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Democrats share with all parents the commitment to prepare our children to lead lives of happiness and success. That’s why we’re dedicated to ensuring the next generation has access to a first-rate education and the tools to drive our economy forward.

In 2010, President Obama signed into law student loan reform that ended government subsidies to big banks and made college more affordable to millions of Americans—a measure in size and scope second only to the G.I. Bill. The Obama administration is working to overhaul the “No Child Left Behind” program and provide teachers with more professional support and resources—while also holding them accountable. President Obama instituted “Race to the Top,” a revolutionary program designed to promote innovation and provide incentives for improvement in education. As a result, already over a dozen states have made changes to increase standards and implement reforms.

Recent Updates
  • "Truly appalling"

    Our chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, just sent this email on the GOP sequester:

    Friend --

    Friday at midnight, the sequester went into effect -- and Republicans are counting on the possibility that you won't notice.

    While it may take time for the harmful effects of these billions of dollars in automatic cuts to be felt by some Americans, some families are already starting to feel the pain -- like families on military bases.

    The sequester immediately cut a program called "Impact Aid" which is a major source of funding for schools on military bases. So now military families -- including those with a family member deployed overseas -- have to worry about immediate cuts to teaching staff, increased class sizes, and delayed building repairs.

    Our men and women in uniform fighting overseas shouldn't have to worry about fighting to keep their kids in school back home just because Republicans in Congress are unwilling to negotiate.

    Tell congressional Republicans to come back to the table right away to negotiate with President Obama to end the sequester. Add your name now.

    President Obama has laid out a balanced, fair approach to end the sequester -- and it's supported by more than three-quarters of Americans.

    But Republicans won't even consider it. And the longer they refuse to come to an agreement, the more these harmful effects will spread. Teachers could be laid off, health care for military families could be cut, support for mentally ill children could be reduced, and hundreds of thousands of jobs could be lost.

    It's truly appalling.

    The only way Republicans will come back to the table to end the sequester is if they know it's politically unsustainable not to -- that's why they need to know that constituents like you want them to stop these devastating cuts.

    Tell my Republican colleagues to do their job and end the sequester. Click below to add your name:

    http://my.democrats.org/GOP-Sequester

    Thanks,

    Debbie

    Debbie Wasserman Schultz
    Chair
    Democratic National Committee

  • If Congress fails to stop the sequester

    If Congress fails to stop the sequester, more than 2 million jobs could be lost, 70,000 kids could be kicked off of Head Start, and 10,000 teachers' jobs could be eliminated. But it's all completely avoidable—if Congress acts by March 1.

    Tell Republicans in Congress: Work with President Obama and Democrats to stop the sequester.

    Demand action

  • Black History Month: Coming together to move America forward

    Last week, President Obama laid out an ambitious agenda for the year ahead: expanding access to preschool education for every American child, making the minimum wage a living wage, and reducing gun violence in our communities. But as our executive director, Patrick Gaspard, notes in his video message marking Black History Month, the President can’t do this on his own.

    Last week, President Obama laid out an ambitious agenda for the year ahead: expanding access to preschool education for every American child, making the minimum wage a living wage, and reducing gun violence in our communities.

    But as our executive director, Patrick Gaspard, notes in his video message marking Black History Month, the President can’t do this on his own. And as we celebrate the many contributions of African Americans throughout our history and the progress we've made in the fight for equal opportunity, this should also be a moment to focus on the change we still need. This month, let's commit ourselves to working toward President Obama's vision of stronger families, stronger communities, and a stronger America.

    Watch Gaspard's message, then say you stand with President Obama in the fight to make sure our best days are still ahead of us.

  • President Obama’s plan to reduce gun violence

    Today, President Obama and Vice President Biden announced their plan to reduce gun violence in America and keep our kids and communities safe. After senseless mass shootings in Connecticut and Colorado, we can't wait to act.

    Today, President Obama and Vice President Biden announced their plan to reduce gun violence in America and keep our kids and communities safe. After senseless mass shootings in Connecticut and Colorado, we can't wait to act.

    That's why the President's plan includes 23 executive actions that the administration will take immediately—actions such as strengthening the background check system and supporting mental health professionals. President Obama also called on Congress to pass specific, common-sense proposals right away. Taken together, this plan would close background-check loopholes that keep guns out of dangerous hands, ban military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, make schools safer, and increase access to mental health services.

    "While there is no law or set of laws that can prevent every senseless act of violence completely, no piece of legislation that will prevent every tragedy, every act of evil," President Obama said in his remarks, "if there is even one thing we can do to reduce this violence, if there is even one life that can be saved, then we've got an obligation to try."

    Find out more about the President's plan at whitehouse.gov.

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Romney/Ryan: Revealed
Recent Action
Reforming the federal student loan program and making college more affordable
President Obama signed into law student loan reform, a historic measure to make college more affordable for students and families and save American taxpayers roughly $68 billion over 10 years.
Promoting community service and civic engagement
Democrats passed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, expanding national community service programs and providing new opportunities for people to volunteer in their communities.
Investing in early childhood education
Democrats passed the Recovery Act, which makes important investments in early learning programs, including Head Start, Early Head Start, child care, and programs for children with special needs.
Milestones