Education

Washington D.C.—Today, Congressman Francis Rooney introduced the Higher Education Reform and Opportunity (HERO) Act along with Senator Mike Lee to promote alternatives to 4-year college, cap federal student loans, and hold colleges and universities accountable to student success. Congressman Rooney stated, “Student tuition inflated 439% between 1982 and 2007, in part due to the excess of federal loans available. A 2015 study done by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York showed that for each addit... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, on the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Rep. Francis Rooney (R-Fla.), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee reintroduced the Stop Higher Education Espionage and Theft Act (SHEET), a bill to counter Chinese espionage efforts and influence operations in American universities. “Thirty years ago, the world watched in horror as tens of thousands of Chinese soldiers m... Read more

By Francis Rooney “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” This quote, attributed to Evelyn Beatrice Hall, is the embodiment of our First Amendment right to freedom of speech. Unfortunately, this constitutional right is under siege on university campuses across the country. Many colleges and universities use dangerous and insidious methods to suppress free speech. One example is “free speech zones”, which are specifically delineated areas on a campus w... Read more

Washington, D.C.- Tomorrow, Principal Carl Burnside of Dunbar High School in Fort Myers will present the successes of the school’s Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, at the invitation of Congressman Francis Rooney. Congressman Rooney stated, “I would like to thank Principal Burnside for his service to our community, and welcome him to the Capitol. This is a great opportunity to showcase Dunbar High School’s state of the art technol... Read more

Washington, D.C.- Today, Congressman Francis Rooney announced his invitation to Dunbar High School Principal Carl Burnside to participate in a House Education and the Workforce Committee showcase about innovations in education. Congressman Rooney stated, “I would like to thank Principal Burnside on his service to our community, and invite him to address the Committee on Dunbar High’s innovative science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) program. This is a great opportunity to showc... Read more

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Rooney proudly supported reform of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). Despite the act’s mission of “being a reliable pathway for students to receive a high-quality education and equip themselves with the skills necessary to find a good paying job”, the HEA has resulted in historically high tuition prices and student debt while failing to adequately address the estimated 6 million unfilled jobs in America. Congressman Rooney stated, “These Higher Education... Read more

Washington, DC – Congressmen Francis Rooney (FL-19) and Ralph Norman (SC-05) introduced the Pell for Performance Act. This legislation seeks to motivate students to graduate within six years. If students are not able to complete their degree within six years, this act would compel them to repay the grant in the form of an unsubsidized Stafford Loan. Congressman Rooney stated, “This act will focus efforts of both colleges and students to complete their degrees in a timely manner as well as bring ... Read more

Congressman Rooney Sponsors Bill to Cut Wasteful Government Programs Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Francis Rooney introduced legislation to eliminate wasteful government spending programs currently existing within the Department of Education. The bill, H.R. 3957, would repeal Title VIII of the Higher Education Opportunity Act. This repeal will remove the ability to fund dozens of special interest programs, resulting in smaller government and less spending. Congressman Rooney stated. “Elimi... Read more

Congressman Francis Rooney Votes to Support Career and Technical Education, Expanding Opportunity in Southwest Florida Washington, DC - This afternoon, Congressman Francis Rooney voted in support of H.R. 2353, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (CTE). Current policies restrict the ability of states to invest federal resources in efforts that prioritize economic growth and local needs. This occurs at a time when critical industries have vacant jobs but not e... Read more

One of many encouraging policy changes President Donald J. Trump has inaugurated to date is his executive order requiring federal agencies to conduct internal reviews. Agencies are directed to find ways to operate more efficiently and eliminate wasteful spending. If President Trump seriously wants to reduce wasteful spending and reform government, the United States Department of Education (DOE) is a good place to start. The DOE was created in 1980 by President Jimmy Carter, basically to satisfy ... Read more