Following this week’s hearing of the Education and Labor Committee on seclusion and restraint in schools – during which it was revealed that children have been abused, injured, and even killed through misuse of such tactics – Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) has requested a detailed analysis of the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed response to the problem, and plans to protect children in... Read more »
Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), the top Republican on the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, today harshly criticized the Obama Administration’s plans to orchestrate a full government takeover of student lending. McKeon faulted the plan, discussed during a hearing by the committee, for eliminating choice and competition for students and families while failing to take meaningful steps t... Read more »
Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), the senior Republican on the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, today joined House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Oversight and Government Reform Ranking Member Darrell Issa (R-CA) in introducing the Preserving DC Student Scholarships Act. Boehner, McKeon, and Issa have voiced their strong support for this innovative and successful program and... Read more »
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan made his first official appearance before the House Education and Labor Committee today, outlining the Obama Administration’s education agenda. Republicans on the panel welcomed Duncan and highlighted opportunities for bipartisan education reform. At the same time, however, GOP members drew sharp contrasts with the Administration on critical issues like coll... Read more »
Today, House Democrats gave final approval to controversial legislation that not only adds to our nation’s mounting deficit, but also dramatically increases the power of the federal government over our nation’s schools. The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act (H.R. 2187) empowers federal bureaucrats to dictate everything from what building materials must be used to how ... Read more »
Following this morning’s White House meeting on health care reform between President Obama and congressional Democrats – but not a single congressional Republican – Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) issued the following statement: “We stand ready to work with the President and Democrats in Congress on common sense health care reforms. The question is, are they ready – or willing – to work with u... Read more »
Following the release today of additional details on President Obama’s FY 2010 budget, Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), the top Republican on the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement: "The budget put forward today is as disappointing as the outline offered earlier this year. It still spends too much; it still taxes too much; and it still borrows too much. Only no... Read more »
Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), the senior Republican on the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, today criticized legislation that creates a massive new federal school construction program. McKeon and other Republicans on the panel argued that taxpayers cannot afford a new, $20 billion foray into local facilities management, and that students and taxpayers would be better served by inve... Read more »
Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), the senior Republican on the U.S.House Education and Labor Committee, today welcomed the beginning of the 10th Annual National Charter Schools Week and highlighted the success of these innovative public schools. Charter schools, which are granted flexibility from state and local regulations in exchange for greater accountability for student achievement, have ha... Read more »
The federal government should support state efforts to develop a common core of rigorous, internationally benchmarked academic standards, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today. The hearing showed that momentum for stronger, state-developed standards is growing, with teachers, schools, business leaders and stakeholders from across the political spectrum voicing support. “With... Read more »
