Transcripts For CSPAN2 Education Secretary Nominee Betsy DeV

She took questions on Public Education, Student Loan Debt and Postsecondary Education for members of the Senate Health education labor and pensions committee. Heres a portion of that hearing. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] nonmac [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] a hearing of the Health Education Labor Pensions Committee will come to order. The hearing to consider the nomination of i. T. Training due to United States secretary of education. Senator murray and i will make an opening statement. Ill introduce the nominee. We welcome senator scott, member of this committee of distinguished former member of this body who will make introductory remarks. And following that nominee is comments, we will have fiveminute round of questions. We have capital officers here today who will remove anyone who attempts to distract the hearing. This is the first meeting of our committee and the congress. This is a committee as will probably become evident as we go along but has some considerable differences of opinion on a variety of issues. We have found we can sometimes result in important ways. Last year the majority leader, senator mcconnell said the most important of the congress 21st century cures and the year before fixing no child left behind which president obama called a christmas miracle plus 33 other bill signed by the president , 33 total. I want to thank senator murray for the democrats as well as republicans on the committee are operating in that fashion. Weve done that by showing courtesy to ourselves into her witnesses which i hope will be evident today. Before my opening remarks come a day to make a word about process. More than 25 years ago, ministering to come up with sitting where you are sitting in as the nominee for your secretary of education and former senator Howard Metzenbaum of ohio said while governor, ive heard some disturbing things about you, but im not going to bring them up here. Senator Nancy Kestenbaum said howard, i think you just did. And with that he put a secret hold on me and held me up for two or three months. You wont have to go through that because we abolished secret holds long ago and because we will apply what i will call the golden rule, the one that comes from the book of matthew, which applies the same procedures to you that we used in 2001 in 2005 for president george w. Bushs education secretary nominees in 2009 in 2016 for president obamas education secretary nominees piece that we will consider you an bad vote just as did then. Arne duncan, president obamas First Education Secretary Committee hearing was on the third in a january penny was confirmed a week later. John king kerry was on february 25th and he was confirmed two and a half weeks later. We receive from this history and to mh senators had available since january 4th, the committees required forms. The rules require them to be in more than a week in advance. The fbi background check has been done and senator murray and i have heard the results. Ms. Devos has provided the government ethics with all the relevant to the nation on the financial affairs. We will have a letter from that office, which will be an agreement between mrs. Devos and that office on how to deal with any conflicts of interest before we vote in committee on her nomination. Ask her questions, mrs. Devos 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. Again, im applying the golden rule. One round of fiveminute questions asked was the case where both the president of board of education nominees was the case for me, too in 1991. In this case is following the fiveminute round, the chairman had one member ask additional questions that will do that again as we did before. I will ask questions and i will ask senator murray and she was like to do the same. Each of us will have a chance to ask additional questions in a reasonable number and writing. At the close of business on thursday at 5 00 p. M. Well meet in executive session next day to consider mrs. Devos nomination in another business that the final opposite government final opposite government ethics letter is received by this friday in order to give senators a chance to review it before tuesday. Now, following my opening remarks, senator murray will make First Amendment will hear from senator scott, senator lieberman and then well hear from mrs. Devos. But the devos in my opinion designer children inside. Shes devoted her life to helping mainly lowincome children have better choices of schools. Most of the criticism ive heard of her most depleting spirit one, she supports public Charter Schools. Two, she supports giving lowerincome parents more choices of schools for their children. Three, shes used her considerable wealth and defect admits to it has those ideas. I believe shes in the mainstream of Public Opinion and her critics are not. First, lets take the idea of Charter Schools. They are Public Schools with fewer government rules, fewer union rules so teachers have more freedom to teach and parents have more freedom to choose the school that suits their child. Nothing new about it. In 1991 and 92, president h. W. Bush proposed start from scratch schools. He called the new american schools. He raised 70 million for new American Schools Development Corporation to encourage innovative ideas. In 1993 in january, my last type is president bushs education secretary, or whatever single superintendent in the country and asked them to try something offended in minnesota by the democratic farmer labor party, something called Charter Schools. Since then, theres been broad support for the idea. Other shanker come the late head of the American Federation of teachers endorsed this Charter Schools. In 1977, president clinton said we need 3000 Charter Schools by 2002. Senator Hillary Clinton supported Charter Schools. President george w. Bush supported Charter Schools. President obama supports Charter Schools. The First Education secretary arne duncan describes himself as a strong supporter of Charter Schools. John king, the current education secretary founded the Charter School. Congress in 1994 and 98, 212,015, all these bipartisan usually by huge margins supported Charter Schools. 43 states and the district of columbia operate Charter Schools. Over nearly 30 years, those 12 democratic farmer, laborer Charter Schools of minnesota have grown to 6800 public Charter Schools, 6 of americas Public School students attend them. So whos in the mainstream here . The labor party of minnesota, president bush, clinton, bush, obama comes ethics u. S. Education secretarys, u. S. Congress, 43 states, district of columbia, betsy devos or her critics . Pretty obviously shes an dream. Shes on the side of our children. Lets go to the other criticism. Even though income more choices of schools to wealthy americans already have. More specifically, the objection is public money shouldnt follow poor children to an accredited school of their parents choice, public, private or religious. Arguing against that is arguing against the most successful social policy this congress has ever not good. The g. I. Bill for veterans, which appropriated federal dollars to fellow veterans to the school of their choice. Notre dame come yeshiva, university of tennessee, and the accredited institution. It produced the greatest generation and it produced a model for all of our federal aid for college is. 29 billion to tell grants this are in vouchers. They follow the student to the school of their choice. Nearly 100 billion in new Student Loans follow the student to the school of their choice. Why is such 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 in it might produce the best schools. Many scholars have said the distinguished educators suggested a poor kids bill of rights 40 years ago. Today, 50 states provide parents more choices of Public Schools. 15 attended school other than a school of residents through open enrollment. 44 states allow sending to Public Schools outside their district. 34 states within their district they are served by 50 private School Choice programs across 20 sites dates, district of columbia, Douglas County colorado. Congress passed Bipartisan Legislation with senator lieberman at the head of it created the d. C. School Voucher Program in 2003 helping 6100 children. More than a dozen children standing in line waiting for the opportunity. Theres been growing support. The g. I. Bill for kids to states that wanted to expand choice for low incomes begins today in for 2015, 45 and senator scott proposed for students with disabilities 45 United States senators thought that was a good idea. 64 say if given the financial opportunity to attend one or all their children to a different school. Susan the mainstream here. The g. I. Bill for veterans, pell grants, Student Loans, both president bush, president elect, 25 states, congress and the d. C. Voucher program. 45 u. S. Senators and 2015, 23 of americas devos critics. Pretty obvious shes in the mainstream. Shes on the side of our children. The final criticism and is she has used her wealth to support these ideas. She deserves credit for that, not criticism. But the critics be happier if she spent her time and money trying to deny children more choices of schools in wealthy families . We are fortunate to devos is the nominee for u. S. Education secretary. She is and has been on our children inside. I support her confirmation and look forward to working with this. Senator murray. Thank you, chairman alexander. I look forward to working with you and colleagues in congress. But lets welcome our new members, senator mccain, hasan and young. And thank you, ms. Devos for joining us. By the way, welcome to the rest of our family who has joined you as well. This is the first of many hearings that we will be holding a president elect trumps nominee to fill critical positions in the federal government. I want to start by reiterating the importance of the senates role in this process and its committees will will and the senate work. President trump has the right to fill his cabinet with people he thinks will fill a position for our country. Does that mean the senate should be a rubber stamp. To the contrary, we all are to the people we represent to make sure every nominee is not only qualified for the position and free of conflicts of interest, but that he or she will put families of workers first and not millionaires, billionaires of the corporation. President elect trump was the first president ial candidate in decades to not release his tax returns and hes openly touting ethics committees regarding his personal and Family Businesses. Some people say this means the bar has now been lowered for ethics and public service. I refuse to accept that another will 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. I believe in an Administration Provides around conflicts of interest are likely to be blurred at the top, they need to be even clear if the individual agencies. Even while the Congress Work to ensure the highest ethical standards are maintained and accountability to taxpayers from the top of the government all the way down. Im going to continue pushing for a best scrutiny of every one of these nominees and i appreciate this devos has said she knows the importance of transparent tape an open message is committed to addressing every ethical concerns and make sure no corners are cut and she would go to Great Lengths to make sure no corners are cut. However, i am extremely disappointed we are moving forward with this hearing before receiving the proper paperwork from the office of government ethics. When president obama entered the white house, republicans insisted on having an ethics letter in hand before moving to a hearing. Leader mcconnell wrote a letter to the to read making that explicit demand, and ethics letter in hand with time to review an fbi background check before the hearing was held. Am extremely concerned and i can only hope cutting corners and rushing nominees through will not be the new norm. We are here today to hear from president elect tribes nominee to lead the department of education. As a former preschool teacher and School Board Member as well as the mom who got her start in politics fighting for public investments in Early Learning, i take this issue very seriously. I owe everything i have two strong Public Schools. I was able to attend with my six brothers and sisters and none of us in my family wouldve been able to go to college for it not for robust federal support. We have those opportunities because our government was committed to investing that i know thats not the case for every student in every community today. Although we have a long way to go, and absolutely committed to make sure the federal government is a Strong Partner to our Public Schools, districts and states that every student has access to highquality Public Education that allows them to succeed and refocus our federal policies and investments on strengthening Public Schools for all students and certainly not towards diverting taxpayer dollars for vouchers they dont work for unaccountable private schools. That is why i was so proud to work with chairman alexander and so many others here today to pass every Student Succeeds act which gives flexibility to states and School Districts. But also includes strong accountability for schools and reiterates our nations committed to strengthening Public Education, especially for our most vulnerable students and communities. This commitment goes beyond k12 because the federal government in general and the department of education specifically has an Important Role to play as porting, protect and an investing in all of our students from our youngest learners to those in Higher Education and adults and parents seeking to improve their skills. It is an important job. I consider my job to do everything i can to make sure whoever fills it is truly committed to putting students and families first. Ms. Devos, and looking forward to hearing your answers to questions if i had a number of very serious concerns that need to be addressed. First i want to learn more voucher extensive financial entanglement and potential conflicts of interest is a billionaire with hundreds if not thousands of investments they made in ways that are not transparent and very hard to track. You need to make it clear how you will be avoiding conflicts of interest should he be confirmed. That goes for your investment as well as the massive web of investments made by your immediate families. Despite starting off on the wrong track or not having an ethics letter complete before this hearing today, i appreciate what you are doing to provide this committee the information to understand how you intend to live up to the highest levels of ethics and transparency. So far you have not accepted calls to release three years of tax returns but im hoping you reconsider that approach and that you are cooperative solely with the office of government ethics. Second, i have Major Concerns with how you spent your career and fortune fighting to privatize Public Education and debt investments in Public Schools. I have specific questions about how the privatization policies you have pushup impacted students in how you intend to use the public trust and taxpayer dollars to support Public Education and not continue to undermine schools and teachers from his department as an advocate from the outside. I want to know more about the large contributions be made to groups that are ideologically opposed to antilj btr antiWomens Health on Public Education<\/a>, Student Loan Debt<\/a> and Postsecondary Education<\/a> for members of the Senate Health<\/a> education labor and pensions committee. Heres a portion of that hearing. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] nonmac [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] a hearing of the Health Education<\/a> Labor Pensions Committee<\/a> will come to order. The hearing to consider the nomination of i. T. Training due to United States<\/a> secretary of education. Senator murray and i will make an opening statement. Ill introduce the nominee. We welcome senator scott, member of this committee of distinguished former member of this body who will make introductory remarks. And following that nominee is comments, we will have fiveminute round of questions. We have capital officers here today who will remove anyone who attempts to distract the hearing. This is the first meeting of our committee and the congress. This is a committee as will probably become evident as we go along but has some considerable differences of opinion on a variety of issues. We have found we can sometimes result in important ways. Last year the majority leader, senator mcconnell said the most important of the congress 21st century cures and the year before fixing no child left behind which president obama called a christmas miracle plus 33 other bill signed by the president , 33 total. I want to thank senator murray for the democrats as well as republicans on the committee are operating in that fashion. Weve done that by showing courtesy to ourselves into her witnesses which i hope will be evident today. Before my opening remarks come a day to make a word about process. More than 25 years ago, ministering to come up with sitting where you are sitting in as the nominee for your secretary of education and former senator Howard Metzenbaum<\/a> of ohio said while governor, ive heard some disturbing things about you, but im not going to bring them up here. Senator Nancy Kestenbaum<\/a> said howard, i think you just did. And with that he put a secret hold on me and held me up for two or three months. You wont have to go through that because we abolished secret holds long ago and because we will apply what i will call the golden rule, the one that comes from the book of matthew, which applies the same procedures to you that we used in 2001 in 2005 for president george w. Bushs education secretary nominees in 2009 in 2016 for president obamas education secretary nominees piece that we will consider you an bad vote just as did then. Arne duncan, president obamas First Education<\/a> Secretary Committee<\/a> hearing was on the third in a january penny was confirmed a week later. John king kerry was on february 25th and he was confirmed two and a half weeks later. We receive from this history and to mh senators had available since january 4th, the committees required forms. The rules require them to be in more than a week in advance. The fbi background check has been done and senator murray and i have heard the results. Ms. Devos has provided the government ethics with all the relevant to the nation on the financial affairs. We will have a letter from that office, which will be an agreement between mrs. Devos and that office on how to deal with any conflicts of interest before we vote in committee on her nomination. Ask her questions, mrs. Devos 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. Again, im applying the golden rule. One round of fiveminute questions asked was the case where both the president of board of education nominees was the case for me, too in 1991. In this case is following the fiveminute round, the chairman had one member ask additional questions that will do that again as we did before. I will ask questions and i will ask senator murray and she was like to do the same. Each of us will have a chance to ask additional questions in a reasonable number and writing. At the close of business on thursday at 5 00 p. M. Well meet in executive session next day to consider mrs. Devos nomination in another business that the final opposite government final opposite government ethics letter is received by this friday in order to give senators a chance to review it before tuesday. Now, following my opening remarks, senator murray will make First Amendment<\/a> will hear from senator scott, senator lieberman and then well hear from mrs. Devos. But the devos in my opinion designer children inside. Shes devoted her life to helping mainly lowincome children have better choices of schools. Most of the criticism ive heard of her most depleting spirit one, she supports public Charter Schools<\/a>. Two, she supports giving lowerincome parents more choices of schools for their children. Three, shes used her considerable wealth and defect admits to it has those ideas. I believe shes in the mainstream of Public Opinion<\/a> and her critics are not. First, lets take the idea of Charter Schools<\/a>. They are Public Schools<\/a> with fewer government rules, fewer union rules so teachers have more freedom to teach and parents have more freedom to choose the school that suits their child. Nothing new about it. In 1991 and 92, president h. W. Bush proposed start from scratch schools. He called the new american schools. He raised 70 million for new American Schools Development Corporation<\/a> to encourage innovative ideas. In 1993 in january, my last type is president bushs education secretary, or whatever single superintendent in the country and asked them to try something offended in minnesota by the democratic farmer labor party, something called Charter Schools<\/a>. Since then, theres been broad support for the idea. Other shanker come the late head of the American Federation<\/a> of teachers endorsed this Charter Schools<\/a>. In 1977, president clinton said we need 3000 Charter Schools<\/a> by 2002. Senator Hillary Clinton<\/a> supported Charter Schools<\/a>. President george w. Bush supported Charter Schools<\/a>. President obama supports Charter Schools<\/a>. The First Education<\/a> secretary arne duncan describes himself as a strong supporter of Charter Schools<\/a>. John king, the current education secretary founded the Charter School<\/a>. Congress in 1994 and 98, 212,015, all these bipartisan usually by huge margins supported Charter Schools<\/a>. 43 states and the district of columbia operate Charter Schools<\/a>. Over nearly 30 years, those 12 democratic farmer, laborer Charter Schools<\/a> of minnesota have grown to 6800 public Charter Schools<\/a>, 6 of americas Public School<\/a> students attend them. So whos in the mainstream here . The labor party of minnesota, president bush, clinton, bush, obama comes ethics u. S. Education secretarys, u. S. Congress, 43 states, district of columbia, betsy devos or her critics . Pretty obviously shes an dream. Shes on the side of our children. Lets go to the other criticism. Even though income more choices of schools to wealthy americans already have. More specifically, the objection is public money shouldnt follow poor children to an accredited school of their parents choice, public, private or religious. Arguing against that is arguing against the most successful social policy this congress has ever not good. The g. I. Bill for veterans, which appropriated federal dollars to fellow veterans to the school of their choice. Notre dame come yeshiva, university of tennessee, and the accredited institution. It produced the greatest generation and it produced a model for all of our federal aid for college is. 29 billion to tell grants this are in vouchers. They follow the student to the school of their choice. Nearly 100 billion in new Student Loans<\/a> follow the student to the school of their choice. Why is such a great idea for College Students<\/a> deemed to be such a dangerous idea for k12 students . Many of us believe competition produces the best colleges in it might produce the best schools. Many scholars have said the distinguished educators suggested a poor kids bill of rights 40 years ago. Today, 50 states provide parents more choices of Public Schools<\/a>. 15 attended school other than a school of residents through open enrollment. 44 states allow sending to Public Schools<\/a> outside their district. 34 states within their district they are served by 50 private School Choice<\/a> programs across 20 sites dates, district of columbia, Douglas County<\/a> colorado. Congress passed Bipartisan Legislation<\/a> with senator lieberman at the head of it created the d. C. School Voucher Program<\/a> in 2003 helping 6100 children. More than a dozen children standing in line waiting for the opportunity. Theres been growing support. The g. I. Bill for kids to states that wanted to expand choice for low incomes begins today in for 2015, 45 and senator scott proposed for students with disabilities 45 United States<\/a> senators thought that was a good idea. 64 say if given the financial opportunity to attend one or all their children to a different school. Susan the mainstream here. The g. I. Bill for veterans, pell grants, Student Loans<\/a>, both president bush, president elect, 25 states, congress and the d. C. Voucher program. 45 u. S. Senators and 2015, 23 of americas devos critics. Pretty obvious shes in the mainstream. Shes on the side of our children. The final criticism and is she has used her wealth to support these ideas. She deserves credit for that, not criticism. But the critics be happier if she spent her time and money trying to deny children more choices of schools in wealthy families . We are fortunate to devos is the nominee for u. S. Education secretary. She is and has been on our children inside. I support her confirmation and look forward to working with this. Senator murray. Thank you, chairman alexander. I look forward to working with you and colleagues in congress. But lets welcome our new members, senator mccain, hasan and young. And thank you, ms. Devos for joining us. By the way, welcome to the rest of our family who has joined you as well. This is the first of many hearings that we will be holding a president elect trumps nominee to fill critical positions in the federal government. I want to start by reiterating the importance of the senates role in this process and its committees will will and the senate work. President trump has the right to fill his cabinet with people he thinks will fill a position for our country. Does that mean the senate should be a rubber stamp. To the contrary, we all are to the people we represent to make sure every nominee is not only qualified for the position and free of conflicts of interest, but that he or she will put families of workers first and not millionaires, billionaires of the corporation. President elect trump was the first president ial candidate in decades to not release his tax returns and hes openly touting ethics committees regarding his personal and Family Businesses<\/a>. Some people say this means the bar has now been lowered for ethics and public service. I refuse to accept that another will continue to hold the Incoming Administration<\/a> to the highest ethical standard. This is what the American People<\/a> deserve regardless of who they voted for, where their tax dollars are going and who is benefiting. I believe in an Administration Provides<\/a> around conflicts of interest are likely to be blurred at the top, they need to be even clear if the individual agencies. Even while the Congress Work<\/a> to ensure the highest ethical standards are maintained and accountability to taxpayers from the top of the government all the way down. Im going to continue pushing for a best scrutiny of every one of these nominees and i appreciate this devos has said she knows the importance of transparent tape an open message is committed to addressing every ethical concerns and make sure no corners are cut and she would go to Great Lengths<\/a> to make sure no corners are cut. However, i am extremely disappointed we are moving forward with this hearing before receiving the proper paperwork from the office of government ethics. When president obama entered the white house, republicans insisted on having an ethics letter in hand before moving to a hearing. Leader mcconnell wrote a letter to the to read making that explicit demand, and ethics letter in hand with time to review an fbi background check before the hearing was held. Am extremely concerned and i can only hope cutting corners and rushing nominees through will not be the new norm. We are here today to hear from president elect tribes nominee to lead the department of education. As a former preschool teacher and School Board Member<\/a> as well as the mom who got her start in politics fighting for public investments in Early Learning<\/a>, i take this issue very seriously. I owe everything i have two strong Public Schools<\/a>. I was able to attend with my six brothers and sisters and none of us in my family wouldve been able to go to college for it not for robust federal support. We have those opportunities because our government was committed to investing that i know thats not the case for every student in every community today. Although we have a long way to go, and absolutely committed to make sure the federal government is a Strong Partner<\/a> to our Public Schools<\/a>, districts and states that every student has access to highquality Public Education<\/a> that allows them to succeed and refocus our federal policies and investments on strengthening Public Schools<\/a> for all students and certainly not towards diverting taxpayer dollars for vouchers they dont work for unaccountable private schools. That is why i was so proud to work with chairman alexander and so many others here today to pass every Student Succeeds<\/a> act which gives flexibility to states and School District<\/a>s. But also includes strong accountability for schools and reiterates our nations committed to strengthening Public Education<\/a>, especially for our most vulnerable students and communities. This commitment goes beyond k12 because the federal government in general and the department of education specifically has an Important Role<\/a> to play as porting, protect and an investing in all of our students from our youngest learners to those in Higher Education<\/a> and adults and parents seeking to improve their skills. It is an important job. I consider my job to do everything i can to make sure whoever fills it is truly committed to putting students and families first. Ms. Devos, and looking forward to hearing your answers to questions if i had a number of very serious concerns that need to be addressed. First i want to learn more voucher extensive financial entanglement and potential conflicts of interest is a billionaire with hundreds if not thousands of investments they made in ways that are not transparent and very hard to track. You need to make it clear how you will be avoiding conflicts of interest should he be confirmed. That goes for your investment as well as the massive web of investments made by your immediate families. Despite starting off on the wrong track or not having an ethics letter complete before this hearing today, i appreciate what you are doing to provide this committee the information to understand how you intend to live up to the highest levels of ethics and transparency. So far you have not accepted calls to release three years of tax returns but im hoping you reconsider that approach and that you are cooperative solely with the office of government ethics. Second, i have Major Concerns<\/a> with how you spent your career and fortune fighting to privatize Public Education<\/a> and debt investments in Public Schools<\/a>. I have specific questions about how the privatization policies you have pushup impacted students in how you intend to use the public trust and taxpayer dollars to support Public Education<\/a> and not continue to undermine schools and teachers from his department as an advocate from the outside. I want to know more about the large contributions be made to groups that are ideologically opposed to antilj btr antiWomens Health<\/a> on Public Schools<\/a> and students in them. I want to make sure you publicly commit implementing our every Student Succeeds<\/a> act by upholding the guardrail and i will want to know how you plan to tackle the persistent achievement gap. Third, while youve been outspoken on k12 issues committee record and positions are not clear in a number of critical areas. I want to learn more how you plan to approach Higher Education<\/a> and whether or not we can count on you to stand with students and borrowers. Im interested in your thoughts on title ix and how we can do Everything Possible<\/a> to stop the scourge of campus assaults. I was not happy with how you talked about the issue when we met. Im hopeful you have learned more about his band and are prepared to address it seriously. I want to know how your personal religious and ideological views on Womens Health<\/a> and safety would impact how you approach this issue in the department. Im very concerned with what has been reported in the press about your views on the importance of the office of civil rights which works to ensure students with disabilities, lgb teaches students, religious minorities, women and girls from the students of color and all of our students treated with dignity and respect and im going to want to know more how you enforce critical civil rights laws. All of my colleagues here know i have a particular passion for Early Learning<\/a> and i want to hear where you stand on where the federal government can help ensure every child is prepared for success in kindergarten. Those are a few of the issues. Im looking forward to a robust dialogue tonight. Im hoping your transparent about your views, record and willing to be making commitments but this will you help to take. I will ask you to commit to providing Additional Information<\/a> and responses to reasonable followup questions as quickly as possible. Im hopeful this can be a smooth process. Mr. Chairman, i know my number is our hoping for more than five minutes of question on the critical nominee and will consider doing that. Thank you on the senator murray. I will not play to mrs. Devos rules that apply to president obama nominee sir president bush nominates. Go have a fiveminute round of questions. You and i can ask questions. Thats exactly what was done before. Members of this committee has met. Somehow best written questions. We will have two days to think more financial need to answer them. Before we vote. If youd like to to bring that up, the next executive session for 24th. Give her government ethics letter is completed by friday. I would note will start require tax returns by president ial nominees. We did not require president obama is nominees. We want to change the rules. Im not in favor of changing the rules in the middle of the process. Mr. Chairman, mask a point of order . What is your point of order . I believe i got a second round. I asked a lot of questions in that case. You did and i did. Each of the john king in the last two nominees, mr. Duncan and mr. King had a fiveminute round in the chairmen and one senator, one other senator rest five minutes of questions. I last five minutes of questions and get to senator murray the opportunity to be the other senator who does that. I would say nobody asked for additional time at that point. If you get through this hearing that your im on an opportunity. I appreciate the request. That is the precedent that we followed as far back as 1991 when i was the education secretary. We do for president obama and will do the same thing. I wasnt aware. Is clear president i can think of. Would like to 36 letter signed by 134 organizations concerning concerned to be placed into the record. They will be. Wewoka menomonee comic this devos to the hearing and your husband and daughters, daughterinlaw and soninlaw and welcome all of our. Mrs. Devos will be introduced by senator tim scott, member of this committee, strong champion and then senator Joe Lieberman<\/a> who served here for 24 years representing connecticut until he retired january 2013. Thank you both for joining us. I have already said what i have to say about mrs. Devos appear nextline secretary of education, so i think we should move ahead with senator scott introduction. Turn it over to senator lieberman and then we will hear from mrs. Devos and begin her questions. Senator scott. Thank you, mr. Chairman. I will note i am surprised the number of folks, photographers who showed up to hear senator lieberman