'Can't Help But Be Fearful': Kathy Castor Slams Trump Administration Cuts To Education Grants

During a House Energy Committee meeting to markup the SCORE Act, Rep. Kathy Castor (D-FL) spoke about recent cuts to education funding and grants.

Transcript

00:00Members, I think the ranking member is correct.

00:03There is a lot of cognitive dissonance right now when we're talking about higher education.

00:09I know we want the best for our student-athletes, but gosh, when you take a step back and look

00:15at what is happening across the administration and in Congress today, you can't help but

00:21be fearful of what it means for all students and for our institutions of higher learning,

00:27from our community colleges to the other colleges to the large universities.

00:34I mean, the big ugly bill that just passed a week ago makes it more difficult for students

00:41to obtain a Pell Grant, to obtain college and get on that ladder of opportunity in life.

00:47It kneecaps student loans, especially for graduate students.

00:51Everything that's been going on in this administration to take a hammer, to our scientific enterprise.

00:58All of the grad students that this summer they were hoping to really work on their research projects,

01:04but those grants aren't there because they've been illegally, illegally cut by this administration.

01:11I talked to a lot of students back in the Tampa Bay area, at HCC, at St. Pete College, at the University of South Florida,

01:22University of Tampa, Ecker College, and others.

01:24I know you all do, too.

01:26And they see the opportunities shrinking for the ability to get that college degree.

01:34So then, yes, this is important.

01:37I mean, college sports, I so admire all the college athletes, the student athletes who give all of their time and talents.

01:46It sure is fun.

01:48And now with the house settlement, there is a newfound opportunity for students to ensure that they have certain rights

01:59and can control their name, image, and likeness.

02:02But college sports is a big business as well.

02:05We're talking billions of dollars.

02:08So it is important to get this right.

02:10I think this, the version right now, there are a whole host of questions about preemption,

02:16about the ability of student athletes to be protected in all of this.

02:23So let's not rush this through.

02:26I think we can get to a bipartisan place where we're able to balance the interests of colleges and universities

02:33with student athletes to make sure that they can achieve, you know, realize their freedom

02:42and everything that comes from their talents and their time.

02:46But let's not move a one-sided bill that creates a lot of problems for these student athletes

02:54and the institutions back home that we care about.

02:57I yield back my time.

02:58I yield back my time.