U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, led a hearing with U.S. Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon to discuss the President’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request.
In her opening statement, Capito expressed gratitude to Secretary McMahon for attending and highlighted the importance of education in providing life-changing opportunities. “All Americans should have the opportunity to receive a high-quality education from pre-school through postsecondary education,” she stated.
Capito emphasized the need for federal education spending to focus on ensuring basic literacy skills among American children. She noted that despite nearly $190 billion in COVID relief funding for elementary and secondary education during the pandemic, student achievement levels remain concerningly low. “A third of 8th graders are not even reading at a basic level. This is unacceptable,” she remarked.
The senator also praised the proposed increase in funding for charter schools within McMahon’s budget plan. She cited West Virginia’s WIN Academy as an example of successful charter school initiatives that offer innovative learning opportunities.
Capito addressed challenges faced by student loan borrowers due to previous administrative policies and stressed the importance of clear communication from the Department of Education regarding repayment processes. “Student loan borrowers deserve that clarity in order to fulfill their obligations to repay their loans,” she said.
The hearing marks an initial step towards returning appropriations processes to regular order as lawmakers deliberate on fiscal allocations aimed at enhancing educational outcomes nationwide.
