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Danny Davis on Education

Democratic Representative (IL-7)

 


Voted YES on $40B for green public schools.

Congressional Summary:Make grants to states for the modernization, renovation, or repair of public schools, including early learning facilities and charter schools, to make them safe, healthy, high-performing, and technologically up-to-date.

Proponent's argument to vote Yes: Rep. BETSY MARKEY (D, CO-4): This legislation will improve the learning environment for our children, reduce energy costs and create new jobs across the country. Green schools not only save school districts money but also teach the importance of sustainable living to children at a young age.

Opponent's argument to vote No: Rep. GLENN THOMPSON (R, PA-5): We all know our Nation is drowning in a sea of red ink. The bill we're debating today would add an estimated $40 billion in new spending. And despite the majority's hollow promises of fiscal responsibility, there's nothing in the legislation to offset this hefty price tag with spending reductions elsewhere. This is just more of the same borrow and spend, spend and borrow policy that we've seen under this majority and this administration.

Reference: 21st Century Green Schools Act; Bill H.R.2187 ; vote number 2009-H259 on May 14, 2009

Voted YES on additional $10.2B for federal education & HHS projects.

Veto override on the bill, the American Competitiveness Scholarship Act, the omnibus appropriations bill for the Departments of Departments of Education, Health & Human Services, and Labor. Original bill passed & was then vetoed by the President.

Proponents support voting YES because:

Rep. OBEY: This bill, more than any other, determines how willing we are to make the investment necessary to assure the future strength of this country and its working families. The President has chosen to cut the investments in this bill by more than $7.5 billion in real terms. This bill rejects most of those cuts.

Opponents recommend voting NO because:

Rep. LEWIS: This bill reflects a fundamental difference in opinion on the level of funding necessary to support the Federal Government's role in education, health and workforce programs. The bill is $10.2 billion over the President's budget request. While many of these programs are popular on both sides of the aisle, this bill contains what can rightly be considered lower priority & duplicative programs. For example, this legislation continues three different programs that deal with violence prevention. An omnibus bill is absolutely the wrong and fiscally reckless approach to completing this year's work. It would negate any semblance of fiscal discipline demonstrated by this body in recent years.

Veto message from President Bush:

This bill spends too much. It exceeds [by $10.2 billion] the reasonable and responsible levels for discretionary spending that I proposed to balance the budget by 2012. This bill continues to fund 56 programs that I proposed to terminate because they are duplicative, narrowly focused, or not producing results. This bill does not sufficiently fund programs that are delivering positive outcomes. This bill has too many earmarks--more than 2,200 earmarks totaling nearly $1 billion. I urge the Congress to send me a fiscally responsible bill that sets priorities.

Reference: American Competitiveness Scholarship Act; Bill Veto override on H.R. 3043 ; vote number 2007-1122 on Nov 15, 2007

Voted YES on allowing Courts to decide on "God" in Pledge of Allegiance.

Amendment to preserve the authority of the US Supreme Court to decide any question pertaining to the Pledge of Allegiance. The bill underlying this amendment would disallow any federal courts from hearing cases concerning the Pledge of Allegiance. This amendment would make an exception for the Supreme Court.

Proponents support voting YES because:

I believe that our Pledge of Allegiance with its use of the phrase "under God" is entirely consistent with our Nation's cultural and historic traditions. I also believe that the Court holding that use of this phrase is unconstitutional is wrong. But this court-stripping bill is not necessary. This legislation would bar a Federal court, including the Supreme Court, from reviewing any claim that challenges the recitation of the Pledge on first amendment grounds.

If we are a Nation of laws, we must be committed to allowing courts to decide what the law is. This bill is unnecessary and probably unconstitutional. It would contradict the principle of Marbury v. Madison, intrude on the principles of separation of powers, and degrade our independent Federal judiciary.

Opponents support voting NO because:

I was disappointed 4 years ago when two judges of the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that our Pledge, our statement of shared national values, was somehow unconstitutional. I do not take legislation that removes an issue from the jurisdiction of this court system lightly. This legislation is appropriate, however, because of the egregious conduct of the courts in dealing with the Pledge of Allegiance.

By striking "under God" from the Pledge, the Court has shown contempt for the Congress which approved the language, and, more importantly, shows a complete disregard for the millions of Americans who proudly recite the Pledge as a statement of our shared national values and aspirations. No one is required to recite the Pledge if they disagree with its message.

