Bonamici Criticizes Further Delay of Student Loan Borrower Protections

WASHINGTON, DC [10/25/17] – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Vice Ranking Member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, spoke out on behalf of students after the Department of Education further delayed the borrower defense rule, which protects student loan borrowers.

The Borrower Defense rule would provide relief to students who have been defrauded or misled by predatory for-profit colleges. In June, the Department of Education delayed implementation of the rule, which was set to go into effect July 1, 2017. The Department of Education's proposal announced today would delay the borrower defense rule another two years until July 1, 2019.

"Secretary DeVos is not acting in the best interest of students. She's hired former for-profit executives, and she continues to delay the borrower defense rule. This important rule would provide debt relief to student borrowers who have been cheated by for-profit colleges. By proposing a new delay of the borrower defense rule, the Department continues to ignore the plight of tens of thousands of students who have been victimized by deception and saddled with crippling debt. I urge Secretary DeVos and the Department to focus on the needs of students and borrowers and move forward with the borrower defense rules to protect students and families."

Congresswoman Bonamici is an outspoken advocate for student loan borrowers and has led efforts to protect students and taxpayers from for-profit colleges by delaying gainful employment and borrower defense, two Obama Administration rules aimed at reining in predatory for-profit colleges.