A former U.S. secretary of education sent a message on Thursday to the current secretary: back off.

In a floor speech, Sen. Lamar Alexander, a Republican of Tennessee, warned Margaret Spellings that he would seek to block her department from using its regulatory authority to transform the accreditation process. The department is considering regulations that would introduce new measures of “student-learning outcomes” into the accreditation process and prohibit colleges from denying the transfer of credits “solely” on the basis of the sending college’s type of accreditation.

Mr. Alexander, who served as education secretary during the administration of President Bush’s father, said he would offer an amendment when the Senate considers legislation next month to reauthorize, or renew, the Higher Education Act — the major law governing most federal student aid. The amendment would prohibit the department from issuing any final regulations on accreditation until after Congress passes the much-delayed reauthorization bill.

“Congress needs to legislate first,” Senator Alexander said. “Then the department can regulate.” —Kelly Field