House Helps Protect Minority Students by Voting to Defund Gainful Employment

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Black Chamber of Commerce today issued the following statement in response following a House of Representative's vote to defund Gainful Employment.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110217/DC50791LOGO)

"The National Black Chamber of Commerce applauds the House of Representatives for supporting college access for minority students and passing an amendment to defund Gainful Employment.  This great victory will help stop a rule that would disproportionately hurt African American and other minority students who rely on career colleges to learn real-world skills that help them get jobs.  

"We thank the bi-partisan leadership of House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN), Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) of the Subcommittee on Higher Education, and Representatives Alcee Hastings (D-FL) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) for bringing this amendment to the floor and rallying support to get it passed.  

"With unemployment rates so high, it is a mystery why the Education Department would propose a rule that makes it harder for students to get a college degree that prepares them for the working world. Gainful Employment unfairly singles out for-profits schools, whose student bodies are comprised of 39% minorities due to their flexible course loads and skill-focused classes. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce warns that if the 'Gainful Employment' rule is implemented, it will result in 100,000 jobs lost. Now is not the time to make it harder for minority students to get a college degree.

"We urge the Senate to fully support this amendment and protect college options for minority students who rely on federal financial aid."

About NBCC

The NBCC reaches 100,000 Black owned businesses. There are 1 million Black owned businesses in the United States. Black businesses account for over $100 billion in annual sales. African Americans have over $800 billion in expendable income each year according to the U.S. Bureau of Census. The National Black Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to economically empowering and sustaining African American communities through entrepreneurship and capitalistic activity within the United States and via interaction with the Black Diaspora.

For more information, please call NBCC at (202) 466-6888 or visit www.nationalbcc.org/. 

SOURCE National Black Chamber of Commerce