Barack Obama's "gainful employment" bill, if approved by Congress, would eliminate financial aid to many for-profit colleges, including a host of online schools.

Critics of the bill claim that the provisions would unfairly penalize students who are pursuing nontraditional educational paths, such as those who are taking online college courses. According to The Washington Post, the House of Representatives voted 289 to 136 to block the proposal last week.

The Education Department is still crafting its final version of the new policies, the media outlet reported. Advocates for online schools have urged the government to consider the people who will be affected by the law, including working mothers and vocational students.

According to The American Spectator, Obama's law would make it more difficult for African American scholars to enroll in colleges that specialize in vocational training. In 2009, a total of 36 percent of the degrees that were awarded by for-profit colleges were given to minority students, compared to only 22 percent at private, not-for-profit schools, the news source reported.