Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy, and Regulatory Affairs Chairman Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) has announced an upcoming hearing focused on the current state of American education. The session, titled “Opening Doors to Opportunity: The Promise of Expanded School Choice and Alternatives to Four-Year College Degrees,” will address trends in K-12 education and post-secondary institutions.
The hearing will take place on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET in room 2247 of the Rayburn House Office Building. It is open to the public and will also be livestreamed.
Chairman Burlison stated, “K-12 school choice programs have yielded significant improvements to students’ quality of life, academic performance, and life outcomes when compared to traditional educational model counterparts. The expansion of school choice programs through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and Money Accounts for Growth and Advancement have given American students more opportunities to pursue alternative track programs that can help meet employment deficits in the economy. I look forward to hearing from experts on how Congress can facilitate the expansion of school choice programs that provide alternatives to failing post-secondary education institutions and have been saving American taxpayers money.”
Witnesses scheduled for the hearing include Rachel Greszler from the Economic Policy Innovation Center at The Heritage Foundation; Rebecca Friedrichs, founder of For Kids & Country; Nicole (Nicky) Neily from Parents Defending Education; and Dr. Cody Hirachi, Superintendent of Reeds Spring School District.
James Comer is currently serving in the U.S. Congress representing Kentucky’s 1st district after replacing Ed Whitfield in 2016. He has held this position since 2016 following his earlier service in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2001 to 2012. Comer was born in Carthage, Tennessee in 1972 and now resides in Tompkinsville. He graduated from Western Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1993.
