Former first lady Barbara Bush endorsed President-elect Donald Trump's choice for secretary of education, saying Betsy DeVos has a "proven record" of positive education reforms.
Bush penned an opinion piece for the Portland Press Herald and offered a glowing review of DeVos, who helped start Detroit's charter school system.
"I am enthusiastically endorsing Betsy DeVos to be our next secretary of education," Bush wrote. "Mrs. DeVos has a real compassion for children and a proven record of championing reforms to improve literacy and learning in our nation.
"I am confident that she will provide the leadership we sorely need to raise the bar on education in America and provide better opportunities for our most vulnerable students."
Bush praised DeVos because of her positions on issues such as "school choice, early childhood development, and accountability in education.
"I know Betsy DeVos is the right woman to help usher in an era of education reforms that can drive significant improvement in student achievement. She has a big heart, a strong backbone and she wants to serve in Washington for only one reason: to make a difference in the lives of America's school children."
DeVos' confirmation hearing was originally scheduled for Jan. 11, but the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions moved it back to Jan. 17.
Politico reported that Democrats on the panel have concerns over DeVos' "extensive financial entanglements and potential conflicts of interest."
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