introductions. Very well done, senator lieberman. Ive known the devos family for about three decades. I started learning how to sell when i was in college and was part of one of the companies that i learned how to sell, so im very hateful that the champion of Public Education<\/a>, a champion of education and specifically a champion for poor kid. I will recall my own upbringing as a poor kid who by the time i was in fourth grade attended four different schools. Its really important for us to recognize the powerful impact of education has on the four kids. I am excited about this transition, looking forward to the opportunity to have the devos as their champion for all children, all education and what i consider high potential kids others caught that risk is. For the last 28 years, ms. Devos has been a champion she attended calvin college, grand rapids michigan. Mrs. Devos is a businesswoman and entrepreneur. Shes the chairman of the American Federation<\/a> for children and the group for those of you who may not know bessie, she had a humble beginning. Her parents mortgaged everything they had to start a small auto parts business. She still remembers when she was seven years old, helping her father paint a cinderblock building that became the office at the First Manufacturing<\/a> location. I believe the color was steel blue. She understands the sacrifices for family has to make themselves and their children. She has successfully advocated for expansion of education opportunity and dozens and dozens of state. She also helped her husband launch a Charter School<\/a> in grand rapids, michigan which is now one of the highest performing Charter Schools<\/a> in her home state. Ive been to that school. Way before there is any idea they should not run they said here before this committee. Way before we ever assume thered be a trump candidacy. Several years ago i visited the high school and had a chance to set up lunch and talk with the kids, understand and appreciate their hunger for education at the third of devos, served by commitment to Public Education<\/a> at this charter high school. She is making sure students go to save and highperformance schools, whether they are public, private, charter, traditional or nontraditional schools. She understands the need to focus on accountability. Not just to have a system in place, but to actually hold schools accountable for the results they have. What she supports his hold in all schools accountable, whether they are traditional Public Schools<\/a> or Charter Schools<\/a>. This is devos is clearly not oppose to accountability. What she is supposed to his hold in some schools accountable, but not all schools. What she is supposed to be sleeping children trapped in schools that we know, we know our family. Failing students will have no hope if they do not receive a highquality education. Only one more left. Parents and students could not ask our model or a more thoughtful leader to move the Education System<\/a> into the 21st century. If he cares. She questions. She considers. And then and only then will she act. These are the trade of the leader. I look forward to supporting her nomination throughout the next few weeks. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, senator scott. Senator lieberman. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Senator murray, members of the committee, special hello to miss murphy, my friend and successor from connecticut. Its great to be back in the senate today to introduce betsy devos for your consideration as the next secretary of education. I met betsy several years ago and one of the many bipartisan efforts to improve the quality of education of americas children that she had so many others of you have been involved in. When i left the senate as a way to continue my own work on education reform, i became a member of the board of the American Federation<\/a> for children, the Nonprofit Organization<\/a> that the devos founded to provide options for lower income children. Im proud of what the afc has achieved, particularly at the state level. For than 400,000 lowincome families have been empowered with Financial Support<\/a> to take their children out of schools where they thought the kids were getting an adequate education and put them into schools that were better. For me as a democrat, its especially gratifying that many of these programs have been attacked did with bipartisan legislature. None of the progress achieved very specifically for those 400,000 plus kids who have occurred without betsys leadership which is inclusive and motivated. Discipline to organize, no status that goals and develop practical plans to achieve them. She is really a Purpose Driven Team<\/a> builder that ive seen in my membership on the board of the deed. Bigger than anything most of us except for senator alex vander has ever loved. But everything i have seen tells me shes ready to take on this assignment and do it very well. Some people are questioning her qualifications to be secretary of education. And too many of those questions to me seemed to be based on the fact she does that come from within the education establishment. But honestly, i believe that today that is one of the most important qualifications you could have for this job. She has many others. A mother, grandmother, she cares about children were generally and has been involved in education makes so many parents and local citizens School Board Member<\/a>s across america for almost 30 years. Her involvement has not just been as a philanthropist and advocate for reform, though she has been a real leader in both. She also mentors students in the Public Schools<\/a> of grand rapids, michigan. Heres another important qualification i think betsy has for this job. She will ask the right questions such as, it is this federal Education Program<\/a> working . Is it giving our kids the education they need to live within satisfying lives . If not, practically improvement. Examination of the facts of the state of American Education<\/a> today makes clear that although current federal Education Program<\/a>s are working for many of our children, they are feeling millions of others. Here are just a few of the other salient facts. Among all students of all income groups, less than 40 of High School Graduates<\/a> are college or career ready. According to the azt. A recent report said that only 35 of eighth graders were proficient on the reading exam and only 34 on the math exam. In other words, two thirds of eighth graders and our country are not proficient in reading and math. Middle ranking under the name. Among lower income students who waited the shortcomings in the Educational Status<\/a> quo falls disproportionately heavily. There are too many ways to illustrate this, but let me just give wanted end quote. There are more than 1200 high schools in america who have more than 1. 1 Million Students<\/a> that fail to graduate from high school at least one third of theirs events. Sound as many as more than half the students dont make it through high School Graduation<\/a>. These schools primarily educate lowincome students and students of color. The School Graduation<\/a> rate high schools are located in both urban and rural areas and they are in almost every state. New york is 199 of them. Georgia 115. California 105 in alabama and mississippi each more than 50. These are jarring numbers and they seemed to cry out for National Education<\/a> reform. We are just not keeping our founders promise of equal opportunity. We are not preparing the next generation of americans to enable our economy to compete successfully in the world. We just cant accept the status quo in education anymore. We need a change of education secretary. A leader who has one big goal, which is to give every child in america, regardless of Family Income<\/a> was up code a firstclass education. That is exactly the kind of education secretary i believe that the devos will be. Now because betsy has been fighting for reform and disrupting the status quo for so long, her nomination is naturally controversial. After all, she has directly challenged the education establishment by supporting Charter Schools<\/a> another School Choice<\/a> programs. What i can tell you that in all of my work with her, i have never heard that he speak against our Public School<\/a> system. I have heard her ask what we can do for the low income kids who are trapped in bad Public Schools<\/a> until we can make more of our Public Schools<\/a> as good as they should be. Is it fair to stand back and not help the parents who want better for their children, but cant get it just because they cant afford it . Is it acceptable to have so many children from all income groups graduate from our high schools unprepared for college in the hightech economy they will enter. No it is not and that is why mr. Chairman, senator murray, members of the committee i hope youll come from betsy devos nomination to be secretary of education. Its in our National Interest<\/a> to give her a chance to change the status quo in our schools and secure a Better Future<\/a> for our country and for all of our children. Thank you very much. He makes another lieberman, thank you for coming back. Before i welcome mrs. Devos, that to welcome 97 letter says port for mrs. Devos for education secretary from a variety of school groups, former education secretarys, governors, business groups and others. This is devos. Thank you, chairman. Chairman alexander, Ranking Member<\/a> murray, senators, thank you for the opportunity to be with you this afternoon. Thank you, senator scott and lieberman for this very kind words of introduction. I honor and applaud your lifelong dedication to the success of our Nation Student<\/a> in your fine public service. I want to begin by thanking my family for their support. Many of them seated behind me here except for my five grandchildren, the oldest which is five, so its not advisable that they join us today. But i am very honored that president elect trump has asked me to join his team and im grateful for his dedication to education. If confirmed by the lord to working with him from a Vice President<\/a> elect pants and elect pants and all of you to bring Educational Opportunity<\/a> to every family in this great nation. While we may have differences, i think we can all agree that learning is a lifelong purse is a fundamental american virtue. We are blessed beyond measure with educators support themselves and then. The schools in which they were priced diverse as the students in which they educate. In fact, all of this year and our children have attended a mix of traditional publicly funded and private schools. This is a reflection of the diversity that is todays Public Education<\/a>. Growing up in holland, michigan i attended vocal Christian Schools<\/a> and then calvin college. The greatest educational influence on life as a Public School<\/a> teacher and also print. While her students called her mrs. Prance, to this day i just call her mom. When and i became parents, education took on a whole new meaning. We recognize that other parents are not able to make similar decisions about their childns education based on their income with a zip code in which they lived. When our oldest reach school age, we visited the Potters House<\/a>, Christian Schools<\/a> which served many low income families in my town. We saw the struggles and sacrifices many families face when trying to choose the best educational option for their children. For me, this is not just an issue of public aid, but of national injustice. I committed to do some thing about it and its become my lifes work. I applaud the great work of the Potters House<\/a> and its cofounder, john boyd who is here with us today. He and his team of teachers are doing a great job. But here is the sad reality. In the past 28 years, they need and demand for these other options have grown unabated. I share president elect trumps view that its to shift the debate from what the system thinks is best for kids to what moms and dads want, it didnt