Education
Priorities
On the Right Committees
Senator Murray has fought to get on the right committees to influence
our nation’s education policy. Murray is one of only four out
of 535 members of Congress with direct committee authority over both
education policy and education funding. That makes her a national leader
in education.
HELP Committee (Health, Education, Labor & Pensions)
The HELP Committee sets our nation’s education policy on everything
from early childhood development to higher education and lifelong learning.
This committee handles issues from standards and accountability to child
care, special education, teacher quality, class size and financial aid.
In 2001, the HELP Committee updated the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act (ESEA). The resulting law, called the No Child Left Behind Act of
2001, is currently being implemented in schools throughout the country.
This year the HELP Committee is scheduled to reauthorize Head Start,
the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, the Perkins Vocational
and Technical Education Act and the Higher Education Act, among others.
Budget Committee
Each year, the Budget Committee decides how much money will be set
aside for major government functions from education and housing to defense.
The Committee develops a budget blueprint, known as the “Budget
Resolution.” In FY 2005, the Senate Budget Resolution provided
$4 billion less than the Senate passed level in 2004. Senator Murray
will continue to offer amendments to the budget to fully fund NCLB and
IDEA.
Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education and Related
Agencies
Once the Budget Committee has decided how much money will go to education,
this appropriations subcommittee decides how all education funding will
be allocated among different programs and functions. This subcommittee
sets the specific funding levels for all education programs in the Labor,
HHS, Education and Related Agencies bill.
.....................................................................................
Priorities for the 109th Congress
-
Provide full funding to help local schools carry
out the No Child Left Behind Act and mandatory
full funding for special education (IDEA).
-
Oversee the Implementation of the No Child Left Behind
Act – Senator Murray will ensure that the Department
of Education is providing states, districts, and schools with the
information and flexibility they need to implement the law. By attending
hearings of the Appropriations and HELP Committees, visiting schools,
and meeting with local educators, Senator Murray will work to ensure
the new law isn’t punishing students, but helping them succeed.
-
Improve Special Education - This year Congress
is reauthorizing the Higher Education Act, which covers Pell Grants,
student loans, work study and more. Senator Murray wants Pell Grants
to ensure all students have the support they need to attend college.
Senator Murray also wants to ensure that there is accountability
and fairness in the student loan system. To do so, she will work
to ensure that excess subsidies to banks are eliminated and funds
are returned to students pockets. Murray herself relied on Pell
Grants and student loans to attend Washington State University,
so she appreciates the importance of financial aid.
-
Expand and Improve Early Childhood Education
- This year, Congress is updating both the Child Care Development
Block Grant (CCDBG) and the Head Start program. Murray wants to
improve the quality of child care and help more kids access Head
Start. She has taken a leading role in protecting Head Start from
the block grant proposed by the Bush Administration. Senator Murray
believes that high quality early education efforts can help all
kids start school ready to succeed. In addition, Senator Murray
will continue her work on the Early Care and Education Act, which
she helped write and introduce in 2002.
-
Improve the Quality of Career and Technical Education
- As Congress updates the Perkins Vocational and Technical Education
Act, Senator Murray will work to ensure that students who receive
career and technical training also get a high-quality, well-rounded
high school education and that strong links are maintained with
community college programs. Senator Murray is fighting to protect
the Perkins Act from the Bush Administration’s effort to gut
this law.
-
Improve America’s High Schools - To do this
the nation needs comprehensive high school reform. We know what
our kids need to succeed: reading and math skills, access to academic
counseling, and targeted funding and resources necessary help turn
around low-performing schools. In addition to working toward passage
of the Pathways