Rep. Madeleine Dean: Making Community College a Priority

“[Some of my students] couldn’t do all three: commute, work, and schoolwork. So, I saw the affordability problem growing and growing in that setting, but I hear it also from my constituents in every higher education setting.”

Rep. Madeleine Dean represents Pennsylvania’s Fourth Congressional District, having been elected in 2018. In this interview, which was conducted on September 16th, Rep. Dean joins Merion West’s Erich Prince to discuss America’s College Promise Act, which she is co-sponsoring with Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mi.). The bill aims to “provide two years of tuition-free access to community college programs,” along with “bolstering important parts of our higher education system like [Historically Black Colleges and Universities].” Rep. Dean previously taught at La Salle University in Philadelphia and has made education-related issues a focus during her time in Congress thus far.

When you spoke with us in February, you were just entering Congress and you outlined a number of priorities, including gun violence and opioids. Now, you’re well into your first year. Generally speaking, what are some accomplishments and priorities you’re particularly excited about from the past several months since that initial interview?

Those two issues: gun violence and opioids remain top of my list. When I was on the campaign, I talked about the cost of college and the barrier that the cost of college and student debt becomes for our young people. So, college affordability is a big issue for me. I’m really pleased that this Congress has worked really hard, as Nancy Pelosi says, “For the people.” We’ve passed more than 200 bills, many of them super important bills that America wants. And I’ll talk specifically on gun violence. In February, we passed two bills to close background check loopholes: universal background check and Charleston loophole. Sadly, in six to seven months, the Senate has done nothing but sit on its hands. But we’re going to keep going because—maybe you saw last week—we marked up three more gun violence prevention bills, which we hope to send to the floor very soon. Then, on the 25th of September, we are having a hearing in the Judiciary [committee] on legislation regarding an assault weapons ban. So, we’re moving and doing a tremendous amount, recognizing that we have an obligation, moral and constitutional, to save lives.