116th Congress
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I have an abiding interest in your work and what you do. We must do everything that we can to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse, and mismanagement.
And we must do all we can to assure that all of the USDA programs over which this subcommittee has oversight are operated with the best possible efficiencies – in order to create the best possible outcome for those who use the agency.
I was particularly pleased to see your annual plan for fiscal year 2019 focuses on many of the concerns of this Subcommittee. From enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act, to food safety threats, to oversight of disaster assistance programs, we rely on you to conduct audits and investigations to ensure the programs we fund are run efficiently and that issues are addressed in a timely manner.
In fiscal year 2019, Treasury’s budget request stated its intent to use available funds to support investigations and other activities to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.
The recent decision to redirect these funds towards border fencing recklessly undermines the ability of Treasury and Homeland Security to address known threats against our financial system—and the nation.
We have a duty to be examining predatory for-profit colleges. One, because this subcommittee is charged with oversight of the Department of Education. Two, because we fund the Pell grant program. And, for-profit colleges receive nearly 14% of all Pell Grant funding. Last year, the University of Phoenix was the largest recipient of Pell Grants—not just among for-profits but all colleges and universities (they received more than $200 million). Phoenix has committed a number of violations, including deceptive or unfair targeting of military veterans in the advertising, marketing or sale of products or services. As a result, the Department of Defense suspended the University of Phoenix’s ability to recruit on U.S. military bases and its access to Title IV funds.
So, it is our responsibility in this arena to be sure we shine a light on those bad actors, who seek to scam students and taxpayers, and thereby block that door to education.