From the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus:
Senate Democrats Reject Governor Youngkin’s University Appointments, Defend Virginia’s Higher Education
RICHMOND, V.A. — In today’s Privileges and Elections Committee meeting, Senate Democrats made clear we will not confirm Governor Glenn Youngkin’s appointments to the Boards of Visitors at the University of Virginia, Virginia Military Institute, and George Mason University.
Virginia Democrats emphasized that our Commonwealth’s public universities are cornerstones of opportunity, research, and economic growth. We will continue to sound the alarm on the irreparable damage being done to our schools.
Senate Privileges and Elections Committee Chairman Aaron Rouse says, “The Trump administration’s meddling in Virginia’s higher education system is political interference at its worst. Forcing out UVA’s president through a baseless investigation and now targeting George Mason’s Dr. Gregory Washington, the first African American president in the university’s history, is not about protecting civil rights. It’s about dismantling public education to advance a partisan agenda. Even Republicans like former Congressman Tom Davis have warned their own party is playing with fire. Democrats will not allow our public institutions to be used as political pawns.”
“Our universities have already lost hundreds of millions in research funding because of federal interference. Projects like cancer research, autism studies, and more health related studies are cut off,” says Senate Higher Education Chairwoman Mamie E. Locke. She continues “These attacks put our students, our faculty, and our economy at risk. Virginians will not sit back while extremists in Washington and their Republican allies here at home try to dismantle the very institutions that drive progress in this Commonwealth.”
Virginia Senate Democrats will continue to defend the independence of Virginia’s universities, ensuring they remain the hub of innovation and academic freedom.
From VA Senate P&E Chair, Sen. Aaron Rouse:
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