It was noted not long ago that the president’s health care law will “destroy the foundation of the 40-hour workweek that is the backbone of the American middle class. Those aren’t my words. Instead, those are the words expressed by leaders from some of the nation’s largest labor unions, including the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Echoing these concerns, members of the AF... Read more »
Across the country countless men and women are trying to build a better life for their families. Some are working more for less in order to make ends meet. Others are pursuing a degree at a local university or improving their skills at a nearby community college. Whether going to work or school, most parents face a difficult question: Who will care for my child? Is there a trusted child care provi... Read more »
Every family knows the cost of pursuing a higher education is out of control. It’s felt intensely each and every day by countless Americans; by parents who worry how they will put their kids through college; by students who fear they will be left with a pile of debt and no job prospects; by working men and women who hope a degree will let them reach the next rung on the economic ladder. We know th... Read more »
Across the country, millions of college students are getting ready to start the school year. They will soon say goodbye to family and friends and pursue their dream of a postsecondary education. Unfortunately, many Americans are struggling to turn that dream into reality. The higher education system we know today is too costly, too bureaucratic, and outdated. Some are having a hard time fitting th... Read more »
Each year an estimated 300,000 innocent children fall victim to sex trafficking right here in the United States. The victims can be homeless or runaway youth; others are simply taken from their parents in the blink of an eye. The victims’ families are our neighbors, friends, and loved ones. As a father of two and grandfather of four, for me it is impossible to fathom the pain and suffering they mu... Read more »
Men and women across the country are struggling to make ends meet. Many have lost a job and others are working more for less. Learning a new skill or trade can open the door to that next opportunity a worker desperately needs, yet too often flawed policies stand in the way. Quite frankly our nation’s job training system is broken. We have too many ineffective programs, too much bureaucracy, and ve... Read more »
More than a decade ago, Congress approved the Education Sciences Reform Act, legislation that established the Institute of Education Sciences to gather information on education progress, conduct research on education practices in schools, and evaluate the effectiveness of federal education programs and initiatives. Like many of my colleagues, I believe the federal government’s role in education ne... Read more »
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 »
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 »
140,000 – that’s the number of people from my home state of Minnesota who have been notified their health coverage will be cancelled as a result of the president’s health care law. John, a constituent from Burnsville, recently learned his own health plan is no longer available. John liked the plan he had and now has to pay 20 percent more to secure coverage. For many people a cancellation notice m... Read more »