The American people have been through a lot since the recession began more than seven years ago. Millions of jobs destroyed. Household incomes plummeted. Hard-earned savings wiped out. Hopes and dreams shattered. We all welcome the progress seen in recent months, but make no mistake, we still have a long way to go before every American is able to get back on a path to a lifetime of success. Right ... Read more »
Today, too many Americans struggle to realize the dream of higher education. Our current system is unaffordable, inflexible, and outdated, and has resulted in too many students unable to complete college, saddled with loan debt, and ill-equipped to compete in our modern economy. In recent years, more federal regulations, a lack of transparency, and a dizzying maze of student aid programs have only... Read more »
We are here today to discuss House Joint Resolution 29, which provides for Congressional disapproval under the Congressional Review Act of the National Labor Relations Board’s recently released rule that would drastically affect long-standing policies governing union elections. For those members who served on the committee in previous congresses, our discussion today may elicit a dreadful sense of... Read more »
The vast majority of federal contractors are responsible employers who obey the law and do right by their employees. There will always be, as the Chairman noted, bad actors who deny workers basic protections and we can all agree they should not receive taxpayer dollars for work on federal contracts. However, even the most responsible employer can occasionally run afoul of labor and employment laws... Read more »
Federal contractors are essential to government operations. Most employers provide quality, cost effective services while complying with labor and employment law. Unfortunately, there are a few bad actors. We can all agree bad actors who deny workers basic protections, including wage and overtime protections, should not be awarded federal contracts funded with taxpayer dollars. For that very reaso... Read more »
Good morning, and welcome to the first hearing of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education in the 114th Congress. I’d like to thank our witnesses for joining us today. We appreciate the opportunity to learn from you about how emerging technology in the classroom affects student privacy. Ms. Fudge, before we begin, I want to take a moment to congratulate you on being... Read more »
After seven years of delay, today marks an important step in replacing a failing law, one that has deprived students an opportunity to earn a lifetime of success. If stagnant student achievement and disappointing graduation rates have taught us anything, it is that expanding the federal government’s footprint in classrooms does not prepare students with the knowledge and skills they need to succee... Read more »
Today the committee will consider H.R. 5, the Student Success Act, a bill to improve K-12 education by reducing the federal footprint, restoring local control, and empowering parents and education leaders to hold schools accountable. We are here for three important reasons. First, the nation’s elementary and secondary education system is fundamentally broken. Too many students are dropping out of ... Read more »
Last week, we were reminded once again of the persistent challenges facing the American people. The Department of Commerce reported that the economy grew a meager 2.6 percent in the last quarter of 2014. According to the Wall Street Journal, we have now experienced nine straight years of growth below three percent. This anemic economy is hurting families across the country; it’s hurting nearly nin... Read more »
Today marks the beginning of what promises to be a very busy two years. We all know the challenges that our country continues to face: An anemic economy that isn’t creating enough good-paying jobs; a broken education system that is failing to meet the needs of many students; and a lack of retirement security for millions of hard-working Americans. These are just a few of the problems that continue... Read more »
