WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement:
“After her confirmation hearing, I still have serious concerns about Betsy DeVos leading the Department of Education and will not be voting to confirm her.
“I have long-supported targeted, accountable school choice initiatives to help ensure that poor children in chronically failing schools have the opportunity to receive a quality public education. But there are a number of departures between Mrs. DeVos policy beliefs and mine that prevent me from supporting her.
“In addition, the Department of Education has vast responsibilities, from its Office of Civil Rights to its oversight of higher education. Mrs. DeVos’ record and testimony raise a number of concerns in these other critical areas of the Secretary of Education’s responsibilities that substantively contributes to my conclusion not to support her.
“Should she be confirmed, it is my hope that many of my concerns about this nominee are not realized and that we can find common ground in our country to continue building upon the gains made in public education under the Obama administration.”