The good news is what did NOT happen last week: a government shutdown or a vote on the most extreme education funding bill ever to reach the House floor.
You played an important role in that victory, sending more than 125,000 calls and messages to Congress on education funding in the last 4 months alone.
On Wednesday, Speaker Johnson pulled the extreme education funding bill from the floor—among other things, it would have slashed Title I funding by 80 percent and wiped out 224,000 teacher jobs. He pulled the bill because it would have failed. It had never even passed the Appropriations Committee.
The day before, by about the same bipartisan margins as last time, the House passed a second continuