Garamendi Votes Against Bill that Cuts More than $1 Billion from K-12 Schools

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield, CA), a grandfather to 11 children and the father of a public school teacher, today voted against H.R. 5, a House Republican bill that would cut more than a billion dollars from public education next year.

Congressman Garamendi said, “H.R. 5 is a blow to students, children with disabilities, parents, teachers, and everyone in our community who understands that a vibrant economy requires a well-educated workforce. Fortunately, this bill will never be signed into law. The President has promised a veto. I hope we can revisit this issue with a more bipartisan bill.”

H.R. 5 would set back public education in America if it ever becomes law. H.R. 5:

• Cuts funding by over $1 billion next year.
• Prohibits any increases beyond the rate of inflation.
• Eliminates requirements that schools improve the education of English language learners each year.
• Does not ensure equitable spending of federal education funds or that all students have access to good teachers.
• Eliminates funding for afterschool programs.
• Focuses only on math and reading, without support for literacy, STEM, art, music, P.E., or other subjects that provide a well-rounded education.

Groups opposed to H.R. 5 include the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, American Federation of Teachers, National Education Association, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund, American Association of University Women, Easter Seals, Los Angeles Unified School District, National Center for Learning Disabilities, National PTA, National Association of School Psychologists, and STEM Education Coalition.

Congressman Garamendi has long been an advocate for good public schools. As a State Legislator, authored legislation signed into law that made it easier for students to get to school, improved school safety, created the California Summer School for the Arts and California Summer Science and Technology Academy, incentivized highly skilled math and science teachers to stay in our public schools, and improved training for K-12 science teachers. As a UC Regent and CSU Trustee, he voted against every undergraduate tuition increase.