating rules defining credit hour at any time in the future and would prohibit USDE from issuing any regulations for state authorization or gainful employment until after Congress reauthorizes the Higher Education Act (HEA).

In a statement on the bill's introduction, Congresswoman Foxx noted the need for Congressional Republicans and Democrats to work together to pass legislation "to strengthen higher education for students and taxpayers while maintaining the flexibility and choice that set American colleges and universities apart."

The Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) sent a letter on July 12, 2013 to Chair Kline, Chair Foxx and Congressman Hastings in support of H.R. 2637 and noting CHEA's longstanding concerns with credit hour and state authorization regulations.