Congresswoman Annie Kuster (NH-02) released the following statement on reports that the Trump Administration is proposing cuts of $10.6 billion to federal education initiatives:

"These reported cuts by the Trump Administration are a sharp contrast with the needs of children and families across the country. Public education is one of the cornerstones of our nation and is a promise we must keep for future generations. This is a moral issue as well as an economic issue. This budget proposal would hurt technical and career training which helps people find good paying jobs and fosters the workforce our employers need. If resources are diverted from public education it will hurt the most vulnerable and those most in need of a robust public education system. The Trump Administration will frame this as a matter of school choice, but they are in fact making the choice to disenfranchise thousands of Granite State families and millions of American children. I will fight these cuts.” 

The reported cuts include:

• The elimination of after-school programs for 1.6 million children
• $15 million for a program that provides childcare for low-income parents in college
• $168 million for career and technical education
• $27 million for arts education
• The budget would provide no funding for programs such as mental-health service and anti-bullying initiatives
• $700 million in cuts to the Perkins loan program
• $2.1 billion for teacher training and efforts to reduce class-sizes

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