Education
“As the daughter of two longtime educators, I know that education is the great equalizer. Education has been and continues to be the single best avenue into the middle class for individuals across my district.”
-Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell
More on Education
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, the House passed bipartisan government funding legislation to delay another government shutdown until December 7, combining a short term discretionary stopgap bill with full discretionary spending for the departments of Defense, Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services. The funding package includes provisions which would provide loan flexibility for struggling Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and address regional disparities in Medicare reimbursement policies. Congresswoman Terri A.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) and Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL) introduced H.R. 6486, a bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code to exclude certain post-graduation scholarship grants from being treated as gross income and, in turn, help recruit professionals into the workforce, help alleviate student loan debt, and promote economic growth in communities. This legislation would create parity for student loan payments with how scholarship payments made by foundations are currently treated under the tax code.
Montgomery, AL – Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) is proud to announce the opening of the 2018 Congressional Art Competition. The competition is open to both public and private high school students throughout the 7th Congressional District, as well as home-schooled high school students. The winner will receive two free round-trip airfare tickets to Washington, D.C., to attend an official reception honoring the winners from all the congressional districts around the country. In addition, their artwork will be showcased in the U.S. Capitol for one year.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) introduced the Public Funds for Public Schools Act (H.R. 4269), a bill which would close a tax loophole that diverts resources away from public schools and allows the wealthy to turn a profit on donations to private school voucher organizations. Each year, wealthy donors use tuition tax credits to divert an estimated $1 billion in taxpayer funding to private and often unaccountable schools. Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL) is an original co-sponsor of the Public Funds for Public Schools Act.
On Monday, September 18, 2017, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) took a tour of Miles College in Fairfield in honor of National Historically Black College and University (HBCUs) Week. During the tour the Congresswoman met with Miles College president, Dr. George T. French and a group of Miles College students to discuss the importance of HBCUs. National HBCU week runs from Sunday, September 17 through September 23, 2017.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, the House of Representatives adopted an amendment by Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) prohibiting federal grant funding from going to child care centers with a record of injury or death due to health or safety violations. The amendment’s adoption follows the death of five-year-old Kamden Johnson at an Alabama day care center. Rep. Sewell’s amendment was attached to a package of appropriations bills expected to pass the House this week.
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) announced her participation in the annual Congressional App Challenge (CAC). Through the CAC, students in Alabama’s 7th District will code original mobile, web, or desktop apps for the chance to be selected for recognition, win prizes, and have their work put on display in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.
Washington, D.C. – On Friday, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) and Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D-WI) led a letter with 41 Members of the Congressional Black Caucus, urging Secretary of Education Betsy Devos to provide clarity in denied Upward Bound grants to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as well as targeted assistance to HBCUs. During the FY17 grant period, a concerning number of HBCUs lost funding for their Upward Bound programs, many for non-substantive errors such as font or file format.
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, bipartisan foster care legislation introduced by Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-AL) and Congressman Lloyd Smucker (R-PA) passed the full House of Representatives by a vote of 382 to 19. The Reducing Barriers for Relative Foster Parents Act makes it easier for foster children to be placed in the home of a family member by encouraging states to update their foster care systems to promote such placements.
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order amending federal policy towards historically black universities and colleges (HBCUs). The executive order relocates the White House Initiative on HBCUs, requires federal agencies to plan for greater HBCU participation in federal initiatives, but provides no path forward for increasing federal funding for HBCUs.