Murray Statement on Republican Efforts to Jam Through Nomination of Betsy DeVos

(Washington, D.C.) – Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today issued the following statement on Republicans’ decision to rush through and advance for a vote the nomination of Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education despite serious, outstanding concerns about her lack of understanding of basic education issues and questions about her finances and potential conflicts of interest. Earlier today, Republican Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced their intent to vote against the DeVos nomination.  

“Republicans are doing everything they can to ram through President Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Education despite serious questions about her finances and potential conflicts of interest, her clear lack of understanding of basic education issues, and her ideological commitment to privatizing and defunding public education in America.  Parents, teachers, and families across the country are standing up, making their voices heard, and demanding that the Senate stand with students and reject Betsy DeVos. Two Republicans have already heard enough about Betsy DeVos to stand with Democrats in opposition, and I am calling on Republican leaders to give us the time we need to debate this nominee so that every Senator has the opportunity to hear from their constituents and learn more about Ms. DeVos’ failed record, financial entanglements, and policies that would be so devastating for students and public schools in communities across the country.”

###