WASHINGTON, DC – Speaking at a hearing on the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be the U.S. Secretary of Education, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today said he is optimistic about the new leadership at the Department of Education.

“The President-elect and his team fully understand that a one-size-fits-all education system just does not work,” said Roberts. “I welcome the opportunity to work with Mrs. DeVos to ensure Kansans can make their own decisions about the best way to improve education, free from federal interference.”

Roberts spoke to DeVos about a roundtable discussion he held last year with 12 college presidents and 12 business leaders from around Kansas at Washburn University to discuss the upcoming Higher Education Reauthorization and workforce development. He shared information with DeVos provided by Johnson County Community College that highlights 34 areas of federal regulation that are costly and impactful to the school.

“Clearly we need to work together to eliminate many of these burdensome regulations that hinder institutions of higher education’s main goal, which is to educate our students effectively and efficiently,” Roberts said at the hearing.

Roberts also recently discussed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) with DeVos, the law that contains a provision Roberts wrote, which permanently ended the federal government’s ability to use any incentive or tool of coercion to force states to adopt Common Core – or any future set of standards.

To watch video of Senator Roberts’ exchange with DeVos, click the image below.

Roberts’ full remarks and questions, as prepared, are below:

Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding this hearing today.

As we begin a new year, I am optimistic that the President-elect and his team fully understand that a one-size-fits-all education system just does not work!

Last year, I held a roundtable discussion in Kansas at Washburn University with 12 college presidents and 12 business stakeholders to discuss higher education and workforce development.

In particular, I heard from the higher education leaders about the impact of federal programs, policies, and regulations on Kansas institutions of higher education.

During our meeting last month in my office, I shared this informative chart with you from one of the participants, Johnson County Community College, which has the highest enrollment of any college in Kansas, that highlights 34 areas of federal regulation that are costly and impactful to the school.

Clearly we need to work together to eliminate many of these burdensome regulations that hinder institutions of higher education’s main goal to educate our students effectively and efficiently.

As you know, regulations are one of the key areas this committee will focus on as we work on a reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.

Will you be a partner in addressing many of these time-consuming regulations?

DeVos agreed with Senator Roberts.

Senator Roberts is a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

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