Fighting for Good Schools and Affordable College

I’m a proud product of Dubuque public schools. I’m fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn from quality teachers and inspiring mentors. I wouldn’t be here today without them. We must give every child that same chance at success that comes from a quality public education.

I went to college here in Iowa and I know firsthand how difficult affording college can be. Like tens of thousands of Iowans, I’m still paying back my student loans, without which I would never have been able to afford college.

We need to invest in our public schools to put our students on the path to a good job or college after graduation. That starts by expanding access to Pre-K, which jumpstarts learning and provides a solid foundation for a child to grow. We must also ensure that college is affordable for all Iowans, including relief for those burdened with student loan debt, and there is greater transparency so that students understand what they’ll be paying for.

But we can’t be focused only on a college education as the pathway to a family-supporting job. We also must have robust career and technical education opportunities that train students with the specialized skills needed to fill available jobs and grow our economy. In the U.S. Senate, I’ll continue to support partnerships between local businesses and schools so that students have access to internships, job training opportunities, and apprenticeship programs, a key link between businesses and prospective workers. These measures also support our local businesses, allowing them to hire a qualified workforce right here at home rather than looking elsewhere to grow.