On Tuesday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee convened to cast their votes on the nomination of Betsy DeVos as the Secretary of the Department of Education. DeVos, chosen by Donald Trump for this pivotal role, has faced substantial criticism from parents, educators, and Democratic lawmakers alike. Key concerns include her apparent unfamiliarity with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which guarantees special education services for children with disabilities, as well as her advocacy for voucher programs and charter schools. Moreover, her lack of formal teaching qualifications has raised eyebrows.
Committee Vote Outcome
The committee’s vote concluded with a narrow margin of 12 to 11, strictly following party lines: every Democrat opposed DeVos while all Republicans supported her nomination. Notably, Senator James Fletcher (R-CA) was absent during the initial voting but opted to vote by proxy, leading committee Democrats to question the legitimacy of the quorum necessary for the vote to be counted. Had Fletcher’s vote been excluded, the result would have been a tie at 11 to 11.
After considerable debate, Fletcher returned to the committee, casting his vote in favor of DeVos, thus confirming her nomination with a tally of 12 votes for and 11 against. It’s important to note that this vote does not finalize DeVos’s position as Secretary; it merely advances her nomination to the Senate floor, where she will need to secure a simple majority to be officially confirmed.
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Conclusion
In summary, the Senate HELP Committee’s approval of Betsy DeVos’s nomination has sparked significant debate, with strong opposition from Democrats and concerns regarding her qualifications. The next step lies in the Senate where further voting will determine her fate as Education Secretary.