E-Newsletter: Rokita Report 5/9/14 - Education Reforms, Big Labor on Campus, & Benghazi

Statement

Reforming Education - Research and Charter Schools Bills Pass House

This week, the House passed two important bipartisan education bills that I introduced in my role as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.

Strengthening Education through Research Act

H.R. 4366 will improve education research, ensuring teachers, students, parents, and policymakers can access more useful information about successful education practices.

Watch my remarks on the floor in support of this bill here.

The legislation will take steps to streamline the education research system and reduce overlap and duplicative research efforts. The bill will also require regular evaluation of research and review the efficacy of federal education programs, ensuring taxpayer resources are being put to good use. The bill passed the House on Thursday night via voice vote. Click here for more information on the bill.

Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act

On Friday, the House considered and passed the bipartisan Charter Schools bill I co-authored and helped lead passage of.

You can see my floor remarks in support of this bill here.

This bill strengthens the Charter School Program and allows successful charter school models to be replicated nationwide to support choice, innovation, and excellence in education. School choice is critical for so many families as they determine the education needs of children.

Learn more about this Charter Schools Program reform bill here.

Questioning Big Labor in College Sports

On Thursday, the full Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing titled "Big Labor on College Campuses: Examining the Consequences of Unionizing Student Athletes." The hearing was scheduled due to a recent decision by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that classified certain student athletes at Northwestern University as "employees" for the purposes of collective bargaining.

My questions focused on the possible consequences of the NLRB's decision and the impact it would have on schools in the 4th District like Purdue and St. Joseph's College.

You can watch my exchange with witnesses here. For more information on the hearing or to watch an archived webcast, please visit the committee website.

Fighting for the Truth - House Creates Benghazi Committee

On Wednesday, the House voted to form a Select Committee to expand the investigation into the Benghazi terrorist attacks on the diplomatic outposts in Libya that killed four Americans - U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, Sean Smith, Tyrone Woods, and Glen Doherty.

My good friend, Representative Trey Gowdy (R-SC) has been selected to serve as chairman of the committee.

I fully support Speaker Boehner's decision to appoint Rep. Gowdy to serve as Chairman. Having been in private practice, and in serving with Trey on the Education and Workforce Committee, I can say he is an exceptional litigator and a talented leader who will give this important matter the attention it deserves. There are few in Congress whom I spend more time with in Washington than Trey Gowdy, and now a lot more of America will witness the service to country that he brings. He will ensure that the memories of the four slain Americans are respected and that the facts of the matter will be realized.

To date, several House committees have conducted investigations on the Benghazi attacks as it relates to their specific jurisdiction. The select committee will centralize all aspects into one committee. The House created the committee in response to a court-ordered release of White House emails regarding the attacks that the White House failed to disclose to congressional committees requested via subpoena.

Protecting America's Internet Interests - DOTCOM Clears Committee

On Thursday, the Energy and Commerce Committee advanced legislation I introduced, H.R. 4342, the Domain Openness Through Continued Oversight Matters (DOTCOM) Act of 2014.

The DOTCOM Act would prohibit the Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA) from turning over its domain name system oversight responsibilities pending a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report to Congress.It now awaits action by the full House.

The internet is the single greatest economic machine created in the last 50 years and it is a shining example of our American Exceptionalism. It is against our own national economic interest to relinquish control, especially without a clear path forward that will protect internet freedom. Learn more about DOTCOM by clicking here.

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