A 2004 GAO study revealed that at least 463 Federal employees held degrees from diploma mills and other unaccredited universities. In addition to hiring employees who are likely unqualified. employers. including the Federal Government. have wasted resources paying tuition to diploma mills. They can be physically dangerous as is so obvious in the example of diploma mill medical schools. And more and more it is a national security issue. These degrees could be used to obtain visas. In addition. our failure to deal with the issue has been noted in other countries (Japan). harming our reputation around the world. This legislation includes the first national effort to combat this problem.