Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL) discussed the effects of defunding public education in a recent House Oversight Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee hearing.
"No two students are the same, and students across our diverse country do need options when it comes to education," Rep. Frost explained, noting that, "these options have been proven to work." "Some of the proposals being uplifted today have been implemented in my state of Florida for the last 20 years, while enriching private school executives, while failing students, specifically diverting funds from public schools to poorly-regulated charter schools."
Rep. Frost pointed to the growing wealth inequality in the United States that has grown over the course of several presidencies, and the inability of college graduates to find work in their fields while struggling with student debt, agreeing with the idea that a four-year degree was necessary for work has become a falsehood.
He then criticized Republicans for opposing attempts to relieve student debt by the Biden Administration, saying, "It was conservative organizations like the Heritage Foundation and attorneys general across this country that sued and sued to stop us from being able to give some relief to students in this country because of the lie that we sold them."
The Florida Congressman addressed hearing witness Stephanie Vanos, a member of the District 6 Orange County Public Schools Board, asking about the effects of defunding public education.
"I think it looks like number one, losing highly qualified, experienced teachers," Vanos responded, adding that "our schools are nothing without our teachers... So, when we cannot retain and recruit the best teachers and minimize that teacher turnover in school, that directly impacts our students because they build relationships with those teachers. That is what keeps them coming to school."
Frost opined that "it is obvious that the Trump Administration's policies are putting our students in a worse place," claiming that the One Big Beautiful Bill "is going to gut the free school meals program for many schools; that means more hungry students."
