CONGRESSMAN LIEU STATEMENT ON SELECTION OF BETSY DEVOS AS SECRETARY OF EDUCATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Washington – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) issued the following statement regarding reports that President-elect Trump will nominate Betsy DeVos to lead the Department of Education. Ms. DeVos is a prominent Republican donor in Michigan.

“Once again, President-elect Trump is putting wealthy donors before our country’s needs, appointing Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education. A strong public education system is the bedrock of a healthy democracy. But, choosing a wealthy donor with no experience in the classroom shows that Mr. Trump is more interested in rewarding donors than finding solutions to improve public schools.”

“Further troubling is that Ms. DeVos and her family have given significant sums of money to anti-LGBT groups, some of which support so-called gay conversion therapy. Conversion therapy, which falsely purports to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity, is ineffective and has serious side effects including depression and self-harm. It has been denounced by all of the mainstream medical and mental health organizations and should not be supported anywhere in society or government. It is critical that the Education Secretary take a firm stance against conversion therapy to ensure that LGBT students know they are protected. We need leaders who commit to serving all Americans.”

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