Senator Patty Murray’s Statement on Secretary Arne Duncan’s Decision to Step Down from the Department of Education

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the top Democrat on the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released the following statement on Secretary Arne Duncan’s decision to leave his post at the U.S. Department of Education.  

“Anyone who has spent any time with Secretary Duncan knows he is passionate about giving every student in America the chance to excel in the classroom, build their skills, and set out on a path toward the American Dream. From understanding the incredible importance of early childhood education, to closing achievement gaps, and working to bring down the rising costs of college, Secretary Duncan has never stopped working to make sure all students get access to a quality education, regardless of where they live, how they learn, or how much money their parents make.

I have been proud to work with him as we fight to fix the badly broken No Child Left Behind law, and I look forward to his continued engagement over the next few months as Congress works to finish this bipartisan process and send President Obama a bill that he can sign into law.

I truly thank Secretary Duncan for his dedication, his service, and his great work toward fulfilling the promise of a quality education for all students across our country.”