South carolina governor tim scott. The hearing of the Pensions Committee will come to order to consider the nomination of betsy devos to be United States secretary of education. Openingmake an statement to introduce the nominee. We welcome senator scott and senator lieberman. He will make introductory remarks. Following the nominees comments, we will have a fiveminute round of questions. One note, we have capital will removeay who anyone who attempts to disrupt the hearing. This is the First Committee in our new congress. It has considerable differences of opinion on a variety of issues. We have found that we can sometimes resolve them in important ways. What was thee past most important bill in the congress, 21st century cures. The year before, no child left behind, which president obama called a christmas miracle, plus 33 other bills signed by the president. I want to thank senator murray and republicans on the committee for operating in that fashion. We have done that by showing courtesy to ourselves and our witnesses. My opening remarks, i would like to make a word about process. More than 25 years ago, ms. Devos, i was sitting with you are sitting. The former senators said to me, well, governor, i have heard disturbing things about you, but i will not bring them up here. The senator from kansas said, howard, i think you just did. With that, he put a secret hold on me. You will not have to go through that because we abolished secret holds. We will apply the golden rule, the one that comes from the book of matthew, which applies the same procedures to you that we fourin 2001 and 2005 george w. Bush is secretary nominees bushs secretary nominees. And 2009 and 2016 for president nominees. Cretary we will consider you and then vote just as we did them. Obamas secretary, he was confirmed a week later. We receive from ms. Devos, since january 4, the committees required forms. The rules require them to be in more than a week in advance. The fbi background check is been done and we have heard the results. The form has provided of government ethics with all the relevant information about her financial affairs. We will have a letter from that office on which will be an agreement between ms. Debose and that office on how to deal with any conflicts of interest before we vote in committee on her nomination. As for questions, ms. Debose has met with each of us in our offices. Several of us have written questions already given to her. Today, we will each have five minutes for further questions. I am applying the golden rule. One round of fiveminute questions. For both of case president obamas educational nominees. Cases, following the fiveminute round, the chairman and one member ask additional questions, and we will do that again as we have done before. I will ask questions and i will ask senator murray if she would like to do the same. Each of us will have a chance to ask additional questions in a bysonable number in writing the close of business thursday at 5 00 p. M. Then we will meet in an executive session next tuesday nomination ms. Devos finalher business if the ethics letters are received before tuesday. Following my opening remarks, senator murray will make hers. And then we will hear from senator scott and senator lieberman. And then we will hear from mrs. Devos. Betsy devos is on our childrens side. She has devoted her life to helping low income children to have better choices of schools. Most of the criticism amounts to three things number one, she supports public Charter Schools. Two, she supports getting lower income children lower income childrens parents more choices for schools. Here, she has used expertise in this pursuit. Lets take the idea of Charter Schools. They are Public Schools with fewer government rules, fewer union rules. Teachers have more freedom to teach and parents have more freedom to choose the school that best suits their child. Nothing new about it. 1991 and 1992, president gw bush proposed start from scratch schools, which he called new american schools and raised 77 million for their Development Corporation to encourage innovative ideas. January, i wrote every superintendent in the country and i asked them to try something that was invented in minnesota by the democratic farmer labour party, something called Charter Schools. There were 12 of them then. Since then, there has been support for the idea. In 1977, president clinton said, we need 1997, president clinton said we need more support for Charter Schools. President george h. W. Bush supported Charter Schools. President obama supports Charter Schools. Arne duncan describes himself as a strong supporter of Charter Schools. The current education secretary founded a Charter School. 1994, 20 15, always bipartisan usually by huge margins, supported Charter Schools. 43 states in the District Of Columbia operate Charter Schools. So, over nearly 30 years, those 12 democratic farmer labor Charter Schools in minnesota have grown to 6800 public Charter Schools. 6 of americas Public School students attend them. There . In the mainstream bush, last seven education secretaries, u. S. Congress, district of colombia, betsy devos, or her critics . Obviously, she is on the side of our children. Childrensincome parents more choices. The objection is public money should not follow poor children then accredited school of parents choice. Arguing against that is argued against the most successful social policy this congress has ever enacted. Bill for veterans with appropriate federal dollars to follow veterans to the school of their choice. University of tennessee, any accredited institution. It produced the greatest generation. It produced a model for all of our federal aid for colleges. Grants areof pell in vouchers. They followed the student to the school of their choice. Nearly 1 billion in new Student Loans followed the student to the school of their choice. Why is a great idea for College Students deemed to be such a dangerous idea for k12 students . Many of us believe competition produces the best colleges, and might produce the best schools. Ed a poorlars suggest kids bill of rights. Today, 50 states provide parents more choices of Public Schools. School other than a school of their resident. 