Education

Congressman Lawler Stands With Every Hudson Valley Student

My focus with education policy has always been simple: supporting strong local schools, making higher education more affordable, and preparing the next generation for success. Every child in every zip code deserves the same opportunity to thrive, and I have consistently used my position to advance quality education initiatives.

Whether it’s lowering the cost of student loans, expanding access to professional development opportunities, supporting access to career and technical education, or keeping dangerous drugs out of our schools, I’ve prioritized delivering real results for Hudson Valley families and students.

Below is the work I’m doing to strengthen education from early childhood through higher education.

Supporting Our Local Schools

As a proud graduate of the Hudson Valley public school system and a parent myself, I know how critical strong local schools are to our communities.

I've fought back against proposals that would cut Foundation Aid to nearly half the schools in our district while spending billions on other priorities.

During my time in the State Assembly and now in Congress, I’ve consistently pushed for fairer funding formulas so that schools in Rockland, Putnam, Westchester, and Dutchess Counties receive the resources they need and deserve.

I’ve also stood up for age-appropriate curriculum and the right of parents to be involved in their children’s education while teaching tolerance, compassion, and an honest accounting of American history, one that acknowledges our imperfections while affirming that America remains the greatest force for good, freedom, and democracy the world has ever known.

Expanding Educational Opportunity for All Students

Every child in America should be able to receive a quality, affordable education. And parents should absolutely be involved to advocate for their children and ensure they are afforded every opportunity to succeed.

Here in the Hudson Valley, we’re proud to be home to outstanding public, private, and religious schools, all committed to teaching the next generation and preparing them for their futures.

I was also proud to vote for the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, which established the Education Freedom Tax Credit. For taxpayers living in states that opt into this program, individuals can receive a federal tax credit for donating to Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs). SGOs fund scholarships for education-related services at both private and public schools such as tuition, tutoring, and school supplies. Taxpayers can claim up to $1,700 in donations.

I am also an original cosponsor of the Educational Choice for Children Act, which served as the basis behind this important provision. This measure will provide more opportunities for low- and middle-income New Yorkers to seek a high-quality education for their children.

Making Higher Education More Affordable

Nowhere have costs skyrocketed more than in higher education. High interest rates make it even harder for students and families to manage debt.

That’s why I introduced the Affordable Loans for Students Act, which would lower the interest rate on federal student loans to 2% and apply that rate retroactively to outstanding loans. This common-sense reform would make higher education more accessible and student loans more manageable for borrowers across the Hudson Valley and across the country.

I've also introduced the Professional Student Degree Act to ensure that students pursuing critical careers, including nursing, teaching, physical therapy, occupational therapy, social work, and other licensed professions, have access to the higher federal student loan limits they need. These programs require rigorous training and licensure, and federal law should treat them fairly.

Since I joined Congress, I have also worked to fully fund federal Pell Grants, which give many students from low-income families the opportunity to pursue higher education. While Pell Grants have historically been accepted only at bachelor's programs and post-bachelor's or graduate programs, I recently oversaw the expansion of Pell to cover career-focused training programs. I supported including “Workforce Pell” in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act.

Keeping Students Safe and Building the Educator Workforce

I've worked across the aisle on practical solutions that protect students and strengthen the education pipeline:

Co-introduced the bipartisan Keeping Drugs Out of Schools Act to help schools partner with proven prevention programs and educate students about the dangers of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids.
Joined bipartisan colleagues to introduce the Early Childhood Workforce Advancement Act, which invests in career and technical education pathways to address the nationwide shortage of early childhood educators.
Introduced the Schools Want Accountability for Threats (SWAT) Act to combat harmful swatting attacks that incite terror among students, educators, parents, and law enforcement. As the father of a little girl who will soon be entering the school system, I have zero tolerance for anyone who would threaten the safety and well-being of our children.

I'll continue fighting for policies that support our local schools, expand educational choices, lower the cost of higher education, keep students safe, and build the educator workforce our communities need. That’s what Hudson Valley families deserve, and that's what I'll keep working to deliver.