Education

Our nation’s children, families, and communities have the right to an equitable, safe, and stable learning environment. 

The COVID-19 pandemic widened learning gaps for children across the nation and further delayed social-emotional development for many. In Northeast Ohio specifically, students experienced significant setbacks in reading and math. I will continue to fight for our schools to ensure they have the tools they need to recover from pandemic-related and other learning loss. 

Student Loan Forgiveness 

The Biden Administration's student debt forgiveness plan would be a financial lifeline for many in our community and help boost our economy at home and nationwide. Under President Biden's program, over 700,000 applications for debt relief have already been approved for Ohioans. This program  

In fact: 28% of those who attended my telephone town hall in February 2023 had zero to $10,000 in student loan debt – which means the Biden Administration's plan could eliminate their debt, leaving them with more money to contribute to our economy. I remain committed to working with the Administration and my colleagues in Congress to provide additional relief for student borrowers. 

I applaud President Biden for extending the pause on student loan payments until June 2023. This will ensure continued financial relief even while the student loan cancellation program is on hold due to litigation. As a result, the almost 1.07 million Ohio borrowers who qualify for The Biden-Harris student loan forgiveness program will continue to receive financial relief.  

Supporting Our Schools, Students, and Educators 

No child should have to worry about where their next meal will come from after school. In the 117th Congress, I introduced the Afterschool Meals Act, which would allow schools to provide healthy meals during afterschool programs to students already served by the National School Lunch Program. 

As the foundation of our education system, teachers shape the futures of our children, students, and communities. I cosponsored the American Teacher Act in the 118th Congress to ensure that teachers across America earn a livable annual wage of no less than $60,000.