The United States Congress created the U.S. Department of Education for very good reason.  And for millions of families, particularly those raising children with disabilities or living in low-income communities, the Department’s core offices are not discretionary functions. They are foundational. They safeguard civil rights, expand opportunity, and ensure that every child, in every community, has the chance to learn, grow, and succeed on equal footing.

Working alongside our early childhood educators, local school partners, and disability advocates as Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Disability Caucus, I’ve seen exactly how essential these programs are. Altering them without transparency or congressional oversight would pose real risks to the very students they were created to protect.  I will not allow it — and I urge all of my colleagues to stand with me.  

We can, and must, always strive to strengthen how the Department serves our children. But we cannot allow any action that weakens the safeguards, services, or opportunities that families across this country depend on.

My commitment has always been—and will remain—to put our students first and ensure that the protections they rely on are strengthened—and never weakened.