This month, the Committee for
Education Funding (CEF) held its annual gala and legislative conference. CEC President, Dr. Margaret McLaughlin,
joined CEC’s Executive Director and its Policy & Advocacy team at the event
to honor legislators who have consistently spoken out supporting increased investment
in federal education programs.
One of the honorees was Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), who happens to represent Dr. McLaughlin in the U.S. House of Representatives. Representative Van Hollen is also one of the strongest supporters of investment in education and has repeatedly sponsored bills to fully fund IDEA. CEC has worked closely with Representative Van Hollen for many years to advance this important cause. Although Dr. McLaughlin has met with Representative Van Hollen through her work with CEC, she took this opportunity to bring to his attention again the needs of children and youth with disabilities and those with gifts and talents and to highlight CEC’s concerns about how the pending sequestration cuts will impact this population.
Other honorees included:
- Representative Todd Russell Platts (R-PA)
- Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
- Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Founded in 1969, CEF and its 99 member organizations have worked toward the common goal of achieving adequate federal support for our nation’s education system. CEC has been a long time member of this coalition, which has always advocated for full funding of IDEA and the Jabob K. Javits Gifted and Talented program.
