WASHINGTON, Jan. 31 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement after voting against Betsy DeVos’ nomination to be secretary of education:

“Today, in the HELP committee, I voted against Betsy DeVos for secretary of education. We must strengthen public education in America, not destroy it. In the richest nation in the history of the world, we need to move toward universal childcare and free tuition at public colleges and universities. We must have a qualified and knowledgeable secretary of education, not a multi-billionaire who with her family has made hundreds of millions in campaign contributions to Republicans and right-wing causes. The U.S. Senate should not approve Betsy DeVos as secretary of education.”