Education

Washington politicians have failed young Americans by allowing a broken system of higher education to persist and trap millions in student loan debt. We need to stop kicking the can down the road and reform how we fund our higher education system. A part of this reform can include a certain amount of debt forgiveness and full forgiveness for those that were misled by for profit colleges. In Washington DC, I’ll be champion to make sure that every American has the opportunity to get a college degree without taking on debt.

Education is the bedrock of opportunity in this country. It is the tool we give the next generation in order to succeed and move our country forward. That is why it is imperative we invest more in our public schools.

Growing up in Central New York, I benefited from attending  a strong public school. This foundational education created opportunity and opened doors. It gave me the opportunity to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, another public institution. I received my MBA using the GI Bill at the University of Maryland, also a public institution. Throughout my life, America invested in my future. This investment, and the public schools I attended, were critical to my success as a military officer and as a citizen. I used what I learned to lead and think critically as I was defending this country at home and abroad, from my time in Iraq to my time at the Pentagon. 

All Central New Yorkers deserve access to high quality education. Yet across Central New York, significant education disparities still exist solely based on where our children live. The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the inequities of race, disability, and income within our educational system and our educators, parents, and children alike confronted one of the most challenging times in our history. 

We need to ensure that every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential and achieve the American Dream. As your representative, I pledge to do just that.

Proposals:

Invest in 21st century education

• Boost federal support for STEM education
• Ensure that those who do not wish to continue to college are prepared for a good a career
  • Expand investments in career and technical education programs
  • Provide work-based learning opportunities in high school
  • Invest more in apprenticeships and vocational schools
• Give teachers and students the training and technology needed for remote learning programs
• Expand broadband internet access to ensure all children can continue to learn outside of school
• Invest in school infrastructure and construction so that all students have a safe, healthy environment in which they can learn

Invest in affordability

• Make community college tuition free
• Increase Pell Grant eligibility
• Extend the Federal Perkins Loan Program to increase predictability for those receiving low-interest loans
• Allow those with student debt to refinance those loans at lower interest rates, like a mortgage
• Bolster college and career counseling services that support access and completion, especially for students in underserved schools
• Help post-secondary institutions provide support services such as transportation and child care services, increase access to Adult Basic Education to put adults on a path to obtain a two or four year degree, and make it easier for colleges to offer additional courses for mandatory classes and for students to complete three-year degree programs
• Invest more in expanding the GI Bill and additional national public service programs

Invest more in underserved schools

• Increase Head Start programs to support childhood development
• Boost Title I program funding to support schools with a high number of students from low-income families
• Increase investment and focus on vocational schooling
• Fully fund mental health and social services