Congress returned from recess this week and began work on the FY2023 appropriations process. President Biden’s budget proposal, released about a month ago, is a good start. But like most presidential budgets, it is as much a statement of values as a call to action.
The hard part lies ahead. Spending levels are supposed to be set by Oct. 1, when the fiscal year begins. That hasn’t happened in recent years, however. Spending levels were frozen at the previous year’s levels until mid-March, when this year’s budget was finally approved.
Teacher Appreciation Week starts tomorrow. Now more than ever, it is fitting that we celebrate educators and their unwavering fortitude, creativity, and love for students. Text CELEBRATE to 48744 to get texts all week long—reminders of how special both you and your profession are.
Next week, NEA’s Board of Directors is gathering in Washington, DC for its first in-person meeting in more than two years. Join them in urging your elected representatives to support the Safe Schools Improvement Act.
In solidarity,
Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association
You may be eligible for public service loan forgiveness. Register for a briefing with NEA and Department of Education student debt experts on May 3 at 7 p.m.
Students must feel safe in school to be curious, engaged learners, but this is not the reality for many LGBTQ+ students. This bill would help give those students the sense of security they deserve.
CHEER: Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX) is leading a congressional sign-on letter urging the House Appropriations Committee to support the expansion of Pell grants and TRIO program eligibility to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and undocumented students.
CHEER: Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO) introduced the STOP Violence Act (H.R. 7541) and the Safe Workplaces Act (H.R. 7540) to help prevent mass shootings and provide resources to victims, especially workers, who survive.
CHEER: Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) introduced the Help for Healing Communities Act (H.R. 7537), which would establish a grant program for eligible entities to provide community-based mental health services in communities in which an active shooter event or incident of targeted violence occurred.
CHEER: Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) introduced the Prioritizing Resources for Victims of Firearm Violence Act (H.R. 7533) to ensure that states allocate at least 10 percent of Victims of Crime Act funding to programs that provide mental health services to victims of firearm violence.
