A well-educated workforce is vital to our economic success and our future. And a quality education system is the key to creating a workforce prepared for the 21st-century economy.
President Trump has recklessly tried to shutter the Department of Education, even going so far as issuing executive actions to do so. I strongly oppose his illegal attempt to dismantle the department, which would slash federal funding for public schools nationwide, eliminate programs for children with disabilities, and cut programs that make attending college affordable. Let’s be clear, eliminating the Department of Education would require an act of Congress – and I will fight any effort to do so. Instead of dismantling the Department of Education, I believe we need to focus on policies and programs that will help close the achievement gap, raise standards, and give our teachers the support and resources they need to help ensure that every child gets the opportunity to reach their full potential.
I was fortunate to receive financial aid and student loans early in my life and that helped set me on my personal path to a career in business and technology. We should be expanding economic and educational opportunities for more people today, not shrinking them. Which is why we have to rein in the rising costs of college tuition and increase aid to ensure everyone gets a fair chance.
The 1st Congressional District is fortunate to be the home of great community and technical colleges and extended campuses of some of our state’s top public universities. The increasing burden of student loans is holding many Americans back from a middle-class life. That’s why each year I call for a doubling of the annual Pell Grant award. I have cosponsored the Pell Grant Sustainability Act, which would restore automatic annual adjustments to ensure Pell Grants keep up with inflation and remain accessible to students long into the future.
Working closely with our local institutions, we can bolster the workforce that manufacturing, technology and agricultural employers in our economy need. It is essential we focus on increasing opportunities for current and future workers to get the skills needed for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
