Education Secretary nominee Miguel Cardona faced questioning from the Senate education committee on Wed..

Cardona has served as Connecticut's education commissioner since 2019. Prior to that, he was a teacher. (NPR)

If confirmed, Cardona will lead a Department of Education with 4000 employees and an annual budget of $68B. (Ed.gov)

Cardona called for the swift reopening of schools during his testimony, and for further COVID-19 funding for teachers.

Cardona also said that he would follow through on Biden's promise to reopen a majority of K–8 schools in 100 days.

Cardona: "We need to have a very close partnership with our health department."

Cardona: "At the national level, that's critically important that we work with CDC."

Cardona also endorsed Biden's plan to forgive $10K+ in federal student loan debt: "[It] would be a priority."

Cardona received a warm response from both sides of the aisle during his testimony.