House votes to expand data tracking of college students

The House of Representatives voted Friday to empower the Department of Education to increase data collection of college students.

The measure, an amendment to a major China competition bill sponsored by Democratic Michigan Rep. Andy Levin, passed on a bipartisan vote of 238-193, with a handful of Republicans joining all but seven Democrats in supporting the amendment.

The amendment directs the Department of Education to collect data on students pursuing higher education regardless of whether they are the beneficiaries of federal funding. It garnered opposition from a majority of Republicans, who decried the amendment as intrusive to student privacy.

However, supporters say it's necessary to increase transparency in higher education and promote competition among universities courting prospective students.