Issue Position: Education and Opportunity

Issue Position

The United States was the first country to pioneer free, public education, and it's imperative that we continue to be lead on this issue. As the grateful son of two school teachers, I know firsthand that education translates into opportunity. It's unfortunate that student achievement in America has continued to slide, and this trend must be reversed. Efforts to further involve the federal government in the education of our children have proven time and time again to be ineffective. Education is not a one size fits all proposition. It's about students, teachers, and parents, and communities working together to arm our children with the skills and knowledge they need to be the leaders of tomorrow.

I'm a strong proponent of removing the federal government from the business of education and returning that authority to where it rightfully belongs -- with parents, teachers, and local governments. We should take steps to eliminate the over 60 ineffective and unnecessary programs administered by the Department of Education. Furthermore, states should be able to completely opt out of all No Child Left Behind programs, in addition to any and all mandates and requirements it levies. Any bill that eliminates some of its mandates is a step in the right direction, but still leaves much important work to be done. Ultimately, I'd like to see the federal government's role in education eliminated altogether. After all, the Department of Education was originally created just as a misguided response to a Jimmy Carter campaign promise.

In the course of the debate on education policy, we shouldn't forget to applaud the millions of dedicated educators all across this country. Better educations starts with great teachers, and I'm grateful that so many of them call the Fourth District of Texas home. Just recently, I had the honor of presenting the Humanities Texas -- Teacher of the Year Award to Brittany Seymore at Amanda Rochell Elementary. The remarkable standard set by dedicated teachers everywhere makes me more confident than ever that future generations will have a fair shot at the American dream.

On the President's Taxpayer-funded Community College Program

I support improved access to quality, affordable education, but the President's proposal falls short of that goal and places an enormous new burden on American taxpayers.

As you may know, the President's plan would provide two "free" years of community college to students who maintain a 2.5 GPA and are enrolled at least half-time in their program. The federal government would pick up three-fourths of the cost, which is expected to total $60 billion over the next ten years. The remaining fourth of the cost would fall to the states: another $20 billion.

Rather than addressing the real problem by reducing the cost of higher education, the President's proposal simply shifts the cost from students to taxpayers. Some experts even predict that the plan would make community college more expensive overall. It also limits choice in education by excluding private and four-year institutions. With an $18 trillion national debt that continues to climb, nationalizing education while failing to address the underlying issues of affordability and quality is not the answer. The tax increases and added debt needed to fund this program would only hurt the people it seeks to help.

In the last Congress, House Republicans passed several measures aimed at making education more affordable. Yet, President Obama and Senate Democrats refused to act. The President's latest proposal would require Congress' approval to move forward. I do not intend to support measures that burden American taxpayers while failing to offer real solutions.

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