Education
I firmly believe that education is the incubator of American innovation, prosperity, and economic equality. I have consistently advocated for programs such as Title I, Head Start, migrant education, and tutoring and mentoring for first-year college students.
Americans hold $1.6 trillion in student debt. I’m one of them. I am a cosponsor of the College Affordability Act, a comprehensive overhaul of higher education that lowers the cost of college, improves the quality of higher education, and expands opportunity for students from all backgrounds.
I also cosponsored the Basic Assistance for Students In College (BASIC) Act, legislation to ensure that college students—particularly those receiving Pell Grants or attending a community college or minority-serving institution—are able to afford basic, day-to-day necessities.
I will continue to support year-round Pell, streamlined student loan repayment processes, and student loan forgiveness for public service.
Understanding the significant challenges servicemembers face when they transition out of the military, I introduced legislation to help establish Veterans Resource Centers at public institutions of higher education. I want to ensure our veterans feel empowered and confident when they are trying to advance their careers through education, and these Veterans Resource Centers will be another booster for veterans. These centers will offer veterans a place to share ideas and advice, as well as professionally and personally network to lay a powerful foundation for their civilian careers.
Additionally, I am working closely with a number of Members from House Veterans Affairs and Armed Services Committees to better service our men and women in uniform. Through accurate and actionable legislative work we can reduce the barriers to our military members from progressing in their higher education.
For more information concerning my work and views related to Education, please contact our office.
More on Education
SALINAS, CA – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) led 136 members of Congress in calling on the administration to reverse its decision to strip international college students of their U.S. visas if their coursework was entirely online. The letter is co-led by Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38), Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee Chairwoman Susan A.
SALINAS, CA – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) announced the winners of the 2020 Congressional Art Competition.
SALINAS, CA – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) joined 87 of his colleagues in sending a letter to the Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos opposing the Administration’s decision to block Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Temporary Protected Status (TPS), Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), and undocumented students from eligibility for the $6.3 billion emergency assistance for students included in the CARES Act.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley), Congressman Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), and Congressman Josh Harder (CA-10) introduced the Emergency Ensuring Access to SNAP (EATS) Act to ensure college students would not be rendered ineligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) on the basis of their student status during this national emergency.
UPDATE: April 10:
Secretary DeVos announced formula grants for our colleges and universities. This is following Congressmen Panetta and Levin’s urging the Department of Education to quickly provide CARES Act funding to higher education institutions.
SALINAS, CA – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) applauded unanimous House passage of the bipartisan Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020, H.R. 6322. The legislation minimizes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student veterans as schools and universities have taken proactive measures to mitigate the spread of the virus. Congressman Panetta cosponsored the measure.
SALINAS, CA – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) led a bipartisan group of six lawmakers in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos urging the Department to develop guidance and resources for primary, secondary, and higher education institutions in creating distance learning curriculums, including best practices and guidance regarding remote learning equipment procurement. The members of Congress ask the Department to publicly publish information regarding resources for the benefit of educators across the country.
SALINAS, CA – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) joined a bipartisan group of 72 lawmakers calling on U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to take steps to ensure that the financial burden of university closures and migration to remote learning do not result in financial burdens for students.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address:
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) introduced bipartisan legislation to restore eligibility to servicemembers seeking to transfer their educational benefits to dependents.
The Post-9/11 GI Bill Transferability Entitlement Act, H.R. 5522, ensures that all servicemembers who have completed ten years of service in the Armed Forces are eligible to transfer their benefits to dependents at any time – both while serving on active duty and as a veteran.