deserve. Parents no longer believe that a onesizefitsall model of learning needs to meet the need of every child and they know other options exist, whether magnetic virtue of, charter, home, faithbased or any other combination. Yet too many parents are denied access to the full range of options, choices that many of us here in the room have exercise for children. Why in 2017 army still questioning parents ability to exercise educational choice for their children . Im a Firm Believer<\/a> parents should be empowered to choose the learning environment thats best for each of their individual children. The vast majority of students in this country will continue to attend Public Schools<\/a>. If confirmed, i will be a strong advocate for great Public Schools<\/a>. But if the school is struggled or unsafe are not a good fit for a child, perhaps they have a special need that skill in unmatched. We should support a parents right to enroll their child in a highquality alternative. Its really pretty simple. Every child in america deserves to be in a safe environment is free from discrimination. Every student in america dreams of developing his or her unique talents and gifts. Every parent dreams of a future where children have access to schools with the rigor, challenges and safe environment to successfully prepare them for a brighter, more hopeful tomorrow and every teacher in america dreams of breaking free from standardization so that they can deploy their unique creativity and innovate with their students. Our nations schools are filled with talented devoted professionals who successfully meet the needs of many, many children. But even our best schools dont work for all. This is just the fault of teachers but a reality that all students are unique, learn differently and excel at their own pace. Students also flee new challenges today. In particular, High School Graduates<\/a> have increasing difficulty accessing affordable Higher Education<\/a>. Escalating tuition is pressing aspire to talented students out of college. Others are burdened with debts that will take years or decades payoff. Theres no magic wand to make the debt go away, but we do need to take action. It would be a mistake to shift the burden to struggling taxpayers without first addressing why tuition has gotten so high. For starters, we need to embrace new pathways of learning. For too long a College Degree<\/a> has been pushed as the only avenue or better guys. The border in a heavy model is not the only one that will lead to a prosperous future. Craftsmanship is not a fallback, but a noble pursuit. Students should make informed choices about what type of education they want to burst to Post High School<\/a> and have access to highquality options. President elect trump and i agree we need to support all post secondary avenues including trade and vocational schools and community colleges. On every one of these issues, congress will play a vital role. If confirmed as a forward to working with you to enact solutions that empower parents of students to provide quality actions and send tax dollars wisely. We will Work Together<\/a> to ensure that every Student Succeeds<\/a> at is implemented as congress intended with local communities free from burdensome regulations from washington. I look forward to working with congress and all stakeholders to reauthorize the Higher Education<\/a> act to College Students<\/a>. President elect trump and i know it wont be washington d. C. That unlocks our nations potential to menorah bigger bureaucracy, tougher mandates or federal agency. The answer is local control and listening to parents, students and teachers. For nearly three decades have been involved in education as a volunteer and advocate for children and a place for parents. I worked as a med School Mentor<\/a> for student that grand rapids Public Schools<\/a> and that the privilege of interacting students and families and teachers in ways that it changed my life in perspective about education forever. I work with governors, legislators and Business Community<\/a> leaders to expand Educational Opportunities<\/a> through options that are making a lifetime of difference for hundreds of thousands of kids this year allowed. And ive worked with many dedicated teachers who strive every day to house didnt achieve, fulfill potential and prepare them for the global challenges they will face. For me is simple. I trust parents and i believe in our children. Thank you again for the opportunity to appear before you. I look forward to answering your questions. Thank you, mrs. Devos. We began around a fiveminute questions. They will defer questions until later so well begin the senator and the end then to senator murray. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, mrs. Devos. I welcome you here in thank you for being linked to take on this kind of project to appear before us. I enjoyed our meeting last month and i look forward to working with you as we consider her nomination and after that, youre going to be dealing with a Great Variety<\/a> of states from high population to low population. I happen to come from the lowest population state. It has some special challenges in education, call of rural and frontier challenges. We dont allow a child to travel more than an hour by bus to her from school. As a result, we have some schools that have one or two students. A little different situation even envisioned with no child left behind. Im glad we changed it to tss today. The federal government quality 2017 report that wyoming is ranked number seven out of the fifth estate, in the area of financing education. The states are going to send economic suffering because of the obama administrations war on coal and fossil fuel working families that support those industries. They have some special problems. Part of them are submission with the applications and applicable reports have no bearing on what we are doing and thats important when we have the rural aspect as well as indian with the home of two tribes. Every Student Succeeds<\/a> to permit secretary to reduce reduce the departments work for his. But the return of Educational Authority<\/a> to the state and elimination of federal programs, its important the work force be reduced to ensure more educational funding is provided to the schools and not kept in washington. Also, im troubled by the Government Accountability<\/a> Office Report<\/a> issued in my request last november to show the cost projections for the income college loan program are tens of billions of dollars higher than the original estimates. Those estimates are based on data and accounting methods that were deeply flawed. Youll inherit that in the Current Department<\/a> of Education Data<\/a> like transparency that made other flawed assumptions. I was appalled. And then theres the career and technical education. I appreciate your emphasis in craftsmanship and i just saw the movie Hidden Figures<\/a> that introduce people to computers and the value of women in the work place and nasa to get them into space. When six of my schools dont participate because the low population has such a low amount of funding that it is not worth doing at that needs to change. That involves one of the most important job still have is the implementation of every Student Succeeds<\/a> acts. Im pleased with what you said. Can you talk about your plans in that process . Senator, thank you for that question. I too enjoyed meeting a year off to us. I particularly enjoyed hearing a little bit about this echelon is the schools at the Wapiti School<\/a> that has a grizzly bear fence surrounding it. I think that is a unique need to wyoming certainly. But certainly, rural schools and settings require different approaches and different options. And so, i referred to the every Student Succeeds<\/a> acts and the implementation of not and the wyoming plan will be particularly important to recognize the unique needs of the rural population that you have as well many of the other states represented here in the committee. When we think about the future, i think about the opportunity for more choices and options for those parent at a Distance Learning<\/a> type of a situation. The course choices are online courses can be offered in ways that they may not have been previously appeared at Willis Cabrera<\/a> and look forward to working with you as some of your other colleagues that faced the same types of challenges such as senator collins and senator murkowski and work with you to address the specific needs of Rural Communities<\/a> and high rural population states. Thank you. Look forward to working with you. Thank you, senator and see. Senator murray. Chairman, is your committee if you want thank you for the courtesy. Im going to go a little later. Ms. Devos, i am troubled by some of the comments in things he said about Public Education<\/a> and how you see the world the department youve been nominated to lead now. My first question for you is really yes or no. Do you believe that the mission of the department of education should be to strengthen Public Education<\/a> for all of our students . Yes, i do. And you commit to us tonight that she would not work to privatize Public Schools<\/a> are cutting single penny from Public Education<\/a> . Senator, thanks for that question. I look forward if confirmed to working with you to talk about how we address the needs of all parents and all students and we acknowledge today that not all schools are working for the students that are assigned to them. I am hopeful that we can Work Together<\/a> to find Common Ground<\/a> in ways that weekend of those issues and empower parents to make choices on behalf of their children that are right for them. I take that has not been willing to commit to not privatizing publics woes are cutting money from education. I guess i wouldnt characterize it in that way. Well, okay. Let me ask you about conflict of interest. President elect trump thinks he can resolve his financial conflict by having his family while in office. You think its okay for family members to profit off of comp you that are directly impacted by the decisions you will make if confirmed . No, i do not. We do know from press reports you and your family have invested in what you call the education industry. That includes investment in sophia, student loan to nk told inc. Which is a chain of her profit online Charter Schools<\/a>. He told the committee has severed ties of Family Businesses<\/a> if confirmed, but you also said you intend to return to these businesses owned by your family when you leave public service. So how is that different from president elect trumps arrangements . Anything that is deemed to be a conflict will not be, yes, it will not be a part of our interesting. Out of intended to convince this committee that no entity will feel pressure to purchase, partner or contract with corporate or nonprofit entities you and your family and festive and should you be confirmed as secretary . I can commit to you nobody will feel any pressure like that. As you know this committee has not received your required paperwork from the office of government ethics and they told me that cannot provide an assurance right now your conflict of interest have not been identifieanresolved by the office. So again will you be providing this committee with three years of tax returns that we requested . Senator, ive provided the committee with everything thats been requested and required of the committee. And, frankly, i am very proud of the team has been working very hard on my behalf to get all of this together, and i know the oge is working very hard to work through my and others confirmation processes as well as is the department. I am very hopeful we will get this resolved and to a point of resolution version. Since you do not have as work picnic, weve not had a chance to look at it, weve not had a chance know whether we have additional questions. Would you commit coming back before this committee once we have that from the oge so we can ask additional questions . I commit to making sure we have ethics, ethics agreement resolved and reached. I hope we have a chance, mr. Chairman, if we have questions to be able to follow up on that. I just have a few seconds left. You have vast wealth obviously and you have used it as you said yourself to influence the political system and elect candidates who support your ideological agenda. If you are confirmed i want to know if you believe its appropriate for you and your family to continued use of this wealth to pressure state, local, and federal candidates to support your agenda . Senator, if i am confirmed as you know i will not be involved in engaged in political contributions and my husband will not be either. Given much. I appreciate that. Thank you, senator murray. Senator burr has deferred to senator isakson. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thank you, ms. Devos, for a commitment to education everything you today. Congratulations on your nomination. Ive a statement and i would like to ask three questions in regard to that statement. This committee las established a task force on government regulation and 10559 specific burdensome regulations that engage Public Education<\/a> primarily Higher Education<\/a>. Of the 59 recommendations, 12 are totally at the offices of the sect of education. They can be invalidated and changed immediately. In 2015 senator bennet, senator king, booker, burr, alex and emma so enters the bill to some fun the burdensome enactment activation process families philip for federal Financial Aid<\/a> donors at the fsa. University of georgia and Emory University<\/a> georgia tech in my state have all said this is part of for them to move forward and sold by the process for teaching, getting back its the best education to my question is would you commit to working with our office to advance the recommendations of the task force on Higher Education<\/a> . Thanks for the question. I aware of this Task Force Report<\/a> and it sounds like the direction that its taken is very promising and if confirmed i look forward to working with you and the others who have been working on this to implement the things that are deemed appropriate to be done. Will you work with us and commit you will work with us to limit those items identified by the task force that the sector herself or himself currently has the authority to change . Meaning this will not be another report that goes on the shelf. You have my commitment on that. Will you work with this committee to simplified application for federal Financial Aid<\/a> known as fafsa for additional burden of aggravation families take on easier for students to apply to college . Indeed i will. I know thats been a very burdensome process and application. In fact, i recall chairman alexanders actually unfolding the entire length of it. Its a very long process and i would look forward to working with you. 104 questions can ever remember correctly. 104 question. The committee came up with a twopage, four question application that works just as well so its an important way to improve i dont think we should make a more difficult than absolutely necessary for students to further their education. Right answer. Is mr. Boyd here . He is indeed. Could you stand up . I just want to thank you for what you have done to show the leadership we need to help people who otherwise dont get any help, are not getting any help. You have done a great job with Potters House<\/a>. We have a number of georgian investment. Appreciate what youve done. Thank you. That brings me to this point. Senator murray was talking about privatizing schools and the importance of the lack of importance on Charter Schools<\/a> and the imports of protecting Public Education<\/a>. She talked about her goal and michael which we shared with each other. That is to work towards fouryearold prekindergarten mac prekindergarten for every student in the country. We did it in georgia. How we did in georgia was taking faithbased education fouryearold prekindergarten programs and private for your kid garden programs and private institutions to provide as the classes and the teachers to teach the curriculum in the new program. They enjoyed the show paid for by the state, delivered by a variety of private and Public Institutions<\/a> and entities. My point is if youre going to meet the challenge of the Public Education<\/a> today and have to depend on the resources that are available, you will never get what you want to go. If you get the private sector making an investment in Public Education<\/a> and have seen the standards that everyone commits to you can expand the opportunity of education, greatly expand accessibility to education and do it for using faithbased private and of the type institutions. Would you agree with that . I think its an interesting approach, and, that george is taken, and i think its summer to a float has done as well. And as he is as a act is limited i think it will be interesting for states to take a look at some other successful programs. I would also look forward to working with the other agencies that are involved with some of the preschool funding of head start and so forth, hhs, and see if theres ways to more effectively use those monies to help kids be ready for kindergarten when they reach kindergarten. My time is up. I want to knowledge in reading your testimony and talking to you in my office, i appreciate the recognition and nontraditional student of 25 years ago has become the traditional student of today. Not every kid lives and a cute pair of household, its been an academic and public are quick to come up with programs nesser to trade our kids to do the jobs of the 21st century in different ways all the time. Congratulations on your nomination. I yield back. Thank you, senator isakson. Senator sanders. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thanks for dropping into the office a few days ago. Ms. Devos, there is a growing fear i think in this country that we are moving toward what some call and oligarchic form of society, where a small number of very, very wealthy billionaires control a significant degree our economic and political life. Would you be so kind as to tell us how much money your family has contributed to the Republican Party<\/a> over the years . Senator, first of all, thank you for that question. I again was pleased to meet you in your office last week. I wish i could give you that number. I dont know. I have heard, the number was 200 million. Does that set in the ballpark . Collectively, my entire family, thats possible. My question is, and i dont mean to be rude, but do you think if youre not a multibillionaire, if your family had not made hundreds of millions of dollars in contributions to the Republican Party<\/a> that you would be sitting here today . Senator come as a matter fact i do think that there would be that possibility. Ive worked very hard on behalf of parents and children for the last almost 30 years to be a voice for parents, a voice for students and to empower parents to make decision on behalf of their children. Primarily low income children. Thank you. In your statement, youre prepared statement, you say quote student should make informed choices about what type of education they want to pursue Post High School<\/a>. Anat the exit highquality options. Some of us believe that we should make public colleges and University Tuition<\/a> free so that everything person in this country, regardless of income, does have that option. Thats not the case today. Will you work with me and others to make public colleges and University Tuition<\/a> free through federal and state efforts . Senator, i think thats a really interesting idea, and its really great to consider and think about but i think we also have to consider the fact that theres nothing in life thats truly free. Somebody is going to pay for it and so you are right, youre right. Somebody will pay for it but that takes us to another issue, and that is, if i may, and that is right now we have proposals in front of us to substantially lower tax breaks for billionaires in this country, while at the same time low income kids cant afford to go to college. Do you think that makes sense . Senator, if the question is really around how can we help college in Higher Education<\/a> more affordable for young people as they anticipate actually that wasnt my question. My question is should make public colleges and University Tuition<\/a> free so every family in america regardless of income will have the ability to have their kids get a Higher Education<\/a> . That was my question. I think we can Work Together<\/a> and we can work hard on making sure that college or Higher Education<\/a> in some form is affordable for all you and people that want to pursue it. I would look forward to that opportunity if confirmed. Would you agree with me that if there is a mom watching this hearing who makes 30, 40,000 a year, a, a single mom perhaps, the last debate 10 or 15,000 a year for child care for her daughter, that is a burden that is almost impossible to deal with . What are your proposals about making childcare universal for our working families . You have ideas on that . Do you agree with that i didnt . That certainly is a burden. And while i can understand the challenge that that faly, that that young mother would face in deciding how to best serve her childs needs, again i think if we are talking about the future of that child and their education, i would look forward to working with you. I know we have Common Ground<\/a> on a lot of things and we could find ways to Work Together<\/a> to ensure that that young moms child will have a great opportunity for a great education in the future. There are countries around the world which to provide universal, very inexpensive or free, childcare. Would you work with me in moving our government in that direction . Senator, again, i feel very strongly about the importance of young families having an opportunity for good child care for their children. Im not sure its not a question about that opportunity. Its a question, they often my republican friends talk about opportunity. Its not a question of opportunity is a question of being able to afford it. How do we help somebody who is making eight or nine bucks an hour at a time when we cant raise the minimum wage because of republican opposition, had we make sure those moms can get quality child care that they can afford . I would look forward to helping that wont get a quality education for their child or their children so that they could look forward to a bright and hopeful future. Thank you very much. Thank you, senator sanders. We are going next to senator hatch. