Kilili to chair subcommittee in 116th House

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Delegate Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (Ind-MP) will chair the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee in the 116th U.S. House of Representatives.

The Marianas congressman was unanimously elected to the position by the Democratic members of the committee last Thursday. His chairmanship became official yesterday, when the full committee—Democrats and Republicans—met for the first time.

As chairman, Sablan will be responsible for all national policy dealing with education from infancy through the high school level as well as career and technical education. This includes early care and education programs such as the Head Start Act and the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act, special education, and homeless and migrant education. Sablan was also selected to serve on the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Investment.

“From my first days in office education has been my primary policy concern,” Sablan said. “Education unlocks the door to prosperity and a successful life for each individual. And a community of educated individuals will likewise prosper.

“I am very grateful to be selected to help make the opportunity to learn available to the people I represent in the Northern Mariana Islands and Americans everywhere.”

The congressman himself was forced to cut short his college education because of family finances. “My own experience makes me determined to be sure that everyone can take their education as far as they can,” said Sablan, whose son and youngest daughter are both college graduates and now teach in the Marianas Public School System.

Democrats are diverse, experienced

Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott highlighted the diversity and experience of his membership, many of whom are from the new 40-person freshman class that gave Democrats the House majority. “I am grateful for the opportunity to work with a diverse group of legislators to build a country where everyone can succeed,” Scott said.

“Our subcommittee chairs and our vice chair bring unique perspectives, skills, and expertise to the Committee’s work. I look forward to working with them to pursue a unifying agenda that expands access to a quality education, a good-paying job, and affordable health care for all.”

Seven Democrats join Sablan on the Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee. Rep. Kim Schrier of Washington is a pediatrician with a son in elementary school. Rep. Jahana Hayes of Connecticut is the 2016 National Teacher of the Year. Rep. Donna Shalala of Florida was Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton, and is the former President of the University of Miami and chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Rep. Susan Davis of California has served for 20 years in the U.S. Congress; she is a former social worker and California state legislator. Rep. Mark DeSaulnier of California was also in his state’s legislature and a restaurant owner. Rep. Frederica Wilson of Florida was an elementary school principal and member of the Miami-Dade County Board of Education. And Rep. Joe Morelle of New York served as a member of the Higher Education Committee while in the New York Legislature.

“The passion, diversity of experience, and skills my subcommittee colleagues bring to the job is truly humbling,” Sablan said. “Many of them are members of this year’s freshman class of Democratic legislators, who are already making a name for themselves with their energy, urgency, and commitment to progressive values.

“I look forward to working with Ranking Member Rick Allen and my Republican colleagues, too, on our shared priorities.”

Broad responsibilities for all aspects of education policy

Sablan’s subcommittee has a broad set of responsibilities. Within their jurisdiction will be school climate and safety issues, including alcohol and drug abuse prevention; and pre-service and in-service teacher professional development under both Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Title II of the Higher Education Act.

Making sure children throughout America have relatively equitable school facilities is another responsibility for the subcommittee. They expect to quickly take up the Rebuild America’s Schools Act, which Chairman Scott introduced in the last Congress. The Act would make $100 billion available to upgrade schools nationwide.

The committee also plans to assess and conduct oversight on the recovery and rebuilding of schools in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands following the 2017 hurricane season, the Northern Mariana Islands following Super Typhoon Yutu, and in other areas impacted by disasters. Sablan will take an active role in these investigations. (PR)