Education

Early Childhood Education and K-12 Education

Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia is passionate about expanding access to early childhood education programs and improving K-12 public schools in her district.

As a State Senator, she fought for the state legislature to sufficiently invest in Texas public schools, including teacher and staff salaries. She also adamantly stood with retired teachers to reform the retired teacher pension system and she continues these goals in Congress. Then and now, the Congresswoman has supported implementing trauma-informed methods of school discipline and improving upon existing school discipline measures, specifically those that disproportionately target students of color, students with disabilities, and English-language learners. Finally, the Congresswoman seeks to increase college-readiness for prospective students, including clearer information and guidance regarding FAFSA assistance, Career and Technical Education (CTE), apprenticeship and internship programs, and STEAM careers.

• She cosponsored HR 727, the Ending Corporal Punishment in Schools Act of 2019, which seeks to ban the practice of corporal punishment in schools in states that still allow the practice, like Texas.
• HR 865, the Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2019, also cosponsored by the Congresswoman, would significantly fund infrastructure in public school facilities across the nation.

Higher Education

Congresswoman Garcia deeply cares about improving affordability and increasing accessibility for all students seeking to attend institutions of higher education. She supports increasing federal and state funding for institutions of higher education, particularly community college systems and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). The Congresswoman believes that clarifying student financial aid applications, simplifying grant letters to potential grantees and borrowers, and allowing more flexibility and eligibility to receive a federal Pell Grant will assist prospective college students seeking affordable college options.

To help tackle the student loan crisis for college graduates, the Congresswoman sought to hold for-profit colleges accountable to ensure students receive a return on their educational investment and prohibit predatory practices of student loan debt collection by private and public lenders. She also fought to strengthen and expand existing student debt forgiveness programs, such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).

• The Congresswoman was an original cosponsor on HR 4680, the Equitable Student Aid Access Act, intended to make the FAFSA application and financial aid notification letters clearer for prospective college students. 
• HR 4206, the Student and Taxpayer Protection Act, also cosponsored by the Congresswoman would ensure that for-profit institutions prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation. 
• The Congresswoman proudly cosponsored the College Affordability Act, a landmark piece of legislation intended to transform higher education by expanding Pell Grant eligibility, incentivizing states to invest in higher education institutions, as well as providing free community college tuition.
• Lastly, as an alumna of Texas Southern University Thurgood Marshall School of Law, the Congresswoman supported the reauthorization of H.R. 2486, the Future Act, which permanently funds historically black colleges and universities and other minority serving institutions.

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