[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 121 (Tuesday, July 15, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H3250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          AMERICANS HAVE A RIGHT TO A QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION

  (Mrs. McBath of Georgia was recognized to address the House for 5 
minutes.)
  Mrs. McBATH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against the 
attack on every American's right to a quality public education in this 
country.
  Families have been promised the right to send their kids to good 
public schools, regardless of where they live, how much money they 
make, or their child's disability. However, the careless actions of 
Secretary McMahon and the Trump administration continue to threaten 
that promise.
  From canceling programs dedicated to teaching children with dyslexia, 
autism, and other disabilities in the middle of the school year, to 
cutting teacher pay and illegally withholding billions of dollars meant 
for after-school programs, President Trump and Secretary McMahon are 
choosing to make it more difficult for your child to get the attention 
and high-quality education that they deserve at school.

                              {time}  1010

  They are choosing to miss deadlines and hold your tax dollars 
hostage, tax dollars meant specifically for our children.
  This funding is typically released every year before July 1 to ensure 
that schools are ready to go for the school year that is about to start 
the next month. It represents at least 10 percent of Federal K-12 
funding in every State and almost 15 percent in my home State of 
Georgia, almost $225 million.
  These dollars appropriated by Congress are meant to improve student 
learning and empowerment, as well as their achievement, operate before- 
and after-school programs, train teachers, and help adult learners go 
back to finish high school.
  A few weeks ago, on the evening of June 30, the Department of 
Education sent out the following message to States:
  ``Given the change in administrations, the Department is reviewing 
[the funding for these programs], and decisions have not yet been made 
concerning submissions and awards for this upcoming academic year. 
Accordingly, the Department will not be issuing grant award 
notifications obligating funds for these programs on July 1.''
  In their own words, they knew this deadline was coming and missed it 
anyway. They chose to wait until the last second to notify States and 
schools that the funding your family relies on to educate your child 
for the school year that is starting in a few short weeks is not where 
it is supposed to be.
  Instead of being in your child's classroom, your money is sitting in 
Washington because the Secretary of Education could not be bothered to 
meet a deadline that is the difference between a school having an 
after-school program or not. This is funding that is the difference 
between a child having a safe place to go while they wait for mom or 
dad to get off work and come get them or not.
  The Trump administration's failure to release this funding on time is 
disrupting school and district planning, jeopardizing the education of 
millions of students, and forcing layoffs, program delays, and 
cancellations for students and their families. It is wrong, and it is 
completely unnecessary.
  Last week, I led a letter to the administration signed by 150 Members 
of the House demanding that the administration follow the law and 
release this funding. House Democrats will continue to do everything 
that we can to make this right for the families who are counting on us 
every day.
  There is no legitimate reason that any child or family in this 
country should have to personally deal with program closures and larger 
class sizes. That is what the Secretary and President are demanding of 
parents every single day that they fail to meet this incredibly basic 
responsibility.
  My son, Jordan, was, unfortunately, killed in a shooting in 2012, and 
I miss him every single day. While my son may be gone, I will never 
stop being his mother. I will never stop fighting for every child who 
isn't getting what they truly deserve from our great country.
  When I came to Congress in 2019, I promised I would never stop 
fighting to ensure that every kid who grows up here in the United 
States receives the skills necessary and stays alive long enough to 
live a decent life, a life that my son never got to truly fully explore 
or enjoy.
  Time and time again, Secretary McMahon and President Trump fail to 
rise to the challenge, and the American people are the ones who 
continue to pay the price.
  No more excuses. Secretary McMahon and this administration must 
follow the law and immediately release the funding meant for our 
schools, teachers, and families. It must happen.

                          ____________________