SACRAMENTO, CA — Today, Senator Ben Allen (D – Santa Monica) issued the following statement regarding the confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education.

“As chair of the Senate Education Committee, I am committed to protecting quality public education for all California's children.  The confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education is unprecedented. She is the first cabinet nominee in U.S. history to have needed a vice president's tie-breaking vote in order to be confirmed. As a billionaire with no personal or professional background in public education and an advocate for private school vouchers, she is startlingly unqualified to lead our nation's public schools. Her confirmation is disheartening for many dedicated education advocates, educators and people, like myself, who received and know the value of public education. 

“Nevertheless, California will not waver in its pursuit of equity and excellence for all children. We will prepare our students for the 21st-century workforce.  We will recruit, train and support high-quality teachers. We will continue to make investments in early childhood education and higher education, so that all families may witness the fulfillment of their children's dreams. Where we can find common ground and common goals with the federal government, we will.  Where we must preserve and protect our California values, we will.”

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California State Senator Ben Allen represents the 26th Senate District, which consists of the Westside, Hollywood and coastal South Bay communities of Los Angeles County.

Follow Senator Allen on Twitter: @BenAllenCA; Facebook: www.facebook.com/BenAllenCalifornia; and Instagram: @BenAllenCA.