Education

Congresswoman Van Duyne is a strong supporter of school choice, believing parents – not the federal government – have a primary stake in their child's education. During her first year in Congress, she introduced several pieces of legislation to return rights to parents over their child's education and help students navigate student loans. 

Parental Choices Not School Mandates Act

With schools and universities across the country circumventing families’ freedom to make the best medical decisions for them and requiring students to receive the vaccine, Rep. Van Duyne introduced the Parental Choices Not School Mandates Act. This bill would prohibit elementary schools, secondary schools, and institutions of higher education that receive federal funding from mandating COVID–19 vaccinations. Parents, not schools, should have sole responsibility over their children's medical decisions.

Combating Predatory Lending in Higher Education Act

Rep. Van Duyne introduced the Combating Predatory Lending in Higher Education Act, which would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to now include loans made out to graduate students and parents and amend the Cohort Default Rate (CDR) so that any default in these loans is now included in the calculation.

Since the Department of Education does not publish default rates for loans to graduate students, these students often take out unrealistic student loans – a practice otherwise known as predatory lending. The expansion of this type of lending has increased financial burdens on graduate students in recent years. 

"Students should have the opportunity to pursue higher education without fear of predatory loans hindering their ability to learn and threatening their financial future," said Rep. Van Duyne. "It is my hope this bill will give aspiring students the ability to freely cultivate their young minds and reach their full potential."

This bill is designed to help students by allowing them to spot a predatory university that takes a Federal Direct PLUS loan, or a loan made on behalf of a dependent and would most likely default on the loan.