Congressman Hoyer is strongly committed to ensuring Maryland schools continue to be among the best in the nation and students have the education and skills they need to succeed.
He is also a strong supporter of Full-Service Community Schools, modeled after the highly successful Judy Centers throughout Maryland, which coordinates educational and social service programs through collaborative partnerships with school districts and community-based organizations. By placing services under one roof, Congressman Hoyer believes schools can more effectively and efficiently provide families with access to services they might not easily have access to otherwise.
Congressman Hoyer also helped enact the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which saved taxpayers money, made critical investments in higher education by significantly increasing funding for Pell Grants, made loan repayment more affordable by expanding the Income Based Repayment program, and provided $2 billion to strengthen our community colleges. Additionally, he supports investing in education for disadvantaged students and students with disabilities, providing additional funds for teacher professional development and protecting Pell Grant funding for needy students pursuing higher education.
I served on the Labor and Health Committee for 23 years. Bill Natcher from Kentucky used to say this: if you take care of the health of your people and invest in the education of your young people, youll continue to be the strongest and best nation on the face of the Earth.
Education has always been an accelerator for opportunity in this country. For millions of Americans, the burden of student loan debt is all too real.
The State of Maryland is home to one of the nations top public school systems, and I am confident that under Dr. Lowerys guidance, we will continue our strong commitment to public education, working to strengthen education policies and improve student performance.
Marylands Judy Centers provide a full range of essential services for thousands of families who need them most.
Every year, the Congressional Art Competition provides a unique opportunity for art students to showcase their talents and creativity on a national stage.
I was pleased to meet and hear from campus representatives from higher education institutions throughout the Fifth District on the issues that are rightfully concerning to their academic communities.
I was pleased to hear from students and faculty about their experiences at the Calvert Career and Technology Academy, and how the high school is preparing students for the workforce and motivating them to seek degrees in these fields at higher education institutions.
In awarding this grant, the U.S. Departments of Education and Health and Human Services recognized our States long history of educational excellence and commitment to implementing reforms that will benefit students from an early age.