Washington
With the House of Representatives poised to vote on an amendment to block the Education Department's proposed "gainful employment" rule, minority groups on both sides of the fight are ramping up their lobbying.
On Monday the National Black Chamber of Commerce issued a statement urging Congress to "defund gainful employment," warning that the government was "overstepping with harsh regulations that will hurt black and minority students."
On Wednesday the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights held a news conference with reporters to "highlight the need to hold colleges accountable to students and taxpayers."
The Leadership Conference, a coalition of civil-rights groups, is a relative newcomer to the fight over the rule, having sent its first letter on the issue less than two weeks ago (though some of its members weighed in earlier).
Minority groups and lawmakers are split over the rule, which would cut off federal student aid to programs whose graduates have high debt-to-income ratios and low loan-repayment rates. Supporters of the rule say it would protect minority students from programs that overpromise and underdeliver; critics say it would deny students the opportunity to attend the program of their choice. One of the amendment's sponsors is Rep. Alcee L. Hastings, a Florida Democrat and member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Asked about the schism the rule had created within the black caucus, Rep. Danny K. Davis, a Democrat of Illinois, said he understood his colleagues' concerns over the rule.
"But I think the question of accountability outweighs the other considerations," he said during Wednesday's news conference.
