When will it ever be enough and when will it ever change? With Buffalo still on our minds, it happened again. It happened again in a school, like too many awful times before.
Nineteen priceless babies from Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, taken from their families by someone who legally purchased weapons of war on his 18th birthday. Two teachers who sacrificed to build a better future for their students taken from their families. The survivors will remember and bear the psychological scars for the rest of their lives.
The day after the Texas shooting—like parents, grandparents, and guardians all across America—my wife and I asked ourselves: Should we send our two precious babies to school? We did, but it was hard. We held them longer than usual, silently wondering what every parent is wondering: Can it happen at our school? Will my babies come home today?
Once again, America faces a choice. Do we continue to send our children the message that their lives are not important to us as a nation? Doing nothing sends exactly that message. Fighting the same fights with the same results—zero—sends exactly that message.
“What are you waiting for?” NEA President Becky Pringle asked in a letter to Congress. “Why do you spend all this time running for the United States Senate … if your answer is as the slaughter increases, as our kids run for their lives—we do nothing?” asked Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, where 26 people were gunned down at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012.
Keep an eye on Murphy and some of his Senate colleagues in the days ahead as they attempt to do something—anything—to make these uniquely American tragedies less likely.
We expect answers soon. Join us in demanding action. Is that too much to ask?
In solidarity,
Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association
Yes, it happened again. And everyone in America knows it will continue to happen if nothing changes. Congress, we are watching and want to know: What are you going to do?
Support the Social Security Fairness Act and the Social Security 2100 Act to repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) that deprive educators of benefits they have earned.
Extend the USDA waivers that empower schools to make free, nutritious meals available to all students during these uncertain times. The waivers played a critical role in supporting school nutrition operations during the 2021–22 school year, according to the Food Research and Action Center.
CHEER: Reps. Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Judy Chu (D-CA), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Connor Lamb (D-PA), and Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) sent a letter urging Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to bring Social Security 2100: A Sacred Trust (H.R. 5723) to the floor for a vote as soon as possible.
CHEER: Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO)tweeted after meeting with some of our aspiring educators after a week of action advocating for S. 3171/H.R. 3244: “Great meeting with @NEAToday about my Teacher, Principal, & Leader Residency Access Act. This bill will equip more diverse, passionate educators with the hands-on teaching experience they need.”
