Bonamici Statement on Nomination of Betsy DeVos as Education Secretary

WASHINGTON, DC [11/23/16] — Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), a member of the House Education Committee, released the following statement after President-elect Donald Trump selected Betsy DeVos as his nominee for Secretary of Education:

“Visiting schools in NW Oregon and speaking with students, educators, and parents makes me optimistic for the future. I am deeply committed to defending and strengthening our nation’s system of public education. Just last year, we passed a bipartisan law that increases funding for public education, puts more focus on local decision-making and well-rounded education, and reaffirms that high-quality public education is a civil right. President-elect Trump’s selection for Secretary of Education signals a focus on school privatization efforts that will shift resources away from public schools to institutions that may not comply with fundamental civil rights protections. I will look for opportunities to work with the new Secretary of Education, but I will stand firm in my opposition to diverting public education funding to private and religious schools.”

###