Congressman David G. Valadao was born and raised in Hanford, California in the center of the agriculturally rich Twenty-First Congressional District. As a lifelong resident of the Central Valley, he has been active in agriculture and dairy industry groups, as well as many local charities.
I believe education is the pathway to success and everyone should have access to the tools they need to accomplish their goals. Quality education is a key to solving many of our nation’s problems, ranging from high unemployment rates to out of control government spending.
One of my priorities in Congress is ensuring our nation’s youth receive a quality education. Regardless of race, religion, income level, age, or learning ability - everyone should have access to a strong education. For this reason, I will support legislation to make education more affordable and comprehensive at all levels.
The “one-size-fits-all” approach to education often favored by Washington, D.C. bureaucrats only interferes with our local schools. The United States must cut the red-tape tying the hands of local educators. Parents and educators should have the resources and flexibility available to implement individualized K-12 educational strategies that meet the needs of their community and ensure a high-quality educational experience for every student.
In 2015, with my support, Congress passed and the President signed into law, S. 1177, the Every Student Succeeds Act, the reauthorization of the ESEA. The legislation reauthorizes and amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to address accountability as well as testing and grant requirements. It also increases flexibility and reinstates local control for our nation’s schools and educators.
Congress has an important role in ensuring students have the opportunity to achieve their higher education goals. As you may know, the Higher Education Act, which was originally passed in 1965, authorizes the federal government to administer federal student aid programs. It is important that Congress works together to ensure these programs are reauthorized and adequately funded.
H.R. 3594, the Higher Education Extension Act of 2015, passed the House of Representatives, with my support, and was signed into law. The bill provides a two-year extension of higher education programs, such as the Perkins Loan Program. While it is important for Congress to ensure the timely reauthorization of these vital programs, this extension allows the committees of jurisdiction in the House and Senate to continue to develop higher education reforms that will benefit students long-term.
Education is the pathway to success and I believe everyone should have access to the tools they need to accomplish their goals.