Higher Education

In these difficult economic times it is critical that students have the opportunity to go to college, advance their education and receive the training they need for a good-paying job.  As a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, I had the privilege of working on the College Cost Reduction and Access Act and the Higher Education Opportunity Act last Congress.  In both bills, we made college more affordable by cutting interest rates in half on subsidized student loans, increasing the maximum Pell Grant scholarship to $5400, expanding Pell Grant eligibility to include and serve more students with financial need, and eliminating tuition sensitivity to help the neediest students at the most cost efficient schools.

I also supported legislation, the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act, to guarantee that federal loans would be available to families in the face of financial turmoil.  

Finally, several of my provisions were passed into law to increase the enrollment of graduates from rural high schools in institutions of higher education, improve the financial aid calculation for students or families who lost their jobs, and encourage the development of professions of need in rural America.  I am committed to continuing to expand accessibility to a higher education for all Americans and build the workforce of rural America.

Pre-K and K-12

As a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, I am committed to ensuring equal educational opportunities for every child.  Under the leadership of President Barack Obama and Secretary Arne Duncan, I believe we have an opportunity to tackle the challenges facing our public education system.  First and foremost, we must focus our undivided attention on rewriting the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).  
 
While I support the accountability goals under the law and its effort to provide high quality teachers in every classroom, I recognize that NCLB is flawed and substantial reforms are necessary.  The previous administration failed to fully fund the law, leaving the states to bear the burden and students to pay the price.  Currently, NCLB punishes schools not making substantial progress on standardized testing, encourages teachers to “teach to the test,” and forces schools desperate to improve test scores to eliminate courses in science and the arts.  
 
Continuing to make rural education a priority will remain a primary focus of mine.  Recently, I established the House Rural Education Caucus to provide a forum in which to discuss issues affecting rural schools and create solutions to meet the unique challenges facing these schools. 

Additionally, investing heavily in early education must be a top focus in the new Congress. The quality of preschool education is one of the most accurate predictors of future achievement in elementary and high school, and expanding access to preschool programs is critical to helping our children arrive at school ready to succeed.  Our education agenda should reflect what the evidence supports will close the achievement gap.