As a longtime advocate for public education, I know that the Department of Education’s programs and services are important for students, families, educators, and the economy. Unlike Donald Trump and Elon Musk, I’ve spent thousands of hours in public schools. More that 90% of students in the country attend public schools, and investing in youth is part of how we build a better future.

Donald Trump’s attempt to dismantle the Department of Education is straight out of the Project 2025 playbook. His argument that he wants to return authority to the states is dishonest; states and local school boards already have authority - they decide curriculum, set teacher standards and class sizes, and more.

Eliminating the Department of Education puts at risk federal support and will result in massive gaps of opportunity for millions of students across the country, especially students from low-income families and students with disabilities.

Cuts at the Department of Education will shift the additional financial burden to state and local governments and will result in increased taxes, larger class sizes, loss of programming, worse outcomes, and more.  Because the federal government funds grants and loans for students who want to attend college but can’t afford it, those doors of opportunity will close too. And the Department of Education enforces the civil rights of every student in public school to be free from discrimination.

The day before Trump’s executive order, I walked in Beaverton with students, educators, and community members in defense of public education. As one sign read, “public education is an American right.” And it’s not a right that Donald Trump can take away by executive order—which he should know.

I will do all I can to oppose this extreme abuse of power and will continue to advocate for students, families, educators, and the economic benefits that come from an educated country.

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My Next Town Hall Meeting

On Monday, March 31 at 6pm I’m holding a telephone town hall meeting with Democracy Forward, a legal organization fighting the Trump administration’s executive orders and actions in the courts. For more information and to RSVP, visit my website here.

Hearing From Federal Workers

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Several members of the Oregon Congressional delegation and the Oregon Attorney General heard from federal workers who were fired by Trump and Musk or fear their critical work will be stopped. Federal workers serve the public. They’re responsible for getting Social Security checks out on time, keeping our food supply safe, monitoring weather and snowpack, keeping our national parks open and accessible, holding predatory companies accountable, and more.  Firing these government workers isn’t making the government more efficient; Trump, unelected billionaire Elon Musk, and the DOGE team do not know or understand the agencies they’re attacking or the consequences of their illegal and unconstitutional purge of civil servants. Thanks to all the federal workers who spoke out at our town hall meeting. We have your backs and will fight for you, your jobs, your health care, your retirement, and a better future.

 Speaking with Veterans

ImageSenator Merkley and I heard from veterans this month. Several told us they feel discarded and disrespected by the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans. Under the Biden-Harris administration we passed bipartisan legislation to improve and expand veterans’ healthcare, but Trump, DOGE, and Congressional Republicans are making disastrous cuts to VA funding and workforce that threaten access to medical care and other services. Veterans deserve our respect, which is one of the reasons I voted against the GOP’s partisan continuing resolution that cut billions in funding for VA care.  I will continue to fight for the care and benefits that veterans earned and deserve—including veterans of color and LGBTQ+ veterans.

Protecting Medicaid

ImageHouse Republicans passed a partisan budget framework that will require cuts of at least $880 billion from Medicaid to pay for tax breaks for the wealthy. This means that millions of Oregonians and Americans – including more than 59,000 children in Oregon’s 1st district - will lose access to health care.  As we heard from leaders of community health centers, without Medicaid they will have to cut back services for patients, let go of staff, and even close their doors. More uninsured people will go without primary care and be forced to get more costly care in already stressed emergency rooms.

Health care is a good investment and cutting Medicaid doesn’t save money in the long run.

I urge my GOP colleagues to listen to the people who run community health centers, many of which are in rural areas, and join me in protecting Medicaid. Without access to health care, people will be sicker and people will die.

ICYMI

  • Everyone involved in the outrageous breach of national security over an unsecured group chat should be investigated and Hegseth must resign
  • I walked out of Trump’s joint address to Congress because I couldn’t listen to another lie
  • I rallied with students, educators, and community members in Beaverton to protect public education
  • I voted no on the House GOP’s partisan continuing resolution
  • I helped serve lunch with Meals on Wheels at the Elsie Stuhr Center in Beaverton
  • High school artists: the Congressional Art Competition has begun and my office is accepting submissions by 4/28
 

   

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