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.
Investing in education has long been a priority in Maryland, and I am pleased to stand with Secretary Duncan, Lt. Governor Brown and all those who participated today, in recognizing the importance of providing a quality education to all of our children.
I am proud to welcome you to the inauguration of Dr. Wallace Loh as President of the University of Maryland.
With the retirement of Superintendent Nancy Grasmick, the children of Maryland and the State of Maryland have lost one of its greatest advocates of quality education in the history of our State.
There is no greater investment we can make than in our children and their future. Unfortunately, proposed cuts to early education in the Republican budget will impede our nations efforts to provide all American children with the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.
Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) and USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan visited the George Washington Carver Elementary School where 3 out of every 4 students receives free and reduced-price meals to discuss how the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act will help schools like Carver Elementary.
Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) joined Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick, State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. William R. Hite, Jr., Superintendent of Prince Georges County Public Schools, Amber Waller, Member of the Prince Georges County Board of Education, and others, for a tour of the facilities at the Prince Georges County Judy Center.
Investing in education has long been a priority in Maryland, and for the third year in a row, the commitment and hard work of our educators, school administrators, children and their parents has shown proven success.