Today, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee voted 17-5 to advance Dr. Miguel Cardona’s nomination for Secretary of Education to a vote in the full Senate. On Wednesday, February 3, the committee held a confirmation hearing for Dr. Cardona to lead the Department of Education (ED).
Senator Patty Murray, chair of the HELP committee, stated her support for Dr. Cardona during last week’s hearing, stating that “Dr. Cardona is a proven, collaborative leader, a champion for public schools, and an excellent choice to lead the Department of Education through the challenges ahead.”
This vote shows an early display of bipartisanship among Democrats and Republicans senators. Senator Richard Burr, the committee’s ranking Republican from North Carolina, shared his support of Cardona’s nomination: “Dr. Cardona has a background, qualifications, temperament to serve as Secretary of Education.”
During the hearing last week, Cardona used his opening remarks to speak of his background as the product of public education and his experience as both a public school teacher and principal. Cardona became Connecticut’s state education chief in 2019.
Throughout the hearing, Cardona repeated his commitment to lead a department that provides opportunities to all students. He emphasized his goals to open schools safely and spoke about the impact of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic on higher education enrollment, noting that fewer students started college this fall. He promised to “remove silos” in education and promote innovation, make college accessible to any student, and strengthen community colleges.
If he is confirmed, Cardona will be tasked with leading ED to safely reopen schools across the country and implement the Biden administration higher education agenda, including debt relief and access.
No date has been set for when the full Senate will take up Cardona’s nomination.
Sources:
NASFAA: Biden’s ED Secretary Pick Clears First Hurdle to Confirmation During Senate Committee Hearing
HELP Committee Press Release: HELP Committee Votes to Advance Education Secretary Nominee Dr. Miguel Cardona
NBC Universal: Senate Committee Advances Nomination of Dr. Miguel Cardona for U.S. Secretary Of Education