Representative urges dissolving U.S. Department of Education; colleagues push back

A lawmaker introduced an urging resolution that would call for dismantling the U.S. Department of Education and restoring authority to the states, saying the change would not cut student funding and would let Georgia act more quickly on education matters.

"This is an urgent resolution to dismantle the US Department of Education and recognize the Tenth Amendment and restore our rights," the lawmaker said, adding the measure "will not cut funding that impacts students" and that some federal functions (for example, student loans or child nutrition programs) could be reassigned to other federal departments while states assume more responsibility.

Another committee member said the proposal "comes across as somewhat extreme given where Georgia's rankings are with respect to reading and math scores" and questioned whether the measure was appropriate at this time. Leader Higley, identified in the transcript, said she was offended by what she described as a dismissive response to a question and urged members to keep exchanges civil on the session's final day.

The sponsor of the resolution defended the proposal as a means to reduce bureaucracy and speed state action, and said that the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) would not be changed by the resolution. The exchange did not produce a formal vote on the urging resolution during the recorded meeting.

What happens next: The resolution was added to the supplemental calendar for consideration; further committee or floor action would be required to change federal law, and the transcript captures only the urging resolution request and committee-level discussion.