Education is the key to freedom. For 40 years, I served as an educator, mentor, and coach. I saw firsthand how a good education can change the course of a student’s life, regardless of their race, religion, or economic circumstances. But, K-12 education in the U.S. is stagnating: as of the most recent data, we’re 26th in the world in math and 6th in reading. Unfortunately, the COVID lockdowns nationwide caused many students to fall behind – two-thirds of U.S. children are unable to read with proficiency. That’s simply not good enough for the most powerful country in the world.
As the Chairman for the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) subcommittee on Education and the American Family, I am laser-focused on creating more high-quality education options for students that fit their unique needs and unlock their God-given potential, rather than forcing everyone into a one-size-fits-all system. This is why I’ve consistently advocated for school choice during my time in the U.S. Senate.
We also need to get rid of woke gender ideology, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and Critical Race Theory (CRT) curriculum that has infected our schools. Children should be able to go to school and learn to read, write, and think for themselves—not be indoctrinated by a left-wing agenda. President Trump made it clear on day one in office that there are two genders—male and female—and divisive, racist DEI ideology has no place in America.
On the higher education side, our country needs to do a much better job of preparing students to enter the workforce. That starts by recognizing not everyone needs to attend a traditional four-year college, but everyone has the right to such an opportunity. Career and technical education programs like dual enrollment, apprenticeships, and short-term certifications should be recognized as the respectable paths for opportunity that they are, not treated as second-rate.
I will continue to advocate for workforce development as a means of increasing opportunities and spurring economic growth. I’m committed to working with my colleagues to promote and invest in the educational programs that will open up the doors of opportunity and equip students with the skills they need to succeed in 21st-century jobs.
Improving education is so important to me that I made it the topic of my very first speech in the U.S. Senate. In my speech, I highlighted my desire to focus on educational opportunities for all students and how we can ensure students are set up for success in and out of the classroom. WATCH
School choice ensures all students have access to the same educational opportunities, regardless of their zip code. That is why I have taken action while serving on the HELP Committee to expand school choice for students.
Mental health is a huge challenge facing many of our students. Challenges can also arise for students who choose less traditional educational routes, such as trade school or specialized technician programs. I have pushed to recognize the benefits of nontraditional programs that provide good-paying jobs for those who don’t want to attend a four-year institution.
Since I got to Washington, workforce development has been one of my top priorities. We need to make sure our workforce is able to keep up with the rapidly changing technology landscape. A rising tide lifts all boats and I want to make sure every Alabamian has the necessary tools to find a meaningful, well-paying job.
Students attend school to be taught “how” to think, not “what” they should think. Taxpayer dollars should not go toward funding divisive curriculum in classrooms that teaches students to hate our country. This is why I have pushed back against the left’s attempts to force biased and divisive agendas on our students. Our teachers should be focused on education, not woke indoctrination.
More and more of our young people are finding themselves buried in student loan debt. As a result, too many of our young people are falling behind on their life goals, like buying a house or starting a family. Over my last 15 years in coaching, I saw tuition costs explode for students across America.
Last year, I introduced the No Bailouts for Campus Criminals Act, legislation preventing any pro-Hamas protestor on college campuses convicted of a crime from having their student loans forgiven. The bill comes after widespread, antisemitic protests continue to spread on college campuses across the United States.
During the 118th Congress, I led the introduction of legislation to fight rising tuition costs by capping federal student loans for graduate education. The Graduate Opportunity and Affordable Loans (GOAL) Act reinstitutes a limit on the amount in graduate PLUS loans that can be taken out by a single student. My colleagues and I held a press conference to give more details about the bill.