Reference: Watt amendment to Pledge Protection Act; Bill H R 2389 ; vote number 2006-384 on Jul 19, 2006

Voted YES on $84 million in grants for Black and Hispanic colleges.

This vote is on a substitute bill (which means an amendment which replaces the entire text of the original bill). Voting YES means support for the key differences from the original bill: lowering student loan interest rates; $59 million for a new Predominantly Black Serving Institution program; $25 million for a new graduate Hispanic Serving Institution program; provide for year- round Pell grants; and repeal the Single Lender rule. The substitute's proponents say:
  • The original bill has some critical shortcomings. First and foremost, this substitute will cut the new Pell Grant fixed interest rate in half from 6.8% to 3.4%, to reduce college costs to those students most in need.
  • It would also establish a new predominantly black-serving institutions programs to boost college participation rates for low-income black students, and a new graduate Hispanic-serving institution program.
  • As we saw from 1995 to 2000, the questions employers were asking was not your race, not your ethnicity, not your religion, they wanted to know if you had the skills and talents to do the job. Most often today, those skills and that talent requires a higher education. A college education is going to have to become as common as a high school education.
    Reference: Reverse the Raid on Student Aid Act; Bill HR 609 Amendment 772 ; vote number 2006-080 on Mar 30, 2006

    Voted NO on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror.

    Children's Prayers Resolution: Expressing the sense of Congress that schools should allow children time to pray for, or silently reflect upon, the country during the war against terrorism.
    Reference: Bill sponsored by Isakson, R-GA; Bill H.Con.Res.239 ; vote number 2001-445 on Nov 15, 2001

    Voted YES on requiring states to test students.

    No Child Left Behind Act of 2001: Vote to pass a bill that would authorize $22.8 billion in education funding, a 29 percent increase from fiscal 2001. The bill would require states to test students to track progress.
    Reference: Bill sponsored by Boehner R-OH; Bill HR 1 ; vote number 2001-145 on May 23, 2001

    Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools.

    Vote to create a non-profit corporation to administer federally-funded vouchers for low-income children in the District of Columbia.
    Reference: Amendment introduced by Armey, R-TX; Bill HR 4380 ; vote number 1998-411 on Aug 6, 1998

    Voted NO on vouchers for private & parochial schools.

    Vote to pass a bill to allow states to use certain federal funds designated for elementary and secondary education to provide scholarships, or vouchers, to low-income families to send their children to private schools, including religious schools.
    Reference: Bill sponsored by Riggs, R-CA; Bill HR 2746 ; vote number 1997-569 on Nov 4, 1997

    Reduce class size to 18 children in grades 1 to 3.

    Davis co-sponsored an amendment to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act:

      Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a grants program to:

    1. recruit, train, and hire 100,000 additional teachers over a seven-year period ;

    2. reduce class sizes nationally, in grades one through three, to an average of 18 students per classroom; and

    3. improve teaching in the early grades so that all students can learn to read independently and well by the end of the third grade.
    Source: House Resolution Sponsorship 01-HR1036 on Mar 14, 2001

    Rated 92% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes.

    Davis scores 92% by the NEA on public education issues

    The National Education Association has a long, proud history as the nation's leading organization committed to advancing the cause of public education. Founded in 1857 "to elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching and to promote the cause of popular education in the United States," the NEA has remained constant in its commitment to its original mission as evidenced by the current mission statement:

    To fulfill the promise of a democratic society, the National Education Association shall promote the cause of quality public education and advance the profession of education; expand the rights and further the interest of educational employees; and advocate human, civil, and economic rights for all.
    In pursuing its mission, the NEA has determined that it will focus the energy and resources of its 2.7 million members toward the "promotion of public confidence in public education." The ratings are based on the votes the organization considered most important; the numbers reflect the percentage of time the representative voted the organization's preferred position.
    Source: NEA website 03n-NEA on Dec 31, 2003

    $25B to renovate or repair elementary schools.

    Davis signed Fix America's Schools Today Act (FAST)

    Source: HR2948&S1597 11-HR2948 on Sep 15, 2011

    Sponsored 10/10 Loan Forgiveness: cancel college loans after 10 years.

    Davis co-sponsored Student Loan Fairness Act

    Congressional Summary:Student Loan Fairness Act:

    Opponent's argument against bill: (Blog post on voices.yahoo.com, "Why I'm Against the Student Loan Fairness Act"): The two key points to this bill are:

    1. The 10-10 plan: Where an individual would be required to make ten years of payments at 10% of their discretionary income, after which their remaining federal student loan debt would be forgiven.
    2. Cap federal interest rates at 3.4% and allowing existing borrowers whose educational loan debt exceeds their income to convert their private loan debt into federal Direct Loans.
        Sounds enticing enough. They make a convincing argument that convinced over 200,000 people to sign their petition, many of whom shared their personal stories of student debt and how this act would change their lives. I disagree with all of them.
      • First, there is already student loan forgiveness act that erases your loans after 20 years. It is called Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.
      • Many people who signed the petition argued that the government bailed out the banks, so why not us? The main difference [with TARP is that] most banks paid back the loans from TARP [while student loan forgiveness will make] $1 trillion magically disappear.
      • If the average college graduate is 22 years old, then we are talking about being debt free by 32. That is a risk I see many young college students willing to take.
      Source: H.R.1330 13-H1330 on Mar 21, 2013

      Sponsored supporting the contributions of Catholic schools.

      Davis co-sponsored House Resolution on parochial schools

      • WHEREAS Catholic schools in the US are internationally acclaimed for their academic excellence, and provide students with more than an exceptional scholastic education;
      • WHEREAS Catholic schools instill a broad, values-added education emphasizing the lifelong development of moral, intellectual, physical, and social values in young people in the United States;
      • WHEREAS Catholic schools provide a high level of service to the Nation by providing a diverse student population from all regions of the country and all socio-economic backgrounds, with more than 30% of students from minority backgrounds and nearly 15.4% non-Catholic, a strong academic and moral foundation;
      • WHEREAS Catholic schools are an affordable option for parents, particularly in underserved urban areas;
      • WHEREAS Catholic schools are committed to community service, producing graduates who hold 'helping others' as one of their core values;
      • WHEREAS the total Catholic school student enrollment for the 2011-2012 academic year was over 2,000,000 and the student-teacher ratio was 13 to 1;
      • WHEREAS the week of January 27, 2013, to February 2, 2013, has been designated as National Catholic Schools Week;
        Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Ho
        Source: H.RES.46 13-HRes46 on Jan 23, 2013

        No-strings-attached block grant will kill transparency.

        Davis voted NAY A-PLUS Amendment To Student Success Act

        Heritage Action Summary: An amendment offered by Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC) and Rep. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) to the Student Success Act (H.R. 5). The amendment, known as A-PLUS (Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success), would give the states the ability to consolidate their federal education funds and use them for any lawful education purpose they deem beneficial.

        Heritage Foundation recommendation to vote YES: (7/8/2015): A-PLUS lets states escape No Child Left Behind's prescriptive programmatic requirements. At its core, A-PLUS delivers on the promise of "restoring state and local control over the 10% of education funding financed by the federal government," moving dollars out of the hands of federal bureaucrats and political appointees and into the hands of those closer to the students. Now is the time for Congress to restore federalism in education, empower parents and students instead of bureaucrats and unions, and remove archaic obstacles that have prevented true opportunity for all.

        US News and World Report recommendation to vote NO: (4/7/2015): A-PLUS [is intended as] a no-strings-attached block grant. There isn't all that much the federal government can do well in education, but it's because of federally-required transparency that charter schools and voucher schools can demonstrate that they work. For example, New York City's Success Academy scores in the top 1% of all the state's public schools in math and in the top 3% in English. When Success Academy came under fire from teachers' union-backed Mayor Bill de Blasio, it was able to fight back with numbers to prove it. If a strong-union state were to receive a no-strings-attached block grant, transparency would be the first thing to go. A no-strings-attached block grant is an overreaction to federal overreach.

        Legislative outcome: Failed House 195 to 235 (no Senate vote)

        Source: Congressional vote 15-H0005 on Jul 8, 2015

        Oppose private and religious school voucher programs.

