VIDEO: Senator Scott Votes in Support of Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education

Washington-Before voting to confirm Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) spoke on the Senate floor regarding the necessity of improving our nation’s education system. DeVos was confirmed by the Senate 51-50, with Vice President Mike Pence casting the tie-breaking vote.

You can access video of Senator Scott’s remarks and the full transcript below.

You can watch and download video HERE.

Full transcript:
Thank you, Mr. President. As we close this debate on Betsy DeVos, this debate should really be about public education. I support public education.

Education is the closest thing to magic in America.

Let me say that again…Education is the closest thing to magic in America.

I experienced that magic as a kid growing up in a single-parent household, mired in poverty, disillusioned about life; I nearly flunked out as a freshman.

I thank god for public education.

But far too many kids, too many millions of kids today, do not have a quality educational choice in their communities.

And what does that mean?

There is a high correlation between incarceration, high unemployment, and lower lifetime incomes for those students who do not have quality public education.

This nation, the greatest nation on Earth, has afforded a kid who almost dropped out of high school to become a United States senator. Why? Because I found a path that included public education and quality public education.

So what does it look like in some of our cities?

Let me give you an example in Detroit. In English, only 9% of African-American kids meet standards for English. 13% of white kids meet standards or exceeds standards in English. 12.5% of Hispanic kids meet or exceed standards in English in Detroit.

We need to make sure that every child in every zip code has a quality choice.

The secretary of education cannot — cannot privatize education. That would take an act of congress.

So, yes, we should have a passionate debate about education and, yes, we should make sure — make sure — that the focus of that debate is on the kid.