Congressman Mark Pocan was sworn in as the U.S. Representative for Wisconsin’s second congressional district in 2013 following 14 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly. A small business owner, union member, and lifelong advocate for progressive causes, Rep. Pocan is committed to using his life experience to fight for policies that promote economic and social justice and support the families of south central Wisconsin.
In the 117th Congress, he serves on the House Appropriations Committee where he sits on the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Subcommittee; the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee; and the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee. He also serves on the House Education and Labor Committee and the Joint Economic Committee.
The public education system has provided generations of Americans with the skills needed to make the United States the world’s leading innovator of the past century. As a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, I want to ensure our children and grandchildren can continue to have access to the highest quality public education, preparing them to be competitive in today’s globalized economy.
I am committed to investing in education to provide future generations with the tools they need to become leaders. I support efforts to modernize our classrooms, reduce class sizes, enhance special education programs, provide students with access to affordable higher education opportunities, and ensure America has the best-trained and most qualified teachers. I believe investing in the public education system is one of the best ways to help America become more productive and competitive.
Pre-K education is vital to our children’s cognitive development and I support the efforts to establish universal pre-k. Making pre-k education more accessible will allow our children to thrive in our nation’s educational system.
College can open up many opportunities and I believe we have a responsibility to make higher education affordable for the next generation. Unfortunately, a quality, affordable college education is growing further out of reach for too many in this country. Our nation is facing a rising student debt crisis due to increasing tuition costs, out of control interest rates, and the difficult job market facing recent graduates. While students struggle to make loan payments, they are prevented from actively contributing to our economy. I support a number of initiatives aimed at forgiving a portion of student loan debt and allowing students to refinance their federal student loans, freeing up funds to buy a house, get a new car, support a family, and pursue greater economic opportunities.