        Davis voted NAY SOAR Act

        Heritage Action Summary: The House will vote to reauthorize the Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) Act (H.R. 10). The bill would continue funding through Fiscal Year 2021 and allow eligible students in Washington, D.C. to enroll in a participating private school.Analysis by Heritage Action:

        ACLU recommendation to vote NO: (Letter to U.S.House, 3/29/2011): The ACLU urges Congress to oppose the SOAR Act, legislation to restart and expand Washington DC's failed private and religious school voucher pilot program. Originally started as a five-year pilot program in 2004, the DC voucher program is the nation's first and only federally-funded private and religious school voucher program. Under the federal voucher pilot program, funds were provided to schools even though they infuse their curricular materials with specific religious content and even though they are not covered by many of the nation's civil rights statutes that would otherwise protect students against discrimination. Additionally, each of the congressionally-mandated studies to explore the pilot program concluded that the voucher program had no significant effect on the academic achievement.

        Cato Institute recommendation to vote YES: (4/28/2016): The Obama administration has repeatedly worked to undermine or eliminate the DC school choice program, even though it has the support of local Democratic politicians such as the DC Mayor and a majority of the DC City Council. Low-income students shouldn't be condemned to low-quality schools just because their parents cannot afford a home in a wealthy neighborhood. The DC program was an important step toward breaking the link between home prices and school quality.

        Legislative outcome: Passed by the House 240-191-3; never came to a vote in the Senate.

        Source: Congressional vote 15-H0010 on Oct 21, 2015

        Make two years of community college free.

        Davis signed making two years of community college free

        Excerpts from press release from Tammy Baldwin, Senate sponsor: The America's College Promise Act makes two years of community college free by:

        • Providing a federal match of $3 for every $1 invested by the state to waive community college tuition and fees for eligible students;
        • Ensuring that programs offer academic credits which are fully transferable to four-year institutions in their state;
        • Establishing a new grant program to provide pathways to success at minority-serving institutions by helping them cover a significant portion of tuition and fees for the first two years of attendance for low-income students.
        Community, technical, and tribal colleges enroll 40% of all college students today. Community colleges are uniquely positioned to partner with employers to create tailored training programs to meet economic needs within their communities such as nursing and advanced manufacturing.

        Opposing argument: (Cato Institute, "College Courtesy of the Taxpayer? No Thanks," Jan. 9, 2015): One look at either community college outcomes or labor market outlooks reveals free college to be educational folly. Community college completion rates are atrocious: a mere 19.5% of community college students complete their programs. Meanwhile, the for-profit sector has an almost 63% completion rate. And [about 70%] of the new job categories in coming years will require a high school diploma or less.

        Opposing argument: (Heritage Foundation, "Free Community College Is a Bad Deal", July 15, 2016): Free college proposals would subject community colleges to the same types of subsidies-induced inflation endemic at four-year institutions. And low-income students already have access to federal Pell Grants, which can cover the bulk of community college tuition. By contrast, a more open market of alternative schooling models, such as online or vocational education programs, could better tailor degrees at a lower cost.

        Source: S.1716 & H.R.2962 15-H2962 on Jul 8, 2015

        Voted YES on private lawsuits for school race discrimination.

        Davis voted YEA Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act

        Legislative Summary:This bill authorizes private civil causes of action for discrimination on the ground of race, color, or national origin, including anti-Semitism) in programs receiving federal financial assistance.

        Trump's Statement of Administration Policy (against): The Administration strongly opposes passage of H.R. 2574. This bill fails to advance equality in education, while expanding bureaucracy, encouraging burdensome litigation, and imposing costs on recipients of Federal financial assistance. H.R. 2574 seeks to validate and expand the divisive regulatory agenda of the previous administration--advancing an ideological mission and enriching favored special interests like trial lawyers at the expense of students, educators, and taxpayers. The bill would require each recipient of Federal financial assistance to appoint a compliance coordinator, which would impose additional administrative burdens. H.R. 2574 would redirect vital resources that are needed to serve students in the pursuit of an ideological agenda.

        Rep. Elaine Luria in support: H.R. 2574 would allow private individuals to file lawsuits under the Civil Rights Act's Title VI authority, allowing students and parents to remedy discrimination in education. "Every student has the right to access public education, free from discriminatory practices, said Congresswoman Luria. "By focusing on equity and inclusion, we move towards a public education system that is more just and will benefit every student, regardless of sex, ethnicity, ability, or their zip code."

        Legislative outcome:Passed House 232-188-10, roll no. 192 on Sept 16, 2020; died in Senate without a vote.

