July 08, 2015

CASTRO STATEMENT ON ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT VOTE

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) issued the following statement after his vote in opposition to H.R. 5, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA):

"The original intention of the ESEA in 1965 was to support America's schools and increase opportunity for our children - especially minority students, students from low-income families, and students with disabilities - but the legislation the House passed today does just the opposite. House Republicans put forward a bill that hurts our nation's students. It does so by gutting education funds, weakening protections for disadvantaged students, and removing necessary accountability provisions. Instead of expanding opportunity, this bill allows too many of our students to fall behind. 

"Nearly everyone agrees that the ESEA should be reformed. But the changes that today's legislation enacts set our nation back. Our kids deserve better."

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