U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Steve Daines (R-MT), and Joni Ernst (R-IA) on Jan. 10 said they support the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed regulatory changes to ensure a level playing field for participation by students of faith and faith-based higher education institutions in federal student aid programs.
The Education Department’s proposed rules were published in the Dec. 11, 2019 Federal Register and comments were due on Jan. 10.
“Under the current regulatory regime, students and faith-based institutions face a complicated web of rules that are at best an open question and at worst unconstitutional discrimination,” wrote the senators, along with U.S. Sens. James Lankford (R-OK) and Tim Scott (R-SC), in a letter sent to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
“In particular, the provisions for students who are members of a religious order unacceptably single out members of a faith group beyond what is necessary and violate the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment,” according to their letter.
The proposed rulemaking, wrote the lawmakers, makes important changes under Title IV of the Higher Education Act that would bolster religious liberty protections for students and faith-based higher education institutions.
For instance, the Education Department proposes removing language that explicitly discriminates against students for their religious beliefs and clarifying that borrowers who work for employers that engage in religious activities can qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, according to their letter.
Additionally, the Education Department would permit a narrow category of borrowers to defer their loans while serving as a full-time volunteer with a tax-exempt organization if the borrower conducts religious activities as a part of his or her official duties, among other proposed changes, the lawmakers wrote.
“For these reasons, we commend the administration for taking steps to ensure clarity and religious liberty protections for students and faith-based higher education institutions,” they wrote. “Importantly, Title IV programs remain available to all eligible students and entities regardless of their religious status or beliefs.”