Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

San Diego's economy runs on brainpower. Innovation and job creation happen when we have great schools and educated children. If we don't educate our children, they won't have the skills to compete for the jobs of the future. We need to make sure our K-12 education system is preparing our kids for college and ensure that any student who qualifies and wants to go to college can afford to do so. For those who do not choose a four-year degree, we must work toward establishing our community colleges as centers for job training and placement.

America has always stood behind middle-class kids who want to get an education and make a living. I know because I was one of those kids. My family could not have afforded college for me and my three sisters on the minister's salary my father earned. We got help from financial aid, including loans and work-study. So did thousands of other kids, as well as veterans who had the GI Bill.

Education is key to making our economy strong. I passed a law with Democrats and Republicans to cut student loan interest rates, and have introduced another to reduce rates further because it's wrong for the federal government to make money on students and their families. I also have a plan to give tax breaks to companies that help their workers pay down their student debt. I will keep fighting to make college more affordable while working to invest more in science, engineering, biotechnology, and research at San Diego's universities creating the jobs of the future.
Preparing Students for the 21st Century Economy

The path to success for our students is high quality education from pre-K to post-grad. Ensuring a strong core of STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) before college give our students the foundation they need to flourish in San Diego's internationally known research universities and lead our innovation economy in the years to come.

That's why I've supported grants to build tech infrastructure in our schools and for renewable energy education programs that help students train for jobs building and maintaining our green energy systems.

San Diego has built an economic incubator for the biotech industries that are critical to our growing economy. By investing in the next generation now, we can ensure that they are ready to not only succeed, but innovate and lead San Diego forward.
Keeping College Affordable

I am a product of student loans, and know that my achievements would not have been possible if these loans weren't available to kids -- and millions like me -- who might not otherwise have been able to afford to pay for a four-year university. America invested in me, and now I want to make sure these same opportunities are there for my children's generation and those who follow.

Unfortunately, the cost of higher education has skyrocketed while the middle class has taken an economic beating, and studies have shown that these spiking costs are hitting poor students the hardest. With grant money declining and costs increasing, the poorest students are having to dig the deepest and take on more and more debt just to have their shot at the American Dream. It's one of the reasons I decided to run for Congress. And I know we can do better.

In Congress, I've fought to keep college costs under control and prevent the burden of student debt from blocking progress for young graduates. For example, I supported and passed a bipartisan bill to lower student loan interest rates, and have introduced another to lower them further. The government should not be making on a profit on the backs of hardworking students and their families. I cosponsored the Student Loan Relief Act and Student Loan Interest Deduction Rates to help students entering college, I cosponsored the Get Relief from Academic Debt Act and Private Student Loan Bankruptcy Act to help students who face tough times after graduation. Working across the aisle to overcome partisan gridlock, we've begun to identify the policies that can address these challenges, and now it's important to see them through.

Source