It was great meeting with the NEA Board of Directors last Monday night—virtually, of course—ahead of their virtual lobbying visits with members of Congress.
Our Board members’ voices—coupled with those of our army of online activists—are crucial. Right now, appropriators are finalizing the FY2022 funding bill and allocations for specific agencies and programs, including education.
Increased funding is essential to address long-standing problems, like the educator shortage, as well as chronic underfunding of Title I, IDEA, and other programs serving the students most in need.
NEA Board members also lifted up the need to provide emergency paid sick and family caregiving leave. One in five U.S. workers does not have paid sick leave, including many education support professionals who work part-time. Even some educators with paid sick leave are running out of it.
Keep up the pressure! Tell Congress to invest in public education and ensure that workers can get emergency paid leave.
In solidarity,
Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association
COVID and its aftermath have exacerbated inequities and accelerated growth in educator shortages—a recipe for disaster that can be avoided, but only if Congress acts quickly and decisively.
To help stop COVID from spreading and encourage people to re-enter the workforce, Congress needs to guarantee access to emergency sick and family caregiving leave for all workers, including those in the public sector.
CHEER:Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) led a Dear Colleague letter urging President Biden and Senate and House leadership to reinstate and expand emergency paid sick and family caregiving leave in the FY2022 funding bill or future COVID-19 relief packages.
CHEER:Reps. Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Julia Brownley (D-CA) introduced the Scratch Cooked Meals for Kids Act to encourage school districts to serve—and equip and compensate food service professionals to prepare—meals that use whole, fresh ingredients instead of pre-assembled or processed meals.
CHEER:Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), and John Katko (R-NY) are leading the introduction of the Keeping School Meals Flexible Act (H.R. 6613), which would allow USDA to establish, grant, or extend waivers for federal child nutrition programs until June 30, 2023.
CHEER:Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) announced that they have reached agreement on a bipartisan, modernized Violence Against Women Act.
