NRA voices support for culinary student aid at hearing

At a public hearing held by the U.S. Department of Education on Nov. 5, National Restaurant Association (NRA) vice president of labor and workforce policy Angelo Amador voiced the NRA's support for the availability of student aid for culinary arts programs. The proposed rules would set new standards to determine whether students in certain postsecondary educational programs, including the culinary arts, will remain eligible to obtain student financial assistance. Amador made the following statement on behalf of the industry:

"Culinary arts programs are critically important to the restaurant industry. These postsecondary education programs teach students the skills necessary to build a career in today's restaurant and foodservice industry. They also help place tens of thousands of students in jobs every year.

"Attacks on the culinary arts programs would have a very negative impact not just on our industry, but on the overall economy. We strongly urge the Department of Education to continue supporting these for-profit institutions so their students can continue building successful careers."

For more information, visit www.restaurant.org.