Statement Of Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
On The Nomination Of Betsy DeVos
To Be Secretary Of The Department of Education
Senate Floor
February 6, 2017
After a whirlwind confirmation hearing and committee vote, the Senate tomorrow will vote on the nomination of Betsy DeVos to lead the Department of Education. I will be blunt: I do not believe she has the qualifications to uphold the Department of Education’s primary goal – that of ensuring that all students have access to a quality, public education that allows them to succeed.
As a father and grandfather, I understand well the impact of education on our children. When students have access to strong public education from the beginning, they are more likely to succeed in the long term.
Our nation’s public schools hold the promise of student success through strong state accountability measures and legal protections regardless of one’s race, income, or learning ability. They offer nutritious meals for underserved students, many of whom receive their only meals of the day at school.
Public education means strong teachers and school leaders, technology in the classroom, and assessments that test not just how well a student can memorize material for an exam on one particular day of the year, but on how much they have grown over the course of many months. It means that schools have counselors and nurses, and that they operate under a modern infrastructure that supports those with disabilities and in foster care.
Public education also means that both the states and the federal government are held accountable for everyone having access to the same, excellent resources.
In fact, just over one year ago, this body agreed with these protections and passed the Every Student Succeeds Act by a margin of 85 to 12. It was the firm agreement among the majority of the Senate that all students deserve access to critical public school resources in order to succeed. We made a promise that we would do better by our students; that public schools would be the premier standard for outstanding education for all.
Unfortunately, the nominee before us does not share these same goals. Ms. DeVos has referred to public schools as a “dead end.” She has instead advocated for the privatization of education, and funneled millions into organizations and initiatives that promote private school vouchers and school choice. These efforts diverted public funds toward private schools that are not held to any anti-discrimination or accountability standards.
At her confirmation hearing, she did not seem to understand that the Individuals with Disabilities Act – a landmark law – is a federal law that public schools in all states must follow. Lastly, Ms. DeVos and her family have contributed to anti-LGBT causes and anti-women’s health efforts, which are in direct conflict with her leadership role at the Department of Education. How can a nominee who disagrees with the Department of Education’s mission be fit to oversee that agency and promote the civil rights of schools and college campuses?
Betsy DeVos also appears to oppose efforts to expand college access. In her testimony before the Senate HELP Committee in January, Ms. DeVos would not agree to work with states to offer free community college to eligible students, instead saying that, “nothing in life is truly free.” She also admitted to knowing little about the Pell Grant program and federal student loans, as neither she nor her children have ever had to use such resources. This is just out of touch with the real-life, kitchen table experiences of millions of students and families that rely on these funds to make college attainable.
With college tuition rates having climbed more than 300 percent in the last decade, it is unacceptable to deny students federal financial resources. As it is, students are increasingly saddled by insurmountable student loan debt, and many forego starting a family or buying a house or a car. Many of these students have also fallen prey to for-profit institutions, many of which continue to offer the false promise of gainful employment upon graduation. In reality, many of these institutions offer non-transferrable credits or unaccredited degrees, and are increasingly shuttering their doors, leaving students with egregious debt, and nowhere to turn to finish their degrees.
The Department of Education has an extremely important role to ensure all students — of every race, income level, or whether that student has disabilities or not -- have access to the critical tools provided by public schools and by student financial aid programs. Thousands – thousands – of Vermonters have called or written to me worried that Ms. DeVos does not agree with these principles. I share their concerns, and I cannot support her confirmation.
It is dangerous and short-sided to confirm someone who has so much to learn about our nation’s public schools and the challenges they face. Universal free public schools were a revolutionary American invention. Let’s strengthen public schools, not snub them. Ms. DeVos is the wrong choice for our children, and for our nation’s future. Our public schools need strong leadership, not someone who has made undermining their success her life’s work. I strongly oppose this nomination, and I urge my fellow Senators to vote no on this confirmation vote.