Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) voted today to confirm Miguel Cardona as Secretary of Education.
“Teachers, students, and parents across the Silver State have endured an incredibly challenging year. As a former teacher, principal, and administrator, Secretary Cardona understands these challenges and is well-equipped to lead the Department of Education as it seeks to help our nation’s young people recover from the coronavirus pandemic and build better a better future. Secretary Cardona also knows what it is like to be an English-language learner in the public school system, and I’m excited to work with him to ensure all of Nevada’s learners have the support systems they need to thrive.”
BACKGROUND:
Last year, Senator Cortez Masto introduced bipartisan legislation, the Reaching English Learners Act, to tackle the shortage of teachers certified to teach English learners (ELs) in the United States. She has also cosponsored legislation to fund grants for partnerships between educational agencies and graduate institutions to increase the number of school-based mental health services providers.
Senators Cortez Masto has also fought to ensure that coronavirus relief includes support for Nevada’s students and teachers during their transition to remote learning. The Senator has sent a letter requesting robust funding for all K-12 students to have adequate home internet connectivity, requested and cosponsored legislation for an investment of $100 billion in school construction, cosponsored legislation to support program changes and $4 billion in E-Rate funding in the next coronavirus relief package, and urged the Administration to notify families receiving SNAP benefits or Medicaid that they are eligible for broadband payment assistance. She has also advocated for additional mental health resources for students struggling with the disruptions caused by coronavirus.
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