Each and every student deserves the best education possible so they can look with hope to the future ahead of them. Congress has increased funding for primary, secondary and higher education every year that I have served in the House, and we need to continue to make every effort to adequately fund public education at all levels. But we must realize that simply spending more money will not by itself bring about the changes in education we need. 

Students often have non-academic needs that must be met in order to succeed in the classroom. That’s why I have decided to cosponsor the Reducing Barriers to Learning Act. This legislation would create a grant program for State Education Agencies to develop programs that give students access to services that address their physical and emotional safety and wellbeing. Once these needs are met, students can focus on learning.