The desire to improve the efficiency in our child nutrition programs is a good one, but must not lead to more hungry or food insecure children.

The state of BIE education is abysmal.

I commend you for that. And clearly that has informed your agenda here today to make sure all of our Native students are provided with the best educational opportunities possible.

Unfortunately, the federal government is failing to keep its promise to these vulnerable children.

Too many schools lack adequate infrastructure and educational resources, compromising the health, safety, and future postsecondary and professional opportunities of the children they are intended to serve.

It is paramount that we uphold our promise to provide Native American children an excellent education that preserves their tribal heritage.

I look forward to hearing from you and from my colleagues on this important issue.

So unless Congress updates FERPA and clarifies what information can be collected, how that information can be used, and if that information can even be shared, student privacy will not be properly protected.

I want to take a moment to congratulate you on being selected by your colleagues to be the ranking member of this subcommittee.

I welcome and recognize our subcommittee's ranking member, again, my colleague, Congresswoman Fudge, for her opening remarks.

We need parents as participants. We need them involved.