Statements

"Turning to the administration’s FY 2021 request, the Department proposes roughly $89 billion in total budgetary resources, which is $2 billion or 2.3 percent more than the FY 2020 enacted level. However, the request for discretionary budget authority is $21.9 billion, which is $2.9 billion or 12 percent below last year—a strange move for a president who has posed as a champion of infrastructure."

"You’d like us to believe this proposal empowers states and districts with flexibility, but the numbers don’t lie. You propose eliminating 41 programs and cutting education funding overall by $6.2 billion. The Department of Education’s mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access. Secretary DeVos, your budget is clearly on a different mission—one that shirks accountability to our students and taxpayers."

"As I was reviewing the budget materials, Madame Secretary, this much was clear to me. You are seeking to privatize public education. But, I believe that is the wrong direction for our students and our country. Instead, we need to be moving towards expanding public policies like early childhood education that we know help students to succeed. We see this in other countries around the globe. They are not shrinking public support; they are expanding it."