Education

In 1961, President John F. Kennedy said, “Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education.” Education is vital to an informed society, a successful economy, and a secure nation. Improving science and math education throughout the country are necessary to preserve our capacity for innovation and discovery, and for ensuring U.S. economic strength and competitiveness in the 21st century.

Education for the 21st Century

STEM education is critical to our nation’s long-term prosperity and economic competitiveness, and every student should be exposed to the fundamentals of science, technology, engineering and math to prepare them for the highly technical, high-paying jobs of the future.

In 2015, Rep. Eshoo co-founded the Congressional App Challenge to encourage high school students across the country to compete by creating and exhibiting their software application for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice. Throughout the competition period, participating students are provided opportunities to engage with various STEM educational partners located in the community to mentor and assist them with their app development. Today, 340 Congressional Districts are participating in this App Challenge!

College Affordability

It’s clear that a college degree will be a requisite for the majority of new jobs in the next decade and it’s why making sure higher education remains an opportunity for every student is an economic imperative for our nation. Rep. Eshoo has consistently voted for and cosponsored legislation to reduce the cost of college by making community college tuition-free, expanding eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. She has voted for legislation to pause student loan payments during the pandemic which has provided $25 million in debt relief to 1.3 million borrowers, and has cosponsored legislation to eliminate interest on student loans. 

Rep. Eshoo is a strong supporter of Pell Grants, the cornerstone of our nation’s student financial aid program that provides aid to more than 8.4 million low-income American students who would otherwise be unable to afford college tuition. She supports doubling the Pell Grant award and has consistently voted to increase funding for this important program.