Senator Maggie Hassan Statement on Senate Confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education

Senator Maggie Hassan Statement on Senate Confirmation of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education

WASHINGTON - Senator Maggie Hassan released the following statement after the Vice President was forced to break a tie in the United States Senate and Betsy DeVos was confirmed as the Secretary of Education, 51-50:

"The Secretary of Education should have the broad backing of a range of communities, and it's clear from the unprecedented nature of a tie-breaking Vice Presidential vote that Mrs. DeVos does not have the support she needs to serve in this position. As the nation saw in her confirmation hearings, Mrs. DeVos is completely unqualified and unprepared to serve as Secretary of Education and I am extremely disappointed that only two of my Republican colleagues listened to their constituents and voted against Mrs. DeVos's nomination. All students, regardless of personal circumstances, have a right to a free and appropriate public education and I will do everything in my power to protect this fundamental right. I will continue to stand up for the students and families of New Hampshire and fight any effort by the new Secretary of Education to undermine our public school system or make it harder for students to thrive."

Throughout the confirmation process, Betsy DeVos proved herself to be unqualified and unprepared to serve as Secretary of Education. Watch her admit that she was confused about whether the IDEA is a federal law under questioning from Senator Hassan here. Also read Senator Hassan's Op-Ed in The New York Times explaining her opposition to Betsy DeVos here.

###