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During my time serving in the State Legislature, I saw firsthand how much more effective education could be when decisions were made at the state and local level instead of Washington D.C. Teachers and parents are best equipped to know how to teach kids and provide a quality education. I supported H.J.Res. 57 and H.J.Res. 58 to reduce the federal role in education, restore local control over teacher standards and classroom curriculum and empower parents and educators to hold schools accountable so students can get the best education possible.
That’s why I am a cosponsor of H.R. 1485, The Flexible Pell Grant for 21st Century Students Act. This legislation will help students complete their education more efficiently and at a lower cost. I will continue to work with my legislative colleagues to simplify and streamline the student loan repayment process and address the rising costs of tuition so that students have access to higher education if they so choose. Our country's middle class was built upon good paying jobs in construction, manufacturing and other trades. Our skilled trade workforce is growing older, diminishing in size and the demands for technical workers has increased exponentially with the changing economy. With the dramatic developments in technology, we need a new generation of builders, welders, plumbers, technical engineers, craftsmen and computer scientists equipped with the skill set and knowledge necessary to meet the needs of growing industries, which is why I cosponsored and voted for H.R. 2353, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act. Congress should continue to facilitate the many forms of education, ranging from four year institutions like Michigan State University and Oakland University to community colleges like Oakland Community College and Lansing Community College, as well as two year degrees and apprenticeships to encourage the next generation to pursue careers in the skilled trades. Every student deserves access to a first class education so that everyone has the opportunity to build a brighter future and pursue the American dream. |