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Certainly happy to have you here, ms. Devos, and i appreciate the abilities that you have exemplified, the work of your family, they care you have for education, the hard work that you have done. I have to say, very few people in his country could come close to what youve done. Let me just say i welcome you to the committee. Its a pleasure to be here today to consider your nomination to serve as secretary of education. I appreciate your commitment to expanding opportunities for all the children, and your tireless work in the field of education, your record of service is in line with utah values, especially your commitment to restoring local autonomy of our schools. Those closest to students know what is best for the education. The truth, your champion as a reformer. This demonstrates these values are not unique to you and me but instead shared by many of my colleagues who care for education as a reality. All i can say is many of selection for this position have worked very hard to try to make sure it could people serve in these positions, not just people of stereotypical education, but those might bring really new things to the forefront. Him all i can say is weve helped many of our colleagues, we have ushered in to this process on both sides of the floor, and i hope my colleagues will extend the same courtesy to you. I also believe in extending the president ial selections of the benefit of the doubt, recognizing, for example, that a persons views as a private citizen do not necessarily reflect their future actions as a holder of public office. From my private conversations with you, i trust that you will not have, but youre not force particular policies on states, unlike what some in education do. Your predecessors has done in some cases in violation of congressional intent. I also recognize that support of Parental Choice<\/a> for all students is not an attack on Public Education<\/a>. My children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren have attended Public Education<\/a> as a reality, and i had to say that they have attended the schools. And i believe that you share my commitment and ensuring that every child receives a quality education regardless of the type of school they attend. I spent my entire First Service<\/a> here fighting to make equity in education a reality. I believe that you will be an indispensable partner in this fight. I look forward to working with you on the priorities that are important to the people of utah, including increasing transparency, accountability and access to Higher Education<\/a>, as well as increasing innovation and evidencebased reforms. Unlike others here who may be interested in attacking your donations, i know you want to do right by all children so i will stick to focusing on how we can Work Together<\/a> on some policy. Right now the department of education does not have a uniform measure for describing where the borrowers are repaying their loans, according to the confusion, the department is using a different borrower repayment Rate Methodology<\/a> for each policy it comes up with. The uniform metric might prove tough on making Information Available<\/a> to congress. The Higher Education<\/a> community and the public has the success of former students in repaying their federal Student Loans<\/a> thats here this information could also tell us the extent to which Student Loan Repayment<\/a> rates vary across institutions. I believe students should have access to a wide variety of data when choosing a school, just like they would when choosing a car. Greater access to information related to wise decisionmaking when choosing that institution. Do you support increasing transparency, you know, transparency regarding loan results for students and parents to use when deciding on a post secondary school . Senator, thank you. Thank you for the question and your kind comments. I agree with you 100 100 that e issue of student debt and the amount of student debt, over 1. 3 trillion right now, up almost 1000 in the last eight years, its a very serious issue. And one which we all have to i think pay very close attention to and resolve in some way. And if confirmed i certainly will look for working with you and your colleagues on ways to get after this issue, the issue of the cost of education, as well as Debt Repayment<\/a> kind of go handinhand. I will look forward to working with you and your colleagues should i be confirmed. Thank you so much. I hope you will be confirmed. I think youll make a great secretary. Senator casey. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Put me on the record for asking a cigarette as well. Ms. Devos, its not under consideration but i will be glad to put you on record. We will keep trying. Ms. Devos, thank you for being here and appreciate you and your family being with us tonight. I wanted to start with the basic question. Would you agree with me that the problem, and thats an understatement in my judgment, that the problem of Sexual Assault<\/a> on College Campuses<\/a> is a significant problem that we should take action . Senator, thank you for the question. I agree with you that Sexual Assault<\/a> in any form or in any place is a problem. And no disement there. Speethe second question is would you uphold, let me give you a little background here that you might know. In 2011 the department of education issued guidance on title ix by this administration, the Current Administration<\/a> i ask you, would you uphold that 2011 title ix guidance as it relates to Sexual Assault<\/a> on campus . Senator, i know that theres a lot of conflicting ideas and opinions around that guidance. And if confirmed i would look forward to working with you and your colleagues to understand the range of opinions, and understand issues from the Higher Ed Institutions<\/a> that are charged with resolving these and addressing them. I would look forward to working together to find some resolution. I agree with the guidance, so im just asking for a yes or no. I guess you will not give me a yes or no answer on committed to upholding that guidance. It would be premature for me to do that today. This problem, to say its an epidemic i think is also an understatement. The centers for Disease Control<\/a> told his back in 2009 that one in five women are the victims Sexual Assault<\/a> on campus, yet a lot of those women who are in that one in five, have never have an opportunity or never report incidents. So its a major problem for women. In so many ways, it is the ultimate betrayal. Parents for generations have told their daughters study hard in school, get good grades. Because when you get good grades you might have an opportunity to go to college. And if you go to college the world is open to you. You can succeed by having Higher Education<\/a>. But too often it happens every year on many campuses around the country, too often a young womn is a victim, sometimes the first day she is there, the first week. And sometimes over the course of her first year. Her life is destroyed by that. We have a long way to go to addressing this problem. We took some good action on this issue as part of the violence against women act that it just happened to be my bill that got passed in to law, the socalled campus safe act. What we did for the first time say to colleges and universities, you have to do more than you are doing certainly on one broad topic of prevention and on awareness. So young men on the campus who were the perpetrators of this have to be par part of the solu. They have to be part of my stan education, a preventative strategy. But in addition to all kinds of transparency and requirements, this is what the act did for women, or for victims i should say, or victims of assault. Colleges and universities must provide clear statements regarding the procedures followed. They must do more than they have been doing when it comes to enforcement. And in particular with regard to victims it says, the college or University Must<\/a> indicate to the victim are right to notify law enforcement, should the victim choose to, that the obligation, the institution has obligation to help the victim reported the incident to law enforcement, including helping her get a protective order. Among other things that the school has to do. So thats what the law is now, based upon my bill. The fall of 2015, this this went into effect across the country. There is an Organization Called<\/a> the foundation for individual rights in education. They support a bill that would totally change that. They would force a victim to go to Police Departments<\/a> to report and they would change the standard of evidence. Would you commit as secretary of education, to retaining the standard of evidence as is currently the law . Senator, let me just say my moms heart is repeat on this issue. Assault any form is never okay, and i just want to be very clear on that. And so if confirmed, i look forward to understanding the past actions and the Current Situation<\/a> better, and to ensuring that the intent of the law is actually carried out in a way that, that recognizes both the victim, the rights of the victim, as well as those who are accused as well, and that the im out of time. The organization that has at that position, which is contrary to the law, current law, and contrary to the spirit of what we try to do in that piece of legislation is a recipient of donations from you totally about 25,000 box over four years. I hope, i hope thats not a conflict of interest but but ie that you would make a definitive commitment as a nominee to enforce the law as relates to Sexual Assault<\/a> on College Campuses<\/a>. I will send you more questions about it. Senator paul. Congratulations, ms, ms. Dev, and thanks for your testimony. I grew up and went to Public Schools<\/a> and got a great educatio big fan of Public Schools<\/a>. My kid to go to publ schools. There are also some publishers are not doing very well. The department of education says about half are not doing well, and half of the kids that are dropping out our kids of color. So i commend you for your work trying to help low income kids and try to help everybody get a better education. I think status quo just isnt really working. I have traveled a lot of schools and been amazed at some of the schools. I went to josephine and in chicago, Saint Anthonys<\/a> in milwaukee. Boys latin school in philadelphia and just amazing success stories. You see the success in front of you where 100 of the kids were going to college, just Amazing Stories<\/a> where 50, 40, 30 maybe other contemporaries in their community are going. So there are great successes i think we need to think about the kids. People get so caught up and i dont want any religious schools, private schools in all this. Its like look at the kids and look at the success. I thought maybe if you take a couple of minutes and tell us about some other things youve seen in michigan. Schools that youve either visited that are a success or just some of what you have seen that excited you about the potential that all these kids to have potential and we shouldnt leave them behind. Thank yothank you, senator. Thanks for the opportunity. I would love to talk about some of the schools and some individuals that i have seen benefit from the success of being able to choose the right educational setting. I only mention the Potters House<\/a> school and john who is here with us today. At the school i regular visit, the students there come from a multitude of different countries, speak many different languages and most of them are from very, very low income circumstances. Its just amazing to see the transformation that the students have been going through their Potters House<\/a> years. Theres another student here right behind the, Tanisha Meriwether<\/a> whom ive gotten to know the last few years, who is the recipient of a Tax Credit Scholarship Program<\/a> in the state of florida. The nation will tell you very promptly tanisha shivery troubled Early Childhood<\/a> in her grade school years. I think she was kicked out multiple times before her godmother actually finally found a school is going to work for her in the transformation was just almost overnight. She is the first family, the first in a family to have graduated high school. She graduated college and in may shes going to get her masters in social work degree. So shes just a tremendous example of what can happen when you get an opportunity to go to the right school. Nidisar is also here and her mom took her, emigrated from peru because of the opportunity she knew she would have a much greater opportunity to succeed and thrive. And so nidia has been the beneficiary of a Tax Credit Scholarship Program<\/a> in arizona, and she is now in college and pursuing Higher Education<\/a> there. Those are two students. There are many schools i see that are doing amazing things. Actually try new and innovative ways of approaching education for children. And one of them i would love to make is called Action Academy<\/a> and its truly a unique model in that it is totally student directed. They form their own constitution and there is no teacher in the classroom. Theres just a coach or a guide, and the guide cannot answer questions. They can only pose a question back to the students. The results from this academy are simply amazing. The school is actually proliferating pretty rapidly throughout the country. Those are just a few examples, but