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Smucker Introduces Legislation Protecting Career School Students

March 27, 2024

Legislation would undo harmful Biden administration regulation

Washington—Rep. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), a member of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, has introduced legislation to protect career school students from the implementation of a harmful Biden administration regulation. The Clock Hour Rule Student Protection Act, H.R. 7810 was introduced by Rep. Smucker and is supported by Reps. GT Thompson (PA-15), Dan Meuser (PA-9), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), and Mike Lawler (NY-17).

The legislation would stop the implementation of the Biden administration’s regulation which would prevent students attending certain career and technical education schools from accessing federal financial aid. Career-oriented programs and some community colleges measure a student’s progress by time spent on the subject matter, or “clock hour programs”, rather than the credit-based system traditional colleges use.

Each state establishes their own licensure requirements and minimum number of clock hours for programs like cosmetology, massage therapy, barbering, nursing and allied health, trucking, and others before students can apply for their state’s license. Many programs offer students coursework beyond the minimum clock hours to ensure students are prepared to pass exams, and have learned the newest techniques, and technology in their respective fields. Previously, the Department of Education would allow certain programs to go above 150 percent of the minimum clock hours.

A recently finalized rule from the Department of Education would eliminate that 150 percent practice, making students across the country ineligible to receive federal financial aid for these critical workforce development programs. This means that schools will have to redesign and recertify their programs, which is a very time-consuming process, or students will have to pay in cash or private loans for the entire program.

“With more jobs available across the nation than there are individuals looking to fill them, why would the Biden administration make it harder for students to access programs that will prepare them for the workforce? We should be doing everything we can to assist individuals to upskill and find their pathway to success, not holding them back. I thank my colleagues for joining with me in advancing this critical workforce legislation,” said Rep. Smucker.

“As co-chair of the Congressional Career and Technical Education Caucus, I am committed to ensuring all students have access to quality programs that help them earn the skills needed to succeed in life,” Rep. Thompson said. “This legislation will ultimately increase access to career programs for students in need, and I thank my colleague Congressman Smucker for leading on this important issue.”

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