Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on AI in Teacher Preparation
02.24.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Building an AI-Ready America: Teaching in the AI Age.” “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses. It’s encouraging that there is a lot of common ground, Mr. Chairman, in the things you brought up today and the opportunities and the challenges. “We know that artificial intelligence is already b… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott Hosts Event on Consequences of Dismantling the Department of Education
02.11.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce, hosted a rogue event on the impact of the Trump administration’s decision to dismantle the Department of Education (ED) and what’s at stake for students, schools, and parents. The Trump administration’s illegal dismantling of the ED has already proven inefficient and wasteful, and has negatively impacted student success. The Members were joined by Ray Li, Policy Counsel at the NAACP Legal De… Continue Reading
ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Hearing on Parental Rights in Education
02.10.26 WASHINGTON - Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee (ECESE) Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s ECESE Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Defending Faith and Families Against Government Overreach: Mahmoud v. Taylor.” “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. “Public K-12 schools across the country are, right now, facing a deluge of crises that affect the safety, security, and acad… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Child Care Crisis
01.13.26 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Who’s Watching the Kids? How Employers, Innovators, and Parents Are Solving America’s Child Care Crunch.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. “This hearing is about an issue that is critical for children, families, for employers, and for the economy. Too many families are stru… Continue Reading
ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici Sounds the Alarm on Student Safety at Hearing Regarding Youth Sports
12.16.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future.” “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses. I also look forward to this hearing today. “Whether it’s tee-ball, track and field, baseball, lacrosse, soccer, football, swimming, hockey, figure skating, or anything I left ou… Continue Reading
ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici Warns Culture War Distractions Will Undermine Student Privacy
12.03.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Safeguarding Student Privacy and Parental Rights: A Review of FERPA and PPRA.” “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here. “First and foremost, I want to make abundantly clear that parental engagement is important to student success. “It has been proven that when fam… Continue Reading
ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici Speaks Out Against Efforts to Undermine Career and Technical Education
11.19.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, "From Classroom to Career: Strengthening Skills Pathways Through CTE." “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses. I know we have both been looking forward to this hearing. “Mr. Chairman, I appreciate this hearing today where we can talk about the importance of career and technical education, which histori… Continue Reading
New Government Watchdog Report on Sexual Misconduct in JROTC Programs
09.26.25 WASHINGTON - Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report that assessed how schools prevent and respond to sexual misconduct within the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) program. The report also looked at how the Department of Education (ED) and the Department of Defense (DOD) address sexual misconduct in JROTC programs. The report was requested by Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), House Committee on Education and Workforce and Ranking Member S… Continue Reading
ECESE Ranking Member Bonamici Demands Committee Subpoena Stephen Miller
09.10.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “From Playground to Classroom: The Spread of Antisemitism in K-12 Schools.” “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses. “We can all agree that schools are responsible for creating safe learning environments for students, teachers, and faculty free from discrimination, harassment, and violence. Th… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at ECESE Subcommittee Hearing on Reading and Math in K-12 Schools
09.03.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Foundations First: Reclaiming Reading and Math through Proven Instruction.” “Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. “Welcome back. I expect that we have all spent the previous month visiting, learning, and connecting with our constituents. And although we may disagree… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at ECESE Subcommittee Hearing on Child Care
06.24.25 Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Child Care and the American Workforce: Removing Barriers to Economic Growth.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for bringing your expertise and experience. “For years, I’ve heard from parents with young children that having reliable child care makes all other work possible. A majority of families with child… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Screentime in Schools
06.10.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Screentime in Schools.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. We appreciate your time and your expertise. We all want students to grow up and learn in a safe and healthy environment where they’re protected from harm and equipped with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive in… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Charter Schools
05.14.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Reimagining Education: How Charter Schools Are Closing Gaps and Opening Doors.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here. “Charter schools, as a reminder, are public schools that receive taxpayer dollars. At their best, they offer the potential for innovation, flexibility, and responsiv… Continue Reading
Education Leaders Urge McMahon to Reject Waiver Requests for K-12 Education Funds That Allow States to Avoid Accountability
05.08.25 WASHINGTON- Today, congressional Democrats urged Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to reject any efforts by states to undermine the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which specifically directs funding to high-poverty schools, English as a Second Language programs, afterschool and summer learning, and more. The letter was sent by Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ranking … Continue Reading
House Democrats’ Litigation Task Force Defends Department Of Education In Court
04.24.25 Washington, D.C. — The Litigation and Rapid Response Task Force led 192 House Democrats in filing an amicus brief challenging the Trump Administration’s efforts to close the Department of Education in the matter of the State of New York v. Linda McMahon. A case in which 20 states moved to sue the administration for its plans to place fifty percent of the Department’s workforce on administrative leave, effectively shuttering a congressionally authorized agency by way of executive fiat. By invol… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Scott's Opening Statement on Bill Demanding Transparency and Accountability for Trump Dismantling ED
04.09.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) delivered the following opening statement at today’s full committee markup of H. Res. 237 and H.R. 2616, 2617, 2262, and 2270. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Today, we will consider five bills that could impact millions of American students, workers, and families: three education bills, two of which will continue to wage Republican culture wars in our classrooms, and two labor bills that incentivize people to work more to get paid less. … Continue Reading
Congressional Democrats Demand McMahon Reverse Abrupt Policy Change Halting Funding for Schools Nationwide
04.07.25 WASHINGTON - Today, Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA-03), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03), Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriatio… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on AI in K-12 Education
04.01.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “From Chalkboards to Chatbots: The Impact of AI on K-12 Education. “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. “ I am encouraged that all of the witnesses submitted testimony that recognizes the opportunities and challenges of Artificial Intelligence in K-12 education. “We are at a p… Continue Reading
Committee Democrats Take Action to Hold the President Accountable for His Effort to Dismantle the Department of Education
03.21.25 WASHINGTON - Led by House Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03), Committee Democrats are taking swift action to challenge President Trump’s executive order to dismantle the Department of Education (ED). Committee Democrats introduced a Resolution of Inquiry (ROI) to demand transparency and information from the President and Secretary of Education regarding the Administration’s efforts to dismantle ED and its potential impact on students nationwide. The Resoluti… Continue Reading
Ranking Member Bonamici Opening Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on School Choice in K-12 Education
03.11.25 WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) delivered the following opening statement at today’s Early Childhood and Secondary Education Subcommittee hearing entitled, “Education Without Limits: Exploring the Benefits of School Choice.” “Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to the witnesses for being here today. “I want to begin by acknowledging the role that public schools play in our communities, our economy, and our democracy. With the overwhelming majority of students in public… Continue Reading