Congress is back and facing yet another manufactured crisis. Unless it acts soon, the Department of Education and other vital government programs will shut down on Oct. 1, when funding runs out and the new fiscal year begins.
In the Senate, all 12 necessary FY2024 funding bills have advanced through committee in a big bipartisan way. In the House, disagreement within the Republican majority—and with Democrats—has led to a stalemate on education and other funding bills, as well as shutdown threats.
Far-right extremists are using the same playbook they used last spring. Then, they held the debt limit hostage and threatened a catastrophic default. Now, they are holding our government hostage and threatening a shutdown that deprives pregnant women, infants, and children of food and healthcare.
The White House and congressional leadership—both chambers, both parties—support a short-term “continuing resolution,” though they differ on some details. That approach would maintain current funding levels and keep the government running while negotiations continue in Congress over education and other funding bills.
Time is running out. Less than a dozen legislative days remain between now and Oct. 1. Even if a shutdown is averted, Congress will wrangle for months over funding levels.
We must continue to oppose the extreme GOP House proposal—loudly—and broadcast the dire consequences, starting with how it would decimate Title I and eliminate key programs for students and educators.
In solidarity,
Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association
The House majority is pushing an education funding bill that would hurt students, eliminate nearly 248,000 educator jobs, and cut access to higher education.
CHEER: Republican Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (WV), Susan Collins (ME), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Mike Rounds (SD), and Todd Young (IN) joined Democrats in voting to confirm NEA-supported nominee Anna Gomez as FCC Commissioner. She will be the first Latina on the FCC in 20 years.
CHEER: Reps. Joe Morelle (D-NY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) introduced the Pell Grant Flexibility Act (H.R. 4931) to give students with disabilities the support and flexibility they need to earn a degree at a pace that works for them.
CHEER: Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA) introduced the Time Off to Vote Act (H.R. 4931), which would require employers to give their employees at least two hours of paid leave to vote in a federal election.
CHEER: Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced the Rebuild America’s Schools Act (H.R. 5049), which would create a $100 billion grant program and $30 billion tax-credit bond program targeting high-poverty school buildings that pose health and safety risks to students and staff.
CHEER: Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-PA) introduced the Tax Fairness for Workers Act (H.R. 4963) to restore the deduction for employees’ unreimbursed expenses and create an “above the line” deduction for union dues that even those who don’t itemize can use.
CHEER: Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Rep. Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR), Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), and Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution to designate the week beginning Sept. 11, 2023, National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week.
CHEER: Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced the Educator Expense Tax Deduction Act (S. 2731), which would raise the educator tax deduction from $300 to $1,000.
JEER: Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) introduced the Paycheck Protection Act (H.R. 4971) to prevent federal agencies from deducting union dues from their employees’ paychecks.
