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Congressman Mark Pocan

Representing the 2nd District of Wisconsin

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

Murray, Baldwin, Pocan Introduce Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act

May 15, 2019 Press Release
Today, U.S. Reprsentative Congressman Mark Pocan (WI-02), Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) re-introduced legislation aimed at reducing bullying and harassment, including cyberbullying, at colleges and universities around the country.

Members of Congress Introduce Improving Training for School Food Service Workers Act

May 9, 2019 Press Release
U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02), John Katko (NY-24), Andy Levin (MI-09), and Elise Stefanik (NY-21) today introduced bipartisan legislation that would assist in the implementation of existing professional standards for food service employees in schools.

Pocan Leads Members of Congress in Reintroducing the Student Loan Refinancing Act

Apr 10, 2019 Press Release
U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) today led more than twenty Member of Congress in reintroducing the Student Loan Refinancing Act (H.R.2186), bipartisan legislation which would remove the current restrictions on refinancing.

Pocan Statement on President Trump Reversing Course on Eliminating Special Olympics Funding

Mar 28, 2019 Press Release
U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) today released the following statement regarding President Trump stating that he has reversed course on the decision to eliminate funding for Special Olympics in the Department of Education’s FY 2020 budget request.

Members of Congress Celebrate Public Schools Week

Mar 27, 2019 Press Release
U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02), Sam Graves (MO-06), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) this week led a bipartisan group of 74 Members of Congress in introducing H.Res.254, which expresses support for the designation of the week of March 25 through March 29, 2019, as “Public Schools Week.”

Schatz and Pocan Reintroduce Legislation to End Student Loan Debt Crisis

Mar 6, 2019 Press Release
Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) led a group of 42 members of Congress in reintroducing the Debt-Free College Act, legislation that will reverse the growing student debt crisis in the United States.

Pocan Leads House Democrats in Introducing Debt-Free College Act

Mar 22, 2018 Press Release
U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) led 23 members of the House of Representatives in introducing the Debt-Free College Act, legislation that will reverse the growing student debt crisis in the United States.

Pocan: New GAO Report Shows School Voucher Programs Failing to Provide Students with Equitable Opportunities

Nov 30, 2017 Press Release
U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) today announced the findings of a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report regarding taxpayer funded school voucher programs and how they are failing to provide students with equitable opportunity.

Pocan and Stefanik Call for Vote to Extend Perkins Loans as More Than 220 Members Join as Cosponsors

Sep 26, 2017 Press Release
U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Elise Stefanik (NY-21) today called for a vote on H.R. 2482, the Perkins Loans Extension Act, after more than half of the members of the U.S. House of Representatives signed on as cosponsors.

Pocan Joins House Democrats in Launching Jobs for America Task Forces

Sep 13, 2017 Press Release
U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) today joined House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley (D-NY) and Vice Chair Linda Sánchez (D-CA) to launch the Jobs for America Task Forces, a unified effort from the House Democratic Caucus to craft a real legislative agenda that will benefit hardworking Americans and middle-class families.