- Title: Tempers flare as Democrats grill DeVos on Trump budget
- Date: 24th May 2017
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., (MAY 24, 2017) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) BACK SHOT OF SECRETARY OF EDUCATION BETSY DEVOS TESTIFYING BEFORE A HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY OF EDUCATION BETSY DEVOS, SAYING: "I look forward to talking about how we can work together to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for all students, while also refocusing the federal role in education." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC REP. MARK POCAN OF WISCONSIN, SAYING: "So the question is, would you send your children to a school with 93 percent...." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY OF EDUCATION BETSY DEVOS, SAYING: "28,000 students in the city of Milwaukee are being sent there...." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC REP. MARK POCAN OF WISCONSIN, SAYING: "So let me if I can, Madam Secretary, if I can take my time back if you are not going to answer the question, let me ask a different question that you might be willing to answer." (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY OF EDUCATION BETSY DEVOS, SAYING: "States and local communities are best equipped to make these decisions and framework on behalf...." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC REP. KATHERINE CLARK OF MASSACHUSETTS, SAYING: "I am shocked that you cannot come up with one example of discrimination that you would stand up for students." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC REP. BARBARA LEE OF CALIFORNIA, SAYING: "You are leveling out preschool development grants. I mean not leveling, you are cutting them. You are eliminating them. You are eliminating Special Olympics, 12.6 million dollars, you are just wiping out Special Olympics for disabled students. For the life of me, I gotta understand what you thinking is about this budget, and low income students, vulnerable students, minority students, students who really deserve a shot at a good quality public education." DEVOS SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC REP. BARBARA LEE OF CALIFORNIA, SAYING: "So you are not eliminating it? Or you are eliminating it? You're not?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY OF EDUCATION BETSY DEVOS, SAYING: "The figures in the budget that we are working from were all put together prior to the Omnibus..." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC REP. BARBARA LEE OF CALIFORNIA, SAYING: "So you are going to restore the 7.5 million in the strengthening masters degree program?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) SECRETARY OF EDUCATION BETSY DEVOS, SAYING: "That is something that will be up to Congress to decide how to handle that anomaly." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC REP. BARBARA LEE OF CALIFORNIA, SAYING: "So you are cutting it." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC REP. ROSA LUISA DELAURO OF CONNECTICUT, SAYING: "If we are going to have a robust conversation about education, lets put the facts on the table and go from there. This is a budget, and I characterized it Mr. Chairman in the Ag Appropriations Committee this morning: It is cruel, it is inhumane, and it is heartless. A 9.2 billion dollar cut to education. And the fact of the matter is when my colleague talked about -- there's 10 percent -- there's less money going high poverty areas. The teachers are more likely to be novices in these places. Those undeserved areas are going to be hurt. None of us in here are going to be hurt. We are going to be fine. Our kids and our grand kids are going to be ok. But, millions of kids around this country are going to suffer what has been done to a 9.2 billion cut to our education programs, which is supposed to serve our youngsters, make sure they have a good future and a bright future. And I am going to fight this budget Mr. Chairman with every fiber of my body because it is wrong to do this to our kids." (SOUNDBITE) (English) REPUBLICAN REP. TOM COLE OF OKLAHOMA, SAYING: "I have no doubt." DEVOS LEAVING HEARING
- Embargoed: 7th June 2017 18:50
- Keywords: Trump Administration Trump Secretary of Education DeVos
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C, UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016I798X1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: There were a series of testy exchanges as Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos appeared before a House appropriations subcommittee Wednesday (May 24) where she refused to say whether she would block private schools that discriminate against LGBT rights from receiving federal money.
The Washington Post reported the Trump budget would cut 10.6 billion from federal education initiatives, including after-school programs. The proposals also reportedly includes $250 million for vouchers to help students attend private and religious schools. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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