Investing in Education

MELANCON'S MESSAGE & EXPERIENCE:

Charlie Melancon's children attended public schools in the same community where he grew up. He has seen the changes in our schools and knows the challenges public schools face. Support for our educational system, including our community and technical colleges, is imperative for economic development. New businesses and industries look for a well-trained workforce. Congressman Melancon believes we must keep our commitment to make college more affordable at our state schools. Increasing school funding, improving school accountability, raising teacher salaries, and investing in our colleges and universities will have a positive impact on our economic development efforts. Charlie believes in the principles of the No Child Left Behind Act, but believes that the Act needs to be fully funded. 

We cannot have a strong economy if we do not have strong schools. Charlie Melancon will continue to be a rock-solid supporter of better schools, better teachers and more educational opportunities.

CHARLIE MELANCON - "It's hard to explain to a teacher or first-grader why there are new schools in Iraq, while our schools are in shambles. We need to balance new investments in education with more accountability for the money spent and the performance of our schools. You can't get a good job if you don't have a good education. Our schools are the lifeblood of our economic development efforts. Improving our schools is the most effective economic development strategy we can have."

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• Voted to raise the amount that students receive for Pell Grants

• Obtained $6,000 per pupil for school districts critically affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

• Voted against the largest cuts in federal student aid in history

• Voted for a bill that would reduce student loan interest rates and reverse overall cuts to student aid

• Cosponsored a bill that would provide for recruiting, selecting, training, and supporting a national teacher corps in underserved communities

• Voted for the "Reverse the Aid in Student Aid" Bill, that would secure $84 million in grants for African American and Hispanic colleges