WASHINGTON, DC—
A year-long WHNT NEWS 19 Taking Action Investigation is behind a bill introduced in the United States House of Representatives.The goal of House Resolution 4535 is to put an end to diploma mills. WHNT NEWS 19 is being credited, due to a series of investigative reports called Breach of Trust. We exposed people who bought counterfeit credentials from diploma mills.
The federal legislation was introduced on January 27, 2010 on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. It aims to reduce and prevent the sale and use of fraudulent degrees that deceive employers and taxpayers. The purpose is also to protect the integrity of valid higher education degrees that are used for Federal employment.
However, another major component is to close holes in our national security counterfeit credentials.
WHNT NEWS 19's series of investigative reports exposed how counterfeit credentials bought from diploma mills infiltrated all levels of the United States Army, including right here in Huntsville at Redstone Arsenal, the premiere site of the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command.
Soldiers, civilians and even defense contractors were caught in the cross hairs. They were exposed for turning over bogus degrees for promotions and pay raises at taxpayer expense.
Some had full transcripts and certificates of phony accreditation.
After seeing our reports, U.S. Congressman Tim Bishop of New York made a firm commitment to WHNT NEWS 19 to crackdown on diploma mills. He vowed to re-introduce legislation.
This week, he followed through on that promise.
"We have an obligation to see to it that people have confidence in our educational institutions," said U.S. Rep. Bishop.
He introduced House Resolution 4535, "The Diploma and Accreditation Integrity Protection Act."
Professor George Gollin is diploma mill expert and sits on the board of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. He says this isn't just about deception, there is a much greater threat.
"Surely diploma mills pose threats to public safety and national security," said Gollin. "We do not want untrained engineers designing our airliners, or untrained physicians running pharmaceutical research programs. We do not want dangerous people to enter the United States using improper student visas."
At a news conference in Washington, DC on Thursday, Congressman Bishop acknowledged how our reports shined a light on the problem. The U.S. Representative said WHNT NEWS 19 has really done both very good and very courageous work with respect to the national security risks associated with diploma mills.
If passed, H.B. 4535 will legally define what it means to be a degree-granting institution as well as what it means to be a legitimate accrediting agency.
It will also grant additional authority to the Federal Trade Commission to crack down on diploma mills.
As our reports revealed, hundreds of federal employees bought degrees from diploma mills. For Congressman Bishop, that's the ultimate breach of trust.
"We need to put a stop to that, recognizing the people who work for the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense or the Department of Health and Human Services or any federal agency are really discharged a sacred trust or doing work on behalf of the taxpayer of this nation and are paid by the taxpayer of this nation we have to see to it that it's legitimate," said U.S. Rep. Bishop.
There are laws forbidding the use of fake diplomas bought from diploma mills in a handful of states. Congressman Bishop says the problem is now too pronounced for individual states to handle it on their own. He maintains federal intervention is a must.
U.S. Representative Michael Castle, a Republican from Delaware and Democratic Congresswoman Betty McCollum of Minnesota co-sponsored the legislation.
You can count on WHNT NEWS 19 to track the progress of H.R. 4535 as it moves through the U.S. House of Representatives.
