Hopes to make financial aid more accessible, improve teacher quality, strengthen job training.
From the Office of Congressman Buck McKeon
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On the eve of the 111th Congress being gaveled
into session, Santa Clarita Congressman Buck McKeon, the top Republican on the U.S. House Education
and Labor Committee has unveiled key legislative priorities
to help students, workers, and families in the struggling
economy.
“Working
families are facing unprecedented challenges, from an
economy that continues to shed jobs to an educational system
that is failing to keep American students competitive in a
changing world,” McKeon said. “In the face of these challenges, we must
redouble our commitment to freedom, security, and innovation
– principles that will serve us well in workplaces and
classrooms alike.”
Among
the priorities outlined by McKeon:
- Expanding
choice and flexibility in education. Republicans believe
that parents and local communities can make the best
educational decisions, especially when they are freed from
the shackles of federal bureaucracy and entrenched special
interests. That’s why Republicans will continue to promote
parental choices and local control.
- Improving
teacher quality. Studies have shown that effective
teachers are among the most important factors when it
comes to improving student academic achievement.
Republicans recognize how important teachers are to
overall education reform, and that’s why they will work to
strengthen teacher training and reward effective teachers
for their success in the classroom.
- Simplifying
college financial aid. To truly make it easier for
students to go to college, Republicans believe we must do
more than streamline application forms – we must cut
through the red tape, increase transparency, and simplify
the maze of financial aid programs that have led to
today’s daunting process.
- Strengthening
job training to bolster the economy. In a dynamic, global
economy, American workers need to be able to retrain for
the careers of the 21st century. Republicans
are strongly committed to reforming job training and
placement initiatives under the Workforce Investment Act
to make services for job seekers more accessible and
results-oriented.
- Protecting
workplace democracy. Republicans recognize that freedom is
at the core of the American value system, and they will
fight tirelessly to protect freedom whenever it is at
risk. An early test is expected in the 111th
Congress when Democrats pursue legislation to strip
workers of the right to a secret ballot unionizing
election, and that’s why protecting workplace democracy
will be at the very top of the GOP
agenda.
- Enhancing
health care and retirement security for workers. In times
of economic uncertainty, the last thing small businesses
need is bureaucratic red tape and costly federal mandates.
Republicans are committed to providing health care and
retirement options to workers without imposing
big-government directives that limit options while raising
costs.
- Providing
flexibility for working families. In today’s busy world,
families are facing greater demands on their time than
ever before, and yet too often, they remain tied to rigid
work rules written decades ago. Republicans will pursue
new options for workers and employers to create a more
flexible workplace.
“Republicans
have a clear vision for strengthening our economy today and
sustaining it into the future – by supporting job creation
and entrepreneurial freedom, and by fostering educational
excellence to train the workforce of tomorrow. These
principles will guide us throughout the 111th
Congress,”
said McKeon.