Charleston Leader

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), held a hearing to review the president’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Budget Request for the U.S. Department of Education.

Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) expressed her thoughts during the hearing, highlighting various concerns and priorities related to education funding and policies. Capito commended the bipartisan efforts in the past and emphasized the importance of collaboration in addressing the challenges ahead.

She raised issues regarding the proposed budget for fiscal year 2025, particularly focusing on the need for responsible spending and prioritizing programs that ensure a high-quality education for all students. Capito expressed apprehension towards new mandatory spending proposals and emphasized the importance of adhering to the Fiscal Responsibility Act.

Capito also addressed the concerning trends in K-12 education, citing increased chronic absenteeism and declining test scores. She advocated for federal education spending that supports programs like Title one, IDEA, and Career and Technical Education grants, which empower local communities to cater to their students’ needs effectively.

Furthermore, Capito criticized the budget's reduction in funding for the Charter School Program and questioned the substantial increase in funding for the Office of Federal Student Aid. She highlighted the challenges faced by students due to the flawed implementation of the FAFSA Simplification Act, leading to a significant decrease in FAFSA completions.

The Senator from West Virginia expressed her disappointment with the delayed information provided to colleges for aid packaging, impacting students' ability to make informed decisions about their higher education choices. Capito urged the Department of Education to prioritize resolving these issues to ensure a smoother FAFSA cycle in the future.

In conclusion, Capito called for the abandonment of certain impending regulations that could adversely affect students and emphasized the need to protect Jewish students from discrimination on college campuses. She underscored the significance of addressing these critical issues promptly and thanked Secretary Cardona for his presence at the hearing.