THE SECRETARY OF EDUCATION
WASHINGTON, DC 20202

 

June 18, 2019

Honorable George Holding
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 205 15

Dear Representative Holding:

Thank you for your letter regarding your concerns about the use of U.S. Department of
Education (Department) grant funds by the Consortium for Middle East Studies
(Consortium).

Institutions of higher education that receive Federal ?mds under Title VI of the Higher Education
Act of 1965, as amended (HEA), are required to use those funds in accordance with the terms 
and conditions of the grant and the HEA, and Department regulations. This includes a
requirement under Section 602 1) of the HEA that grantees must use funds to support
activities that ?re?ect diverse perspectives and a wide range of views and generate debate on
world regions and international affairs.?

I am troubled by. the concerns outlined in your letter. In order for the Department to learn more.
about this matter, I have directed the Of?ce of Postsecondary Education to examine the use of
funds under this program to determine if the Consortium violated the terms and conditions of its
grant, Department regulations, or the I-IEA. It is critical that recipients of grants use funds in
accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements, as well as for purposes of the program
for which they are funded. 

Thank you for your interest in this important issue. If you have ?rrther concerns, please contact

Sincerely,

8.751 92.00;,

Be DeVos