Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

As we work to get our economy back on track, we must realize that education is a central component of economic development. If America does not lead the world in education, our future workforce will be less productive and less globally competitive. I am committed to a strong public education system that provides children with the skills they need to succeed in the 21st century economy. That means access to quality public schools for all children and an affordable college education for all who pursue one. As a member of the Science and Technology Committee, I recognize the need to bolster science, technology, engineering, and math programs in our public school system. These investments benefit our children now and strengthen America's long-term economic success.

-Investing in our Public Schools
-Making College More Affordable

Investing in our Public Schools

A healthy public education system is critical to ensuring America's children grow up with the skills they need to be competitive in the 21st century global economy. Many states are facing severe budget shortfalls and have already been forced to make cuts to K-12 education. Federal action was necessary to help ensure the recession did not cause our children's education to suffer. That's why I voted to bring over $3 billion in investments to Michigan's schools, $52 million for Oakland County schools alone, through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (also known as the stimulus bill). In order to provide relief to local schools and ease the burden on state budgets, the ARRA provided federal IDEA and Title 1 grants as well as investments in school modernization construction and direct help to local school districts with budget shortfalls through State Stabilization fund. While some see education and economic development as separate issues, I believe they are one in the same. The education investments in the economic recovery plan will create new jobs now make America's workforce more globally competitive.

One of the most important pieces of legislation affecting K-12 education, the "No Child Left Behind Act" (NCLB,) will come up for reauthorization this year. While the original goals of improving student achievement and holding schools and teachers to tougher accountability standards should be maintained, the Act has put an underfunded federal mandate on our local districts for years and significant modifications to the legislation are needed to fully achieve its goals. I support changes that maintain original goals of NCLB while also easing the burden of unfunded mandates, revising Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards and sanctions and providing reasonable flexibility to states and local schools.

Fighting for Local Schools

A difficult State budget environment has affected all residents, and schools have been especially hard hit. Michigan's FY10 School aid budget included a $165 per pupil cut, and a $51 million cut for 41 districts knows as "20j" districts. The 20j cuts were particularly painful for Michigan's 9th District, hitting 7 local districts and amounting to over $10 million in cuts. In response to 20j and additional education cuts, I contacted State leaders raising concerns about the loss of federal monies that could occur if the State education cuts remain. I fought for years to maintain funding at our 20j districts as a state senator, and I will continue to speak out against cuts for our kids now.

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Making College More Affordable

As tuitions across the country continue to rise, more and more Michigan families are finding it impossible to finance their child's education. Congress must act to ensure that students who work hard can afford a college degree. As a former college professor and a parent, I understand the value of higher education and the challenges Michigan students face when confronted with rising tuition costs and a tough economy. Today's global economy increasingly demands that students complete some post-high school education to be successful and compete with workers around the world. While some view education and the economy as separate issues, I have always insisted they are one in the same. A federal investment in education is an investment in our economic stability; nothing could be more important.

That's why one of the first bills I introduced after coming to Congress in January, the Helping Families Afford to Work Act, would create a tax credit of up to $5,000 per student for tuition and related expenses for up to five years of post secondary education. I also voted to increase the maximum Pell Grant Award by $500 to $5,350 for 2009-2010 and to $5,550 for 2010-2011. This increase will help more students pay for their college education.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (also known as the stimulus bill) provided investments in postsecondary education through the State Stabilization Fund. This additional funding helped colleges and universities prevent faculty and staff layoffs, maintain or expand their student enrollment and create jobs though repairs, renovations and modernizations on campus.

In September of 2009, the House of Representatives passed landmark legislation that represents the greatest investment in higher education in congressional history. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act bill stops government subsidies for private lenders, saving taxpayer dollars. By converting all federal lending to direct loans, rather than routing loans through agencies that skim off the top, the bill saves $87 billion over ten years, some of which will used for the Pell Grant and Perkins Loan Program to provide more students with help paying for college, while the remainder will be used to help pay down the deficit. I was a proud supporter of this outstanding bill and hope to see it signed into law this year.

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