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WASHINGTON—Today, US Senator Bill Cassidy, MD (R-LA) voted to approve Betsy DeVos as the next Secretary of the Department of Education.
“As a candidate and an elected official, I have made clear my commitment to taking power away from our nation’s capital and returning it to the kitchen table, believing that parents are better suited to decide what is best for their children than a Washington bureaucrat. Supporting school choice and making sure that all children have access to quality education have been top priorities,” said Dr. Cassidy. “The business as usual mentality of our education system is failing our students. Throughout this process, Secretary DeVos has made it clear that she will be an agent of change to improve our schools and children’s future.”
Dr. Cassidy submitted the following statement to the record of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I support the nomination of Mrs. Betsy DeVos to be the US Secretary of Education. I, too, am a strong supporter of parents having an educational choice for their children. Mrs. DeVos has spent decades advocating for school choice reforms and helping underserved children gain access to a quality education. Her dedication to expanding educational opportunities for all children — especially low-income children — is a testament to her character and commitment to helping all children have a better start in life. I firmly believe that every child deserves a high-quality education. But across the country, millions of children remain trapped in schools that are failing or that do not meet their needs. Classrooms are not a one-size-fits-all. Children have different needs and parents must be able to decide what is best for their children, especially for children who have specific educational needs. My youngest daughter has dyslexia. When she was diagnosed her mother and I did extensive research to gain an understanding of what dyslexia is and how to proceed to get her the best resources she deserves. Unfortunately, those resources were not available in our area. Therefore, my wife started the Louisiana Key Academy, a public charter school that educates children with dyslexia. Like my daughter, all children should have access to the best tools and resources they need to succeed. Our children are our future, and all children, no matter what their background or needs, deserve to have a high-quality education. We must break down the barriers to educational choice. Parents must be empowered to choose the best education environment for their children. All children deserve to reach their full potential. Betsy DeVos firmly believes this too and will be an outstanding secretary of education. She is not a part of the status quo and does not believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to education. She is not a part of the problem. She is searching for the solution. Betsy DeVos wants to find ways to help all parents and children have what they need and deserve. Since the beginning of my career in public office, I have been a strong advocate for school choice and ensuring that all children have access to a quality education. Betsy DeVos has pledged to uphold these values as our next secretary of education. Therefore, I support her nomination so we can give parents the power to decide what is best for their children, not government bureaucrats.
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