34 states within their district 400,000 children are served by 50 private School Choice programs across 25 states. Passed bipartisan d. C. Lation creating the School Voucher program in 2003 helping 6100 children. 1000 children standing in line waiting for that opportunity. There has been growing support since the g. I. Bill for kids was proposed. Contracts colleges for low income students. 45 senator supported scholarships for kids. Senators states thought it was a good idea. Publicng to the 2013 opinion survey, 73 of americans support School Choice. 64 say if given the financial opportunity, they would sit on our all they would send one or all of their children to a different school. So who is in the mainstream here . President elect, 25 states, congress, and the d. C. Voucher program, 45 u. S. Senators in 2015, 70 3 of americans 73 of americans, betsy devos . Fairly, betsy devos apparently betsy devos. I think she deserves credit, not criticism. Or ifhe critics be happy she spent her time and money trying to deny children more choices of schools that wealthy families are ready have . We are fortunate that betsy devos is a nominee u. S. Nomineey president for u. S. Secretary. I support her confirmation and look for to working with her. Senator murray. Thank you very much, chairman. I support working with you and all of our colleagues and congress and want to Welcome New Members on our committee. Thank you ms. Debose for joining us ms. Devos for joining us. This is the first of many hearings that we will be holding a president elect trumps nominees to fill critical positions in the federal government. So, i want to start by reiterating the importance of the senates role in this process. And this committees role in this senate. President trump has the right to fill his cabinet with people that he thinks will fill the vision for our country. But that does not mean that the senate should be a rubber stamp. To the contrary, we owe it to the people we represent to make sure that every nominee is not only qualified, and free of conflicts of interest, but he or she will put families and workers first. And not millionaires, billionaires, or big corporations. President elect trump was the first residents of candidate in decades to not release his tax is , and he some people say this means the bar has been lowered for ethics and public service. I refuse to accept that and im going to continue to hold the Incoming Administration to the highest ethical standard. This is what the American People deserve, regardless of who they voted for, where their tax dollars are going, and who is benefiting. In aneve that administration word lies are likely to be blurred at the top, they need to be even clearer at the individual agencies. Congress workin to ensure the highest ethical standards are maintained, and there is accountability to taxpayers from the top of the government come all the way down. I am going to continue pushing for robust scrutiny of every nominee, and i appreciate ms. Voss said to me she knows the importance of transparency and openness, and is committed to addressing every ethical concern to make sure that no corners are cut, and that she would go to Great Lengths to make sure no corners are cut. However, i am extremely disappointed that we are moving forward with this hearing before proceeding the proper paperwork from the office of government ethics. When president obama enters the white house, republicans insisted on having an ethics letter in hand before moving to a hearing. In fact, mcconnell wrote a letter making that explicit review, and time to an fbi background check before a hearing was held. So, i am extremely concerned, and i can only hope that cutting corners in rushing nominees through will not be the new norm. We are here today to hear from president elect Trump Nominee to be the department of education to lead the department of education. As well as a mom who got her fighting for Public Investment in early learning, i take this issue very seriously. I owe everything i have two that i wasic schools able to attend with my six brothers and sisters, and none of us in my family would have been able to go to college were it not for robust federal support. We had a those opportunities because our government was committed to investing in us, but i know that is not the case for every student and community today. Although we have a long way to go, i am committed to making sure the federal government is a Strong Partner to our Public Schools districts and states, that every student has access to a high quality Public Education that allows them to succeed, and we focus our federal policies and investments on strengthening Public Schools for all students. And certainly not towards diverting taxpayer dollars to spend vouchers that do not work for unaccountable private schools. That is why i was so proud to work with chairman alexander in so many others here today to pass every student succeed act which gives flexibility to states and districts, but also includes strong accountability for our schools come and reiterates our nations commitment to strengthening Public Education, especially for our most honorable students and communities. This community this commitment goes beyond k12 because the federal government, in general, and the department of education specifically, has an Important Role to play in supporting, protecting, and investing in all of our students , from our youngest learners, to those in Higher Education. And adults and is looking to improve their skills. Leading this agency is a big job and an important job. I consider it to be my job to do everything i can to make sure whoever fills it, is truly committed to putting students and families first. So ms. Devos, i am looking for to hearing your answers to my questions. First, i will want to learn more about your extensive financial entanglements and attention conflicts and of interests. Do you need to make it very clear how you will be avoiding conflicts of interests should you be confirmed . That goes for your investment and the massive web of investments made by your media family. Wronge starting off, track by not having an ethics letter complete before this hearing, i appreciate what you are doing to provide this committee the information to understand how you intend to live up to the highest level of ethics and transparency. So far, you have not accepted calls to release three years of tax returns, but i hope you reconsider that approach, and that you are cooperating fully with the office of government ethics. Second, i have Major Concerns about how you spend your career and fortune fighting to privatize Public Education, and get investments in Public Schools. Some specific questions about how the privatization policies you have pushed have impacted students, and how you intend to use the public trust and taxpayer dollars to support Public Education, and not continue to undermine schools and teachers from inside the department as you have as an advocate from the outside. I will want to learn more about the large contribution to have me to groups that are ideologically opposed to workers, including teachers, and want to impose antilgbt, or antiWomens Health on Public Schools and the students in them. I will want to make sure you publicly commit to implementing our every School Every Student succeed act. Willl want to know how you proceed with the achievement gap. Are not clearnts in a number of areas. I want to know how you plan to approach Higher Education and whether or not can count on you to stand with students and borrowers. I am interested in your thoughts on title ix and how we can do Everything Possible title 9, and how we can do Everything Possible to stop campus assault. I was not happy about how you talked about this issue when we met, and are prepared to address it seriously. I will want to know how your personal religious and ideological views on Womens Health and safety will impact on how you approach this issue in the department. I am very concerned about what is been reported in the press on your views on the office of civil rights, which works to ensure students with disabilities, lgbtq students, minority students, women of culler, and all of our students are treated with dignity and respect. I will want to know more about how you will enforce critical civil rights laws. I have a particular passion for early learning. I want to do you stand on how the federal government can help ensure every child is prepared for success in kindergarten. Those are just a few of the issues, so i am looking forward to a robust dialogue tonight, and i am hoping your transparent about your views and open about your record and willing to make some straightforward commitments regarding the core responsibilities of the department and the role you hope to take in that. I will be asking you to commit to commit providing this committee with Additional Information and responses to all reasonable followup questions as quickly as possible. I am hopeful that this can be a smooth process. Mr. Chairman, i know my members are here tonight and are hoping are more than just five minutes of questions, and i hope that you will consider doing that. Thank you, senator murray. I will follow the golden rule that wechange the rules did not apply to president obamas nominees are president bushs nominees. So we will have a fiveminute round of questions. You and i can ask questions after that for another five minutes. That is exactly what we have done before. Members of this committee has met with mrs. Devos and some have asked it in questions. She will need to answer them before we vote. As far as tax returns are concerned, if you will like to bring that up, we can bring that up at our next session which will be the 24th. Ethics given the government ethics letter is completed by friday. Tax returns are required to be reported by president ial nominees. We did not require that a president obamas two nominees for education. If we want to change the rules, we can do that, but i am not in favor of tending the rules in the middle of the process. Mr. Chairman, i would like a point of order. I believe we got a second round with the john king hearings. I asked two rounds of questions in that case. You did and i did. Two nominees,t mr. Duncan and mr. Kaine, we had a fiveminute round, and in the chairman and one senator, one other senator asked five minutes of questions. I will ask five minutes of questions and i will give it to senator murray the opportunity to be the other senator who does that. But nobody asked for additional time at that point, members that we hear questions. The request, but i am not going to change the rules and the middle of the game. That is the precedent we have followed as far back