Education
As a former teacher, I understand the importance of ensuring that every child receives a free and excellent education. Good public schools are the foundation of a strong democracy, and we must ensure every student graduates ready for a career or college. Our higher education system must also be accessible and affordable for all students who choose to further their studies.
We must give our teachers and schools the support they need to provide a world-class education for every child in Minnesota and across the United States. This includes robust federal funding to support equal educational opportunities in high-poverty schools and for students with disabilities. We must address the crisis of high college costs by reducing tuition for working families, protecting a strong Pell Grant program, and enforcing protections for student loan borrowers.
More on Education
Grants Will Fund Development and Expansion of Innovative Training Programs for High-Demand Fields
WASHINGTON, D.C. [09/19/13]—Today, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.) and Reps. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), Tim Walz (D-Minn.), and Rick Nolan (D-Minn.) announced that $20 million from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) will go to help community and technical colleges in Minnesota develop and expand innovative training programs.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the staff, board, donors and volunteers of Books for Africa on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of this nonprofit organization based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Since its founding in 1988, Books for Africa has grown into the largest shipper of donated text and library books to the African continent, having shipped over 27 million books to 48 countries. In 2012 alone, Books for Africa shipped more than 2.2 million books to 22 African countries.
McCollum Supports Strict Limits on Military Action in Response to Syrian Use of Chemical Weapons
For Immediate Release: July 19, 2013
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to the partisan House Republican plan to destroy and dismantle the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Simply, this bill, H.R. 5, abandons our national commitment to equity in education for all K-12 students.
For Immediate Release: July 18, 2013
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
For Immediate Release: July 11, 2013
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
Republican Lawmakers Trumpet Certainty for Agribusiness and Vote to Inflict Certain Hunger on Low-Income Americans
Mr. Speaker, I remain in strong opposition to the House Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013 (H.R. 1947) otherwise known as the ‘Farm Bill’. On June 20, 2013, I along with the majority of my colleagues voted against the House Republican’s extreme bill. Now farmers in Minnesota and across this country are depending on Congress to reach a bipartisan agreement that will continue to grow our agricultural economy and enable us to best meet our future agriculture needs.
Washington D.C. — On Wednesday, June 19th, Congresswoman McCollum submitted to the Congressional Record a statement honoring the 40th Anniversary of Special Olympics Minnesota. Special Olympics Minnesota, founded in 1973, is dedicated towards providing essential life skills development through sports to all persons with intellectual and physical disabilities. This year, Special Olympics Minnesota will be holding a 40th anniversary commemorative ceremony in Stillwater, MN on June 21st.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to a bad bill that increases the cost of financing a higher education and adds to the burden of debt for students and their parents. Without quick Congressional action, the interest rate on subsidized Stafford loans will climb from 3.4% to 6.8% in July for all new loans. Students and families struggling to afford increasing college costs are relying on us to stop this dramatic increase now, and to work in a bipartisan way to find a long-term solution that will make financing a college education more affordable.