Freshman, Congressman Jamaal Bowman, who represents New York City’s 16th congressional district in the Bronx, was formally and unanimously elected by colleagues on Monday, Feb. 8, to be vice chair of the U.S. Congressional Committee on Education and Labor for the 117th Congress. A spokesperson for Bowman confirmed to the Norwood News on Tuesday, Feb. 9, that the congressman’s placement on the committee and his election to vice chair was unrelated to Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s recent removal from it.

 

“He was named to the committee in December prior to his swearing-in,” Bowman’s spokesperson said. The New York congressman was nominated for the position of committee vice chair by his colleague, Rep. Adriano Espaillat, who represents New York’s 13th congressional district.

 

The committee recently made national headlines since Taylor Greene, a right-wing conspiracy theorist and defender of QAnon, who was recently elected to represent the 14th congressional district of Georgia, was removed from it, as well as from the House Budget Committee. It followed recent reports by CNBC and other media outlets of the extreme views and conspiracy theories Taylor Greene promoted before taking office.

 

The congresswoman’s appointment to the Education and Labor committee was seen as particularly egregious as she had previously categorized several school shooting massacres as “false flag” events perpetrated by government officials in an attempt to drum up support for gun control laws. Taylor Greene is a 46-year-old business woman.

 

She appears in one CNN video, shown further below, harassing Florida Parkland school shooting survivor, David Hogg, 20, on the street in Washington D.C. as he makes his way to talk to lawmakers about gun reform. In the video, she also alleges that Hogg, who was just 17 at the time of the shooting in 2018, is being paid for his advocacy work by billionaire economist, George Soros, and she questions why he is allegedly “using kids” to restrict gun owners’ second amendment rights.

 

 

According to another CNN report, Taylor Greene’s other extreme views and conspiracy theories included repeatedly indicating support, in 2018 and 2019, for the execution of prominent Democratic politicians, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former President Barack Obama, former Secretaries of State, Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, as well as some FBI agents. 

 

Meanwhile, reacting to his formal ascension to the role of committee vice chair, Bowman said it was a tremendous honor, and that he was proud and thankful to be able to join the Educator and Labor committee chairman in leading what he called the essential work of the committee. “I came to Congress to represent the children, the educators, and the communities who have been left behind by our unequal and unjust education and economic systems,” the congressman said.

 

As vice chair, Bowman will have an even greater role in shaping policy to address the needs of students, educators, and workers across the country. The House Committee on Education and Labor and its five subcommittees oversee education and workforce programs affecting all Americans, from early learning through secondary education, and from job training through retirement.

 

In addition to his election as vice chair, it was also confirmed via a press release that Bowman was named to three subcommittees on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education; Higher Education and Workforce Investment; and Civil Rights and Human Services.

 

The Education and Labor committee does not cover or weigh in on the topic of student loan debt, though this is another hot topic facing the new Congress, as reports by CNBC show that U.S. student debt has increased by more than 100 percent over the past 10 years, and many are calling for it to be cancelled.

 

Prior to his election to Congress, Bowman served as an educator in public schools for 20 years, including as founder and principal of Cornerstone Academy for Social Action Middle School in the Bronx. He holds a master’s degree in guidance counseling from Mercy College and a doctorate in education from Manhattanville College.

 

“In the richest country in the world, every child and every worker should be able to live in dignity and reach their full potential,” Bowman said. “As vice chair, I’m proud to stand with our students and families every day and to ensure their voices are heard.”

 

On Friday, Feb. 12, it was announced that the congressman was also unanimously elected by colleagues on the House Committee Science, Space, and Technology to serve as Chair of the Subcommittee on Energy — a responsibility his team said he will use to further his goal of achieving 100 percent renewable energy and an equitable response to the climate crisis.

 

The subcommittee on energy has jurisdiction over a range of subject matters including energy research and development; nuclear, solar, and renewable energy; energy conservation and alternate fuels; and pipeline development.