Election to Bring Major Changes to Senate Education Committee, with Early Childhood Champion Patty Murray Likely to Lead if Democrats Prevail – The 74
With several close races offering Democrats the chance to take control of the Senate and Sen. Lamar Alexander’s upcoming retirement after five years as chair of the education committee, it’s clear federal education policy will take a turn next year. The question is where.
If Democrats assume the majority, it’s likely current Ranking Member Sen. Patty Murray of Washington would take over as chair of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. The former preschool teacher has served for over 20 years on the committee, working, for example, on the Head Start reauthorization of 2007 and this year, sponsoring a $50 billion plan to stabilize the child care industry during the pandemic.
“From an [early-childhood education] perspective, you can’t get better than Sen. Murray,” said Sarah Rittling, executive director of the First Five Years Fund, who worked with both Alexander and Murray on the committee. “The longevity that she’s had transcends to staff, which is always really important.”
Murray’s experience would be valuable if the committee tackles any of the major education laws due for reauthorization — Head Start (overdue since 2012), the Every Student Succeeds Act (expiring next year), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (last amended in 2015), or the Higher Education Act (now 12 years overdue). Even though Alexander won’t see his long sought-after reauthorization of the higher education law before retiring in January, the committee has been known for getting work done in a bipartisan way — a reputation that education experts hope will continue.