Democrats in the House congratulated Betsy DeVos Tuesday on the Education Secretary's latest budget proposal, which increases funding for charter schools while reducing funding for the Special Olympics by $ 17.6 million.
At a contentious hearing before the Chamber's House Credit Subcommittee, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis, lobbied DeVos on the proposed cuts to the Special Olympics, a competition sport for disabled athletes.
"Do you know how many children will be affected by this break, Madam Secretary?" Asked Pocan.
"Mr Pocan, let me repeat, we had to make some tough decisions with this budget -" replied DeVos.
"Again, this is a question that affects a lot of kids, not the budget …" Pocan said.
"I do not know the number -" said DeVos.
"These are 272,000 children," said Pocan.
"Let me say that I think Special Olympics is a great organization, well supported by the philanthropic sector as well," said DeVos.
Overall, the DeVos proposal reduces the education budget by $ 7 billion, or 10% of the current funding level. At the same time, it would increase funding for charter schools by $ 60 million.
The budget presented by the administration and Cabinet agencies is invariably revised by the Congress and is generally considered to be essentially symbolic.
As DeVos' exchange and budget request spread to social networking sites, others began to criticize the plan.
Asked about the DeVos budget proposal, Tara Baker, director of communications at Special Olympics, told Yahoo News that progress had been made in recent years to "eliminate stigma, stereotypes, isolation and discrimination" people with intellectual disabilities.
"We are asking federal, regional and local governments to partner with Special Olympics to remain vigilant against any erosion of provisions that have had a significant impact on the lives of people with ID. [intellectual disabilities]Baker said in a statement sent by email. "As every year after the President has presented his budget to Congress, we are engaging in opportunities, such as our annual Capitol Hill Day activities, to inform lawmakers about why funding for our health programs grants and education is essential to protect and increase access. these services for people with intellectual disabilities. We look forward to continuing to educate US government officials on the important work that Special Olympics is doing in the United States and around the world. "
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Betsy DeVos through the years
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US Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, speaks at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, on September 28, 2017. REUTERS / Mary Schwalm
Continuing his days alone with candidates for positions in his cabinet, President-elect Donald Trump met with Betsy DeVos, two polar opposites suspected of being vying for the portfolio of the US government. education.
(Photo by Andy Katz / Pacific Press / LightRocket via Getty Images)
US Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, US First Lady, Melania Trump, and Jordan's Queen Jordan discuss with students and administrators of Excel Academy's publicly-funded school Washington, DC, USA, April 5, 2017. REUTERS / Joshua Roberts
The US Secretary of State for Education, Betsy DeVos, will express before the signing by US President Donald Trump, a memorandum entitled "Improving access to a High Quality Education in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) "at the White House Oval Office in Washington, USA, on September 25, 2017. REUTERS / Joshua Roberts
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 30: US Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos (left), dressed as Ms. Frizzle of the series "The Magic Schoolbus", and the counselor of the President Kellyanne Conway participate in Halloween at the White House on the South Lawn on October 30, 2017 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump offered cookies to costumed models one day before the Halloween holidays. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)
US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence alongside Betsy DeVos prior to their meeting at the Trump National Golf Clubhouse in Bedminster, New Jersey, USA, November 19, 2016.
(REUTERS / Mike Segar)
After a day of face-to-face meetings with candidates for cabinet positions, President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence met Betsy DeVos, two polar opponents suspected of 39, be in the running for the portfolio of education.
(Photo by Andy Katz / Pacific Press / LightRocket via Getty Images)
US President, Donald Trump (C, background), is waiting to interrupt Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, at a conference in front of students at an event on the choice from a school at the White House in Washington, DC, May 3, 2017. REUTERS / Jonathan Ernst
Grant Hill # 33 Los Angeles Clippers shakes hands with owner Amway's president Dick DeVos and his wife Betsy DeVos during the Orlando Magic match at the Feb. 6, 2013 match at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida.
(Photo of Fernando Medina / NBAE via Getty Images)
US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush greet after their presentation by Michigan Republican Party President Betsy DeVos on October 30, 2004 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Bush is in his last three days of election campaign for November 2 elections.
(STEPHEN JAFFE / AFP / Getty Images)
Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, delivers a keynote address at a major political speech on the application of Title IX, which covers sexual harassment, rape and assault at the college, at the George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia, September 7, 2017. REUTERS / Mike Theiler
US Secretary of State for Education, Betsy DeVos, and US First Lady, Melania Trump, are greeted by a student during a visit to the Excel Academy Chartered School Public School Washington, United States, April 5, 2017. REUTERS / Joshua Roberts
US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos (C) and Health and Social Services Secretary (HHS) Tom Price (R) attend a cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, March 13, 2017. REUTERS / Jonathan Ernst
US President Donald Trump, accompanied by US Senator Marco Rubio (left to right), Councilor Jared Kushner and US Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, thanks fourth-year students, Janayah Chatelier (3rd straight ) and Landon Fritz (right), for the "Happy Birthday Florida" card they gave him during his visit to St. Andrew Catholic School in Orlando, Florida, United States, on March 3, 2017. REUTERS / Jonathan Ernst
US President Donald Trump speaks with US Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos at a meeting with teachers and parents at the White House in Washington. Washington, United States, February 14, 2017. REUTERS / Kevin Lamarque
US Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos (2nd R) and US Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) (R) arrive with President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One at the International Airport. Orlando, Orlando, Florida, March 3, 2017. REUTERS / Jonathan Ernst
CAMBRIDGE, MA – SEPTEMBER 28: Betsy DeVos, Secretary of State for Education, speaks at a forum at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University on Thursday, Sept. 28. 2017. (Photo of Katye Martens Brier for the Washington Post via Getty Images)
US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence emerge with Betsy DeVos after meeting at the Trump National Golf Club's main clubhouse in Bedminster, New Jersey, November 19, 2016 .
(REUTERS / Mike Segar)
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The 2019 Special Olympics were held last week in Abu Dhabi and DeVos tweeted its support for the organization in February.
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