        Source: Congressional vote 20-HR2574 on May 8, 2019

        2021-22 Governor, House and Senate candidates on Education: Danny Davis on other issues:
        IL Gubernatorial:
        Ameya Pawar
        Bruce Rauner
        Chris Kennedy
        Daniel Biss
        J.B. Pritzker
        Jeanne Ives
        Jesse Sullivan
        Joe Walsh
        Pat Quinn
        Paul Schimpf
        IL Senatorial:
        Andrea Zopp
        Anne Stava-Murray
        Mark Curran
        Mark Kirk
        Napoleon Harris
        Richard Durbin
        Tammy Duckworth
        Republican Freshman class of 2021:
        AL-1: Jerry Carl(R)
        AL-2: Barry Moore(R)
        CA-8: Jay Obernolte(R)
        CA-50: Darrell Issa(R)
        CO-3: Lauren Boebert(R)
        FL-3: Kat Cammack(R)
        FL-15: Scott Franklin(R)
        FL-19: Byron Donalds(R)
        GA-9: Andrew Clyde(R)
        GA-14: Marjorie Taylor Greene(R)
        IA-2: Mariannette Miller-Meeks(R)
        IA-4: Randy Feenstra(R)
        IL-15: Mary Miller(R)
        IN-5: Victoria Spartz(R)
        KS-1: Tracey Mann(R)
        KS-2: Jake LaTurner(R)
        LA-5: Luke Letlow(R)
        MI-3: Peter Meijer(R)
        MI-10: Lisa McClain(R)
        MT-0: Matt Rosendale(R)
        NC-11: Madison Cawthorn(R)
        NM-3: Teresa Leger Fernandez(D)
        NY-2: Andrew Garbarino(R)
        NY-22: Claudia Tenney(R)
        OR-2: Cliff Bentz(R)
        PR-0: Jenniffer Gonzalez-Colon(R)
        TN-1: Diana Harshbarger(R)
        TX-4: Pat Fallon(R)
        TX-11: August Pfluger(R)
        TX-13: Ronny Jackson(R)
        TX-17: Pete Sessions(R)
        TX-22: Troy Nehls(R)
        TX-23: Tony Gonzales(R)
        TX-24: Beth Van Duyne(R)
        UT-1: Blake Moore(R)
        VA-5: Bob Good(R)
        WI-5: Scott Fitzgerald(R)
        Incoming Democratic Freshman class of 2021:
        CA-53: Sara Jacobs(D)
        GA-5: Nikema Williams(D)
        GA-7: Carolyn Bourdeaux(D)
        HI-2: Kai Kahele(D)
        IL-3: Marie Newman(D)
        IN-1: Frank Mrvan(D)
        MA-4: Jake Auchincloss(D)
        MO-1: Cori Bush(D)
        NC-2: Deborah Ross(D)
        NC-6: Kathy Manning(D)
        NY-15: Ritchie Torres(D)
        NY-16: Jamaal Bowman(D)
        NY-17: Mondaire Jones(D)
        WA-10: Marilyn Strickland(D)

        Republican takeovers as of 2021:
        CA-21: David Valadao(R) defeated T.J. Cox(D)
        CA-39: Young Kim(R) defeated Gil Cisneros(D)
        CA-48: Michelle Steel(R) defeated Harley Rouda(D)
        FL-26: Carlos Gimenez(R) defeated Debbie Mucarsel-Powell(D)
        FL-27: Maria Elvira Salazar(R) defeated Donna Shalala(D)
        IA-1: Ashley Hinson(R) defeated Abby Finkenauer(D)
        MN-7: Michelle Fischbach(R) defeated Collin Peterson(D)
        NM-2: Yvette Herrell(R) defeated Xochitl Small(D)
        NY-11: Nicole Malliotakis(R) defeated Max Rose(D)
        OK-5: Stephanie Bice(R) defeated Kendra Horn(D)
        SC-1: Nancy Mace(R) defeated Joe Cunningham(D)
        UT-4: Burgess Owens(R) defeated Ben McAdams(D)

        Special Elections 2021-2022:
        CA-22: replacing Devin Nunes (R, SPEL summer 2022)
        FL-20: replacing Alcee Hastings (D, SPEL Jan. 2022)
        LA-2: Troy Carter (R, April 2021)
        LA-5: Julia Letlow (R, March 2021)
        NM-1: Melanie Stansbury (D, June 2021)
        OH-11: Shontel Brown (D, Nov. 2021)
        OH-15: Mike Carey (R, Nov. 2021)
        TX-6: Jake Ellzey (R, July 2021)
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        Page last updated: Jan 22, 2022