Rep. Susie Lee: “Investment in education should be our national priority”
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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Susie Lee (Nev.-03) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives in support of public education and in commemoration of Public Schools Week. On Tuesday this week, Rep. Lee met with the Miller Middle School 8th Grade class during their trip to Washington, D.C. from Nevada's 3rd District.
Rep. Lee addressed her colleagues on the House floor:
Thank you Mr. Speaker. Today, I am here on behalf of the people of Nevada's third district, I rise to recognize the Miller Middle School 8th Grade Class with whom I met earlier this week on their trip to Washington. And the timing couldn't be better since it's Public School Week.
We talked about topics like STEM education to encouraging creativity in the classroom. They had some terrific questions, but one really stuck out.
One student asked: "Is investing in public education really worth it?"
It's a tough question, a fair question, especially coming from a Clark County student.
But the answer, for me, is overwhelmingly, undoubtedly: yes.
I just had to look around the room and see each of those students, whether they came from different backgrounds, having access to education.
And the answer is not just about investing, but about if we invest in public education as the national priority that it should be.
In a time when public schools are being called upon to help kids well beyond the classroom, investment in education should be our national priority.
BACKGROUND: In April 2019, Rep. Lee and U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the Keep Our Promise to America's Children and Teachers (PACT) Act, which would put Congress on a fiscally-responsible path to meet its obligation to fully fund Title I and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) on a mandatory basis over the next 10 years.
Between 2005-2017, Title 1 in Nevada was underfunded by over $2.2 billion. Over the same period, IDEA funding in Nevada was shorted about $2 billion.
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