i could give you dozens more spirit putting a face on it, beating the skit in thing they will succeed and looking him in the eye and knowing these young ladies will succeed is an amazing thing. For those of this philosophic catered for vouchers at School Choice<\/a>, watch the movie waiting for superman and see the mom with tears down her face is child got a lottery and one to get in a good school. And the one who didnt get in. Senator alexander and i went to a Charter School<\/a> in natural and we met a woman there. She got a full scholarship to boston college. Here we are, we like to talk to the media. Methe media didnt want to talko us. I wanted to talk to this young lady because she was an amazing Success Story<\/a> but i wish you best of luck. Thank you. Thank you. Senator franken. Yes. Im a member of the minnesota dfl party, the party that the chairman invoked at the beginning of this hearing. Charter schools are not the issue here. Minnesota is thoroughly in the mainstream. There are 37 states in this country that, constitutionally, prohibit the use of Public School<\/a> money for religious schools. So it is a dfl party in minnesota, thank you very much, thathat is in the mainstream, ad not our witness or the chairman. Senator Lieberman Minchin<\/a> proficiency and it just reminded me of this. When i first got in the senate, 2009, i had a roundtable principles and one of the principals in minnesota, and he said we think of the nco be tested as autopsies. I knew exactly what he meant. What he was saying was the students take the test and late april, if theyre lucky to get them back in late june. That teachers cant use the results to inform their instruction. So i saw that minnesota, in addition to the nco be test a lot of schools, but you do schools were a computer adaptive test. A computer test you get the results right away and adapted so that you can measure level. This brings me to the issue of proficiency, which the center cited versus growth. I would like your views on the relative advantage of measuring, doing assessments and using them to measure proficiency or to measure growth. Thank you for that question. I think if im understanding your question correctly around proficiency, i would also correlate it to competency and mastery so that you, each student is measured according to the advancement o they are makig in the subject area. Thats growth. Thats not proficiency. So in other words, the growth they are making is in growth. The proficiency is the arbitrary standard the proficiency is come if they reach like thirdgrade level for reading, et cetera. Spirit no, im talking about the debate between privations and growth, what your thoughts are on that. Well, i was just asking to clarify then this is a subject that has been debated in the Education Community<\/a> for years. And ive advocated growth, mr. Chairman, and every member of this committee knows, because with proficiency looking back teachers ignore the kids at the top who are not going to fall below proficiency, and they ignore the kid at the bottom who, no matter what they do, well ever get to proficiency. So ive been an advocate of growth. But it surprised me that you dont know this issue. And, thank you i think this is a good reason for us to have more questions. Because this is and mr. Chairman this is a very important subject, our kids education and i think we are selling our kids short by not being able to have a debate on it. And i did know of any rule about this, everyone gets one question and then one other syndicates a question. I dont know where that girl comes from. Ill tell you what comes from. It comes from the Committee President<\/a> and the way we treated president obama nominees john king and the way we treated arne duncan and what i was treated when i was a secretary. But i am applying the same rules to them, to secretary, or to trade for i think were selling our kids short by not being able to ask followup questions and i was kind of surprised, well, im not that surprised that you did not know this issue. Ms. Devos, your family has a long history of supporting at the lgbt causes including donating millions to groups that push conversion therapy, the practice tried to change someones Sexual Orientation<\/a> or gender identity. For example, you and your family have given over 10 million a focus on the family and organization the currently states on its website that quote homosexual strugglers cant and do change their sexual behavior and identity. Ms. Devos, convergent therapy has been widely discredited and rejected for decades by every mainstream medical and Mental Health<\/a> organization as needed medically or ethically appropriate. It has been shown to lead to depression, excited, drug use, homelessness and suicide, particularly in lgbt youth. In fact many of the leaders and founder of conversion therapy including both religious ministries and Mental Health<\/a> professionals have normally publicly renounced it but have issued formal apologies for the work and how horrible it has been to the individuals involved. Mr. Chairman, i would ask this be included in the record. It will be. Ms. Devos, do you still believe in conversion therapy . Senator franken, ive never believed in that. First of all let me say, i fully embrace equality, and i believe in the innate value of every single human being, and that all students, no matter their age, should be able to attend a school and feel safe and be free of discrimination. So lets start there. And let me just say that your characterization of contributions, i dont think accurately reflect those of my family. I dont, i would hope that you wouldnt include other family members beyond my core family. In terms of phone numbers around, you said student debt has increased by 1000 since . 980 in eight years. Im sorry . 980 spin thats just not so. Its increased 118 in the past eight years. So im just asking them if youre challenging my figures, i would ask that you get your figures straight about education policy, and thats why we want more questions. Because we want to know if this person that we are entrusting comp may entrust to be the secretary of education, if she has the breadth and depth of knowledge that we would expect from someone who has been that important, that important job. Thank you spin into senator franken. I had as many disagreements with the secretary king as you apparently do with ms. Devos, and we are treating her exactly the same way that we treated him. And i think thats what i would call the golden rule. Spewing i did not hear one member of the committee asked to ask more questions, and here, virtually every member of the minority is asking to ask more questions. And thats a very substantial difference. We have, because youve got a nominee of the Republican Party<\/a>. We are not going to treat a republican nominee different that we treated the democratic nominee. Weve had the same situation with both of president obama is nominees. So well go to our next mr. Chairman, i do want to put in the record that Michael Leavitt<\/a> had two rounds spew Michael Leavitt<\/a> was never the education secretary spin roche page under bush had two rounds. There is precedent. Spin i appreciate that and i appreciate your saying that im trying to be fair by treating ms. Devos in the same way we treat a bolt of president obama is education nominees. We will go next year senator cassidy. Ms. Devos, thanks. Enjoyed our meeting and anticipation of this. Im really struckthe kind of reaction your nomination has a listen. So let just ask some questions. Do you support Public Education<\/a> . Absolutely. Man, thats amazing. You would think so would have us think that you do not. Do you believe that all children, all children deserve to have the opportunity to receive quality education . Absolutely ideal. Do you support the rights of all children regardless of income or race this means a lot to me, this next one, to the option to choose a school that meets their childs needs . Absolutely ideal and i i commend you and your wife for the school that you started that specifically focused on dyslexic students. By the way, my son was very bright, graduated from speaking of dyslexia, graduate from an innercity school, Public School<\/a> and then graduate with honors from something to school in the northeast. My daughter who has dyslexia, we are able to pay the tuition so she can have her means address. It matters very much to me that a parent regardless of their income can get her childs needs a dress, so thank you for doing that. Just a few more. You support the belief in decisions affecting our childrens education are best left to the states and the locals to decide to allow them to tailor the education policies and programs that best meet the needs of their students . I do indeed. Oh, my gosh. Do you believe this is an opportunity to advance your personal education views and agenda . Not mine personally. Im going to hopefully be able to advance this present it lacks and also the views of many, many parents nationally. As decorative education is it your intention to undermine our nations Public Education<\/a> system . Not at all. Will you carry out the implementation of federal education law in a way that reflects the very letter and intent of the law . Indeed. Do you intend demanded direct, coerced or or control any state, local School District<\/a> or school on any Education Program<\/a> that is specifically prohibited by the secretary and federal law one such example being, cork . No. Do you intend to mandate, direct course or control any state local School District<\/a> or school to require School Choice<\/a> policies including private School Vouchers<\/a> or scholarships . No. Lets just clear that for the record. Next, she mentioned dyslexia ear i am passionate about it. 20 of us are dyslexic. 20 . Im told one out of four children of color by age four reads substantially by fourth grade can read substantially below grade level. Thats important because we learn to read and then we learn to read if youre not learn to read your behind a ball. That is an issue im passionate about. As secretary of education will you commit to working with me and others to find common ways to promote better awareness and understanding of dyslexia and commit to working with me to develop better federal education policies to ensure that dyslexic children, all student with the differences have the resources they need . I would look forward to that opportunity, senator. You may not agree or not, what you commit to working with me to develop new Public Policy<\/a> that will ensure the early screening for dyslexia in school are universal screenings for all students in school, to ensure any learning differences differences or diagnose early and that the appropriate services are provided to students . I would look for to explain that with you to see whether thats a federal or whether thats best left to the states but i would look forward to that opportunity. That is a fair answer the eye the couple more i could ask but this meeting is going long. I will thank you for your answers and i will yield back. Thank you, senator. The senate about to gavel and as political reports this month on the comments of one senator in particular, john mccain. And his reaction to present trumps decision to back out of the tpp. Senator mccain telling cbs is concerned it will consign the asiapacific region to china citing chinas significant economic role with 60 of the worlds economy in the asiapacific region and the u. S. Is stepping back. Senator mccain says hes talked to leaders of Asian Countries<\/a> have said this will cede the field to china and that he continues, this is not good for the u. S. Senator mccain and other lawmakers about to meet on the senate floor for general speeches with the date and votes on present trumps nominations possible this afternoon. The senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Barry black, will lead the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. 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