Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Education is an investment in the future of our young people and our nation. By providing the necessary resources, such as student aid or school construction funds, our students will be afforded the right education to succeed and become well-rounded individuals. Congressman Cuellar is committed to ensuring schools, teachers, students, and education is invested in today for the future of America.

As the most degreed Member of Congress, Congressman Cuellar has continued his strong support for the education community. He has helped ensure educational funds for schools, protecting low-income and at-risk students and ensuring college affordability to create a thriving, high-skilled, 21st-century workforce ready for the rigors of a competitive global market. Education is the foundation on which our economy and democracy rest. In order to fuel economic growth and lower unemployment, we need to support our children's future, while generating a thriving workforce that is globally competitive.

To advance our nation's education agenda, I recently supported H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, an emergency measure designed to save teachers' jobs across the nation. The legislation calls for the nation to receive $10 billion in assistance, which will be used to ensure that we are able to maintain an adequate staff of educators to provide our schoolchildren with the best education possible. This legislation will save and create 319,000 jobs in communities, including 161,000 teachers' jobs in the nation.

With more than 12 million students borrowing money a year to pursue a higher degree and over 37 million student borrowers with outstanding debt, the issue of college affordability is extremely pressing. I signed on to HR 1595, a petition that would require a straightforward, up or down vote on a bill that would extend current low interest rates on subsidized Stafford student loans for two years and allow Congress time to consider long-term, comprehensive solutions to skyrocketing college costs. I also co-sponsored HR 2573, the Student Loan Opportunity Act, along with my colleague Representative Bill Flores (TX-17) to allow state-sponsored non-profit corporations to access tax-exempt financing to provide student loans. Unfortunately, due to Congressional inaction, student loan rates on subsidized Strafford loans doubled on July 1, 2012. I will continue to work with my colleagues to address this issue and advocate for the future of our nation's young people.

In our district, TX-28, I have consistently been an advocate of increased investment in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), fields in which women and minorities have been historically underrepresented. In March 2013, I hosted the third annual STEM Alliance event in coordination with Texas A&M International University. Over 250 local and area middle school students attended the event, where they learned how to pursue careers in STEM fields.

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