For many children and their parents, charter schools are a beacon of hope for a better education – and a better life. The schools are extraordinarily in demand; waitlists for charter schools have grown steadily in recent years, with more than one million students’ names on waitlists for the 2013-2014 school year. Charter schools have a proven track record of success, encouraging higher academic ac... Read more »
Each year, the secretary comes before this committee to discuss the administration’s policies and priorities for the Department of Education. And each year, he is faced with the undesirable task of defending a bloated budget full of new, unproven programs, burdensome federal mandates, and competitive grants that pressure schools to adopt the president’s preferred policies. For fiscal year 2015, th... Read more »
Today the committee will consider H.R. 4321, the Employee Privacy Protection Act and H.R. 4320, the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act. Together these proposals provide an appropriate congressional response to the National Labor Relations Board’s proposed ambush election rule. I had hoped today’s meeting would not be necessary. Over the last several weeks this committee has tried to engage in a ... Read more »
Before I highlight the technical change included in the amendment, I’d like to help set the record straight and review briefly the specific policies embodied in the legislation. Despite what our Democratic colleagues may suggest, the legislation largely codifies a union election process that has worked well for decades. Not too long ago, former acting general counsel Lafe Solomon described the NLR... Read more »
Thank you, Chairman Kline, and thank you for convening today’s markup of H.R. 4321, the Employee Privacy Protection Act. In just a few moments I will address the technical change included in the substitute amendment. Before I do, I think it’s important to outline why this commonsense legislation is necessary. I understand some are so wedded to the board’s destructive ambush election rule that they... Read more »
It has been four years since the tragedy at Upper Big Branch; four years since 29 miners lost their lives in a deadly disaster; four years since the families of Montcoal, West Virginia were forced to live without their loved ones; and for four years Democrats in Washington have sought to politicize their loss. I will remind my colleagues what the independent report from NIOSH said about Upper Big ... Read more »
Today the committee will mark up two pieces of bipartisan legislation that will help improve the nation’s K-12 education system. We begin this morning with consideration of H.R. 4366, the Strengthening Education through Research Act, introduced by Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Chairman Todd Rokita and Ranking Member Carolyn McCarthy. This proposal will enhanc... Read more »
We talk a lot in this committee about helping people build better lives. Whether through more flexible work schedules, stronger job training programs, or smarter student loan terms, advancing commonsense policies that will make life work for more Americans is a top priority. The Strengthening Education through Research Act is part of this effort. The committee has spent countless hours exploring t... Read more »
I am pleased today to offer the amendment in the nature of a substitute for H.R. 10, the Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act. As Chair of the House School Choice Caucus, one of my top priorities is ensuring more families have access to high-quality education options. Supporting the growth of successful charter schools is an important part of this effort. I had the good fort... Read more »
I have the privilege of serving as chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. As the name suggests, the committee has broad jurisdiction over policies affecting our nation’s classrooms and workplaces. It goes without saying that both face difficult challenges today. Budget constraints continue to plague states, school districts, and institutions of higher education, straining the... Read more »
