House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives

Dear Colleague:

Later today, the House is scheduled to vote on a bill to hold down rising college costs and make college more accessible and affordable. Yet one factor that may contribute to institutional costs is often overlooked – the cost of bureaucratic federal red tape.

This afternoon I will offer an amendment to reduce red tape in higher education by identifying duplicative, burdensome, or unnecessary federal regulations.  My amendment calls on the National Research Council to undertake a government-wide review of all regulations that impact higher education.

This amendment builds on a process I began in 2001 with the late Rep. Patsy Mink (D-HI) to streamline our federal financial aid system.  Dubbed the “FED UP Project,” our initiative generated more than 3,000 comments and recommendations from members of the higher education community.  Those recommendations were the basis of bipartisan legislation to reduce red tape, eliminate outdated rules and requirements, and improve federal regulations.

The amendment I am offering today builds on the success of the FED UP Project by recognizing that duplicative, burdensome, and unnecessary regulations increase reporting and compliance costs for colleges and universities, which may drive up the cost for students.

I urge you to VOTE YES on the McKeon amendment to help reduce red tape in higher education.  For more information, contact the Education and Labor Committee Republican staff at x5-6558.

Sincerely,

/s/

Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA)
Senior Republican Member
Education and Labor Committee