There is ongoing public debate about Betsy DeVos, the nominee for Secretary of Education. Following her initial hearing on January 17, a vote on her nomination by the HELP committee was postponed to January 31. There has also been a formal request made by 11 members of the HELP committee to schedule a second hearing to allow for additional questioning prior to a vote. Tennessee's senior senator, Lamar Alexander, serves as the chair of the committee and has expressed his full support of DeVos's nomination.
Tooshar Swain, policy advisor at NAfME, provides here a succinct summary of issues that were addressed in the initial hearing and those issues important to music education that were not raised.
Additionally, NAfME and the Music Education Policy Roundtable have released a memorandum to the Trump administration and DeVos, laying out a series of policy priorities.
If you wish to have your voice heard regarding the nomination itself or the request for a second hearing, please consider contacting both Senator Alexander and Senator Corker. There are a number of available groups that provide suggested talking points, or you may reach them directly:
Senator Lamar Alexander
455 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4944
Contact: www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email
Senator Bob Corker
425 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3344
Contact: www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/emailme
Tooshar Swain, policy advisor at NAfME, provides here a succinct summary of issues that were addressed in the initial hearing and those issues important to music education that were not raised.
Additionally, NAfME and the Music Education Policy Roundtable have released a memorandum to the Trump administration and DeVos, laying out a series of policy priorities.
If you wish to have your voice heard regarding the nomination itself or the request for a second hearing, please consider contacting both Senator Alexander and Senator Corker. There are a number of available groups that provide suggested talking points, or you may reach them directly:
Senator Lamar Alexander
455 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-4944
Contact: www.alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Email
Senator Bob Corker
425 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510
(202) 224-3344
Contact: www.corker.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/emailme