Education
The public education system has provided generations of Americans with the skills needed to make the United States the world’s leading innovator of the past century. As a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, I want to ensure our children and grandchildren can continue to have access to the highest quality public education, preparing them to be competitive in today’s globalized economy.
I am committed to investing in education to provide future generations with the tools they need to become leaders. I support efforts to modernize our classrooms, reduce class sizes, enhance special education programs, provide students with access to affordable higher education opportunities, and ensure America has the best-trained and most qualified teachers. I believe investing in the public education system is one of the best ways to help America become more productive and competitive.
Pre-K education is vital to our children’s cognitive development and I support the efforts to supply pre-K education to all 4-year-olds, in families at or below 200% of the poverty line, through local school districts as well as other local partners. Making pre-K education more accessible will allow our children to thrive in our nation’s educational system.
College can open up many opportunities and I believe we have a responsibility to make higher education affordable for our next generation. Unfortunately, a quality, affordable college education is growing further out of reach for too many in this country. Currently in Wisconsin, the average student debt amounts to more than $26,000, and total student debt in this country now tops $1 trillion. This rising student debt is due to increasing tuition costs, out of control interest rates, and the difficult job market facing recent graduates. While students struggle to make loan payments, they are prevented from actively contributing to our economy. This is why I introduced the Student Loan Refinance Bill. This legislation would allow nearly 40 million Americans to refinance their federal student loans, freeing up funds to buy a house, get a new car, support a family, and pursue greater economic opportunities.
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More on Education
Washington, D.C. – Today, Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21), Mark Pocan (D-WI-02) Louise Slaughter (D-NY-25), John Duncan (R-TN-02), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL-27) and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-11) introduced the Perkins Loan Extension Act of 2017 – bipartisan legislation to extend the Perkins Loan Program for a period of two years.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today introduced the bipartisan Student Loan Refinancing Act, which would allow borrowers to refinance their federal student loans any time a lower interest rate is available.
WASHINGTON D.C. – Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) and Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), and First Vice Chair Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) made the following statement today after Betsy DeVos was confirmed as Secretary of Education by the U.S. Senate. Ms. DeVos, having failed to earn the support of a majority of Senators, had to rely on Vice President Pence’s vote to break a 50-50 tie for the first time in U.S. history.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) today was named to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, and the Subcommittee on Agriculture.
By Jessie Opoien
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Reps.
By Ruth Conniff
Betsy DeVos, Donald Trump’s pick for Secretary of Education, is the only member of the incoming administration so far to have her confirmation hearing delayed.
“She may be the first casualty in the high-rise they’re building on the swamp here in Washington,” says Representative Mark Pocan of Madison, Wisconsin.
By Jessie Opoien
U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan on Tuesday announced the formation of a House Public Education Caucus in opposition to President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Betsy DeVos as education secretary.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement after the Next Generation Researchers Act passed the House & Senate as part of the 21st Century Cures Act. The Next Generation Researchers Act directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to promote and provide new opportunities for new researchers and earlier research independence.
By Rep. Mark Pocan