,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bbcd ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,june #d1 #bjac ,mr4 ,bishop of ,new ,york introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,education and the ,workforce1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,oversight and ,government ,reform1 ,energy and ,commerce1 and the ,judiciary1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to reduce and prevent the sale and use of fraudulent degrees in order to protect the integrity of valid higher education degrees that are used for ,federal employment purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,diploma and ,accreditation ,integrity ,protection ,act4 #b4 ,purpose2 ,definitions 7a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this ,act is to protect institutions of higher education1 businesses and other employers1 professional licensing boards1 patients and clients of degree holders1 taxpayers1 and other individuals from any person claiming to possess a legitimate academic degree that in fact was issued by a fraudulent or nonexistent school1 by a non-educational entity posing as a school1 or by any entity in violation of ,federal or ,state law4 7b7 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,accreditation mill ,the term accreditation mill means an education or corporate organization that offers a form of educational recognition or accreditation1 for a fee or free of charge1 that-- 7,a7 extend a permanent recognition or accreditation status to an institution with few or no requirements for subsequent periodic reviews2 7,b7 publish a list of institutions and programs recognized or accredited by such organization that includes institutions and programs that did not apply for or otherwise request such recognition or accreditation by the organization2 or 7,c7 lack national recognition by the ,secretary of ,education or the ,council for ,higher ,education ,accreditation4 7#b7 ,degree-granting institution ,the term degree-granting institution means any entity that offers or confers an academic1 professional1 or occupational degree1 diploma1 or certificate1 if such degree1 diploma1 or certificate may be used to represent to the general public that the individual possessing such degree1 diploma1 or certificate has completed a program of education or training beyond secondary education4 7#c7 ,diploma mill ,the term diploma mill means any entity that-- 7,a7 lacks valid accreditation by an agency recognized by a ,federal agency1 a ,state government1 or the ,council for ,higher ,education ,accreditation as a valid accrediting agency of institutions of higher education2 and 7,b7 offers degrees1 diplomas1 or certifications1 for a fee1 that may be used to represent to the general public that the individual possessing such a degree1 diploma1 or certification has completed a program of education or training beyond secondary education1 but little or no education or course work is required to obtain such a degree1 diploma1 or certification4 7#d7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section #ajb of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb74 #c4 ,accrediting agencies ,no accrediting agency or association may be considered to be a reliable authority as to the quality of education or training offered by a degree-granting institution for any purpose related to immigration1 ,federal employment and hiring practices1 or for any other ,federal purposes1 unless the agency or association is a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association recognized by the ,secretary of ,education pursuant to part ,h of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajii;a et seq474 #d4 ,federal employment ,for purposes of applying any civil service law1 rule1 or regulation that requires or takes into consideration a degree from an institution of higher education for purposes of appointment or promotion of1 or improved pay for1 a ,federal employee1 only a degree from a degree-granting institution that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association recognized by the ,secretary of ,education pursuant to part ,h of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajii;a et seq47 shall be acceptable4 #e4 ,unfair and deceptive acts and practices regarding diplomas and professional certifications 7a7 ,conduct prohibited ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,federal ,trade ,commission shall initiate a rulemaking to define as an unfair and deceptive act or practice under section #ah of ,federal ,trade ,commission ,act 7#ae ,u4,s4,c4 #eg;a7 the following3 7#a7 ,the issuing of a degree1 diploma1 certificate1 or any similar document by an entity that is not recognized as a legitimate postsecondary degree-granting institution by the ,secretary of ,education1 if such degree1 diploma1 certificate1 or similar document misrepresents1 directly or indirectly1 the subject matter1 substance1 or content of the course of study or any other material fact concerning the course of study for which such degree1 diploma1 certificate1 or similar document was awarded4 7#b7 ,the offering or conferring of an academic1 professional1 or occupational degree if the entity offering or conferring the degree-- 7,a7 is not an institution of higher education2 or 7,b7 is not accredited by-- 7i7 a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association recognized by the ,secretary of ,education pursuant to part ,h of title ,,iv of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajii;a et seq472 or 7ii7 an accrediting agency or association that is recognized as a legitimate accrediting agency or association for any purpose by any appropriate ,federal agency or by the ,council for ,higher ,education ,accreditation1 unless the entity offering or conferring such a degree clearly and conspicuously discloses1 in all advertising and promotional materials that contain a reference to such a degree1 that the awarding of the degree has not been so authorized or that the entity offering or conferring the degree has not been so approved or recognized4 7#c7 ,the claiming or asserting in any advertisements or promotional material of an entity offering or conferring an academic1 professional1 or occupational degree1 that such entity has-- 7,a7 an accredited status unless it holds accreditation from an accrediting agency that is recognized by the ,secretary of ,education or the ,council for ,higher ,education ,accreditation1 or is recognized for any purpose by any appropriate ,federal agency2 or 7,b7 an unaccredited1 but approved status that misrepresents1 directly or indirectly1 the nature1 extent1 or credibility of such approval4 7#d7 ,the issuing of any accreditation1 including institutional1 programmatic1 or specialized accreditation1 to any degree-granting institution by any entity that is not recognized for accreditation purposes by the ,secretary of ,education1 any other appropriate ,federal agency1 or the ,council for ,higher ,education ,accreditation4 7b7 ,final ,rule ,the ,commission shall issue final rules under this section not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7c7 ,reporting requirement 7#a7 ,federal ,trade ,commission ,in administering and enforcing the rule required under subsection 7a71 the ,federal ,trade ,commission shall report regularly to the ,secretary of ,education any information regarding entities which the ,commission knows or suspects to be in violation of such rule4 7#b7 ,secretary of ,education ,the ,secretary of ,education shall make available to the general public1 in paper and electronic forms1 the information reported to the ,secretary in accordance with paragraph 7#a74