Youth
Joe Sestak is a former 3-Star Admiral, who successfully ran for Congress in 2006, after completing his 31-year military service to our country. He is the senior military veteran in history to be elected and serve in the U.S. Congress. Joe led a series of operational commands, culminating in command of the USS George Washington carrier battle group (30 ships/100 aircraft/15,000 Sailors) that conducted combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Joe served as President Clinton’s Director of Defense Policy at the White House and after 9/11, the Navy selected Joe to become the first Director of the Navy’s anti- terrorism unit. The son of a first-generation Navy Captain, Joe followed in the footsteps of his father and attended the U.S. Naval Academy where he graduated 2nd in his Class. He later earned a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. After his 31-year distinguished military career, Joe returned home to Delaware County, Pennsylvania with his family, where his parents and siblings also live.
Joe ran for Congressional office on the platform that national security begins at home with the economic, health, education, and environment/energy security of our citizens; these four security pillars, along with defense security, provide for our country’s overall national security. In Congress, he is a member of the Committee on Education and Labor, where he impacts our need for a skilled, educated workforce; Vice-Chair of the Small Business Committee, addressing the severe economic conditions that face businesses and their employees; the Armed Services Committee, where he continues to enhance our Nation’s defense security; and the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pension, where he is working for our Nation’s health security.
With our nation’s college cost crisis, Joe believes reforms that address both sides of the college affordability equation – helping students and families through a stronger Federal commitment to financial aid, and demanding cost accountability from institutions in our higher education system are required. He also believes we need to ensure that students obtain skills they need to be prepared for the job market. He also believes that ensuring healthcare coverage for all of our nation’s children is vital to our overall health security and when young people are part of service activities, they are more likely to strengthen their community connections, become more engaged in their studies, and avoid risky behaviors.
HIGHLIGHTS OF JOE SESTAK’S EFFORTS TO SUPPORT YOUNG PEOPLE
College Affordability
STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT (ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL/ RECOVERY ACT)
Increased Higher Education Tax Credit to max of $2,500. Increased Pell Grants by $500 (to $5350) and Stafford Loans. Increased funding for Work Study Program ($200 mils)
VOTED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT OF 2008
The biggest expansion of the GI Bill in 24 years
VOTE FOR THE HIGHER EDUCATION OPPORTUNITY ACT
Increased the maximum for Pell Grants. Also included steps to curb rising costs – including two amendments Joe sponsored: to improve college credit transfer and provide forgiveness for areas of need including physical therapy and others.
VOTED FOR THE COLLEGE COST REDUCTION ACT (CCRA)
Increases Fed Financial Aid: Raise max Pell Grant by $1,090; expand eligibility; reduce FFELP rates from 6.8% to 3.4% over 5 yrs; and revises lender incentive structure.
CO-SPONSORED AND VOTED FOR THE ENSURING CONTINUED ACCESS TO STUDENT LOANS ACT OF 2008
Increased, by $2,000, the maximum annual unsubsidized Stafford loan amounts that may be provided to undergraduate students under the Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program. Set the aggregate limit on such loans at $31,000 for dependent undergraduates and $57,500 for independent undergraduates. Gave parents more time to begin repayment. Gave Secretary of Education tools to improve liquidity for lenders and granted authority to purchase loans.
HOSTED A COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY SUMMIT
Skills
HOSTED A WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT AND CONVENED A WORKFORCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
HOSTED A JOB READINESS SUMMIT
For recent college graduates
INITIATED THE BUSINESS AND EDUCATION SECURE TOMORROW TOGETHER (BEST2)
To be America’s premier example of partnering middle school students with the businesses and industries that can secure their economic future in the “artisan” skills.
STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT (ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL/ RECOVERY ACT)
$500 million for green jobs training; $1.2 billion for grants to states for youth training, including summer jobs; $50 million for YouthBuild activities; and $250 million for office of Job Corps construction and modernization of residential facilities for at-risk youth
Health Care Coverage
CO-SPONSOR OF THE YOUNG ADULT HEALTHCARE COVERAGE ACT
Require the option of extension of dependent coverage for unmarried, uninsured children under 30 years of age under group health plans and under group and individual health insurance coverage.
CO-SPONSORED AND VOTED FOR CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND MEDICARE PROTECTION ACT OF 2007
Would have extended Extends states’ optional coverage for children from age 19 to age 21
Services
STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE AMERICAN RECOVERY AND REINVESTMENT ACT (ECONOMIC STIMULUS BILL/ RECOVERY ACT)
$160 million for extra money for AmeriCorps volunteer programs and $40 million for extra money for National Service Trust volunteer programs.
Became law
CO-SPONSOR OF THE AMERICORPS: TOGETHER IMPROVING OUR NATION (ACTION) ACT
Improves the educational awards provided for national service.
CO-SPONSOR OF THE SUMMER OF SERVICE ACT OF 2009
Creates Summer of Service programs providing at least 100 hours of summer community service learning opportunities to youth who will subsequently enroll in grades six through nine.
CO-SPONSOR OF THE SERVE AMERICA ACT
Included a provision for Summer Service Program for middle and high school student
CO-SPONSORED AND VOTED FOR GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY RESOLUTION
Recognizes and commends the significant contributions of youth of the United States and encourages the cultivation of a civic bond between young people dedicated to serving their neighbors, their communities, and the nation.
CO-SPONSOR OF THE SEGAL AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARD TAX RELIEF ACT OF 2009
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to exclude from gross income for income tax purposes AmeriCorps educational awards awarded under the National and Community Service Act of 1990.
Miscellaneous
CO-SPONSOR OF THE FEDERAL YOUTH COORDINATION ACT
Establishes in the Executive Office of the President the White House Office of National Youth Policy
CO-SPONSOR OF THE YOUTH PRISON REDUCTION THROUGH OPPORTUNITIES, MENTORING, INTERVENTION, SUPPORT, AND EDUCATION ACT (YOUTH PROMISE ACT)
Provides for evidence-based and promising practices related to juvenile delinquency and criminal street gang activity prevention and intervention to help build individual, family, and community strength and resiliency to ensure that youth lead productive, safe, healthy, gang-free, and law-abiding lives
CO-SPONSOR OF THE TEEN DATING VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACT
Authorizes the Attorney General to award grants to state, local, or tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and community and faith-based organizations to provide services and education and counseling programs for runaway and homeless youth or other at-risk youth who are the victims of domestic or dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.
CO-SPONSOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN 2010 ACT
Directs the President to call a White House Conference on Children and Youth in 2010 to: (1) encourage improvements in each state and local child welfare system; and (2) develop recommendations for actions to implement express policy regarding federal, state, and local programs.
