All children deserve quality education

In 2013, the high school graduation rate in Iowa was just under 90 percent.

Our state is known for being a national leader in public education, topping the United States average by more than 10 percent.

Iowans understand the difference a quality education can make in the life of a child and the future of a nation.

I am calling on Congress to support the Education for All Act and the Global Partnership for Education.

On June 26, leaders from around the world will gather in Brussels for the Global Partnership for Education Pledging Conference.

At the 2012 conference, investments from the United States represented just 2.5 percent of the GPE basic education development program, lagging behind nations such as Denmark and the Netherlands.

It is crucial that the United States increase its investments in 2014, as increasing access to education improves the health, security and democracy of developing nations.

Perhaps most notable is education's impact on poverty reduction: If all children in low-income countries could learn basic reading skills, 171 million people would be lifted out of poverty.

Achieving universal access to quality education is key to eradicating poverty, fostering economic growth and promoting international security, but requires a strong investment from the United States.

Reps. Steve King, Tom Latham, Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack can lead the effort by co-sponsoring the bipartisan Education For All Act and supporting a greater investment of our existing global education funding into GPE.

This is an investment in our future and the future of the world.

Madeline Becker

Cedar Rapids