Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

Education is the engine of innovation and technological advancement, providing us with the ability to compete in the 21st century global economy.

To ensure America's long-term prosperity and security, all of our young people, regardless of their zip code, must have the opportunity for a high-quality, affordable education. Only by enhancing our nation's education opportunities will we maintain the best educated, most innovative and productive workforce in the world.

With renewed emphasis on education, we can ensure that the next generation of invention, and the great breakthroughs in health care, energy and manufacturing are developed in this country. By investing in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs as well as liberal arts curricula, we can provide a skilled American workforce capable of performing 21st Century jobs.

We have a responsibility to ensure that all of our children graduate high school, college and career ready. In an increasingly globalized world, our graduates will be competing for jobs not just with their neighbors, but with people from around the world. We must insist that states set high standards and goals for student performance and success, and then establish a high-quality, meaningful assessment system.

But education reform spans far beyond emphasizing science and math in college. Early education programs can help foster a love of learning from a young age, and the availability of arts and extracurricular activities will encourage more and more kids to stay in school and achieve these skills.

Right now, manufacturers in the Tenth District and across the country are concerned that an aging workforce and lack of qualified new applicants will hamper their future growth, which is why I introduced the AMERICA Work Act. The bipartisan legislation brings together our manufacturers and educators to train workers with the skills employers are looking for, energizing our economy and filling quality jobs that are available today.

We must lay the foundation for the success by investing in early childhood education. Early education programs help foster a love of learning from a young age, and are critical to providing our children with the strong start they need. Research shows that students who are provided with early education are more likely to read and do math at grade level, graduate from high school and demonstrate improved academic achievement.

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