Speaking Truth to Power: Standing Up for Public Schools and Students in Congress
A message from ELC Executive Director Bob Kim
Dear Friend,
Last week I was in Washington, D.C. testifying before the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the federal education budget. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) invited me to make the case for much-needed federal support for public education, in contrast to the goals of Republican committee members and their panelists.
Honestly, I felt pretty lonely sitting in that hearing room.
Next to me at the witness table was the author of the Project 2025 section on education, including the plan to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. Next to her was an advocate for funding private schools with public dollars. The subcommittee’s chairman opened the hearing by asserting that America’s teachers and administrators are “too focused on social justice issues that schools were never meant to address.” Needless to say, I didn’t agree.
This video shares a few of the comments I made during my testimony:
My visit to Capitol Hill made clear that the Trump White House isn’t the only threat to public education. Republicans in Congress are ready to eliminate the Department of Education and drastically decrease federal investment in our public schools. The night before I testified, they set a goal to cut education funding by $330 billion over the next 10 years.
We can’t allow our government to back away from our public schools that welcome and serve all students.
Education Law Center and our allies are fighting back. With your support, we can protect students’ rights, advance equity, promote racial justice, and preserve and strengthen public education.
Please make a donation to ELC today to support our vital work in the courts, in policy advocacy, in important research, and in communities across the nation.
In solidarity,
Bob Kim
Executive Director, Education Law Center
P.S. If you would like more information about my experience in Washington and/or the work ELC is doing to support public education, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Press Contact:
Sharon Krengel
Director of Policy, Strategic Partnerships and Communications
skrengel@edlawcenter.org
973-624-1815, x240