The only thing that’s more impressive than one NEA member in action is thousands.
When NEA delegates from across the country—elected by their local NEA affiliates—convened this month in Orlando for the NEA Representative Assembly, advocacy was top of mind.
Delegates considered key issues confronting students and educators during days jam-packed with business, and they took action on them.
Nearly 1,600 delegates sent more than 6,300 messages to Congress. They spoke out about commonsense gun laws, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, protections for LGBTQ+ students and educators, residency programs for aspiring educators, and other issues impacting their students, communities, and professions.
Among NEA’s top priorities is full funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Last week, the IDEA Full Funding Act was introduced by Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA). The bill would ensure Congress finally fulfills the federal government’s commitment to pay 40 percent of the average per pupil expenditure for special education. That promise was made almost half a century ago, and it is way past time for Congress to honor it.
Speaking of honoring commitments, Congress must protect and strengthen Social Security—our nation’s promise that if you work hard, you’ll one day be able to retire with dignity.
The Social Security 2100 Act, introduced by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rep. John Larson (D-CT), would repeal two penalties—Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)—that deprive more than 2.5 million Americans, including many educators, of their hard-earned Social Security benefits. It would also provide an across-the-board benefit increase, and improve the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment to reflect seniors’ true costs.
Let Congress know where you stand!
In solidarity,
Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association
CHEER: Reps. Mike Levin (D-CA) and Jahana Hayes (D-CT) introduced the Stop Child Hunger Act of 2023 (H.R. 4379), which seeks to strengthen the newly established permanent Summer EBT program. The Summer EBT program builds on the success of pilot programs and the Pandemic EBT program to fill good gaps for students from low-income families when school is not in session.
CHEER: Rep. Ann Kuster (D-NH) introduced the Preparing and Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act (H.R. 4550), bipartisan legislation to help recruit and retain paraeducators and educate students with barriers to learning. The legislation also seeks to ensure they have receive the pay and support they need to thrive.
JEER: During a House Armed Services Committee markup, all Republicans on the committee and Democrats Don Davis (D-NC), Jared Golden (D-ME), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Jeff Jackson (D-NC), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) voted in favor of establishing a Parents Bill of Rights for DoDEA schools, disregarding educators’ experience and expertise.
