Congressman Hank Johnson’s Statement on the Unqualified DeVos Confirmed as Education Secretary

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) released the following statement after the vice president was called to Capitol Hill to break the tie on a vote to confirm a member of the cabinet – Betsy DeVos as the next Education Secretary – for the first time in U.S. history:

"It is a dark day for the America and its education system. It appears from her testimony Betsy DeVos does not care or have any true understanding of public education or education in general for that matter. Her entire perspective appears to be bent on the privatization of education. Across the country and in Georgia's Fourth District, educators are rightfully alarmed. While two Republican senators had the sense to reject her nomination, let the record reflect that most Republicans supported this completely unqualified nominee. This billionaire's confirmation represents the beginning of an American plutocracy, and we will have to keep up our guard to hold her accountable and make her transparent."

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