FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Pro-Life Betsy DeVos confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Education
Washington, D.C. – February 8, 2017: Yesterday, Pro-Life advocate Betsy DeVos won confirmation as the U.S. Secretary of Education under President Donald Trump. DeVos’ confirmation comes despite desperate efforts by anti-Life Democrats to block the nomination through any means possible. The Senate vote ended in a tie, two pro-abortion Republicans sided with Democrats, and Vice President Mike Pence cast the historic, tie-breaking vote.
The Democrats were so intent on blocking the confirmation of Pro-Life DeVos that they held an “all-night talk-a-thon.” After all these dramatics, only two Republicans, Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), joined the left by voting against DeVos’s nomination.
Texas Right to Life congratulates Madame Secretary DeVos on her confirmation by the Senate and we are optimistic that the views of Pro-Life Americans will once again be represented in our education system. Many Pro-Lifers are familiar with the DeVos family. Betsy DeVos’ husband, Dick DeVos, was a Pro-Life candidate for governor of Michigan in 2006. The family is also well-known for their extensive philanthropy to Pro-Life organizations. The Dick and Betsy DeVos Foundation has supported numerous Pro-Life and pro-family organizations. They are estimated to have given millions in donations to pregnancy resource centers, Pro-Life candidates, and Pro-Life causes.
The Secretary of Education is an important position for Pro-Life issues, especially following the anti-Life Obama administration. Under former President Obama, funding for abstinence education programs was slashed and the abortion industry was given control of health education in schools across the country. In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed a budget amendment that protects school children from propaganda and sexual exploration initiatives. The amendment prohibits abortion businesses and affiliates from teaching sex education programs in public schools and prohibits abortion businesses and affiliates from writing or contributing to the curricula for such programs. We hope that these important Pro-Life protections will be reflected in the federal Department of Education under the Pro-Life leadership of Betsy DeVos.