Education

I believe every student should have a fair shot at a great education, whether they are in a public elementary school, a community college classroom, pursuing a four-year degree, or choosing the path of vocational training.

As someone who was born and raised in California and benefited from our state’s public schools, I know firsthand how life-changing those opportunities can be. I earned my B.S. and M.D. from the University of California, Irvine, and with help from my family, scholarships, part-time work, and federally funded student loans, I was able to graduate without being buried in debt. That experience reaffirmed my belief that public education should open doors for every American – regardless of your zip code. 

Today, too many students and families are being squeezed by rising college costs, and too many schools are being asked to do more with less. I believe we have to protect and strengthen public education at every level, from K-12 schools to community colleges and universities, so that the same opportunities I had are still available to the next generation.

That is why I have worked to strengthen California’s public higher education systems and keep college within reach for more students. In Congress, I helped relaunch the bipartisan California Public Higher Education Caucus to advocate for the University of California, California State University, and California Community Colleges. I have also worked to connect education to real career opportunities here at home, including by championing Sacramento City College’s air traffic control training program, which recently became one of the only dual-certified programs in the country and now creates a direct pipeline for local students to pursue high-skill, good-paying careers as air traffic controllers.

I have also pushed back against harmful cuts to education funding because I know those cuts would fall hardest on the students who need support the most, including low-income students, English learners, and students with disabilities. Here in the Sacramento region, I secured federal funding for Improve Your Tomorrow, a Sacramento-based nonprofit that helps young men of color pursue and complete a college education while expanding college readiness opportunities for local students. 

I believe our education system should not only help students get into school, but help them thrive once they are there and give them the skills they need to adapt and succeed in a rapidly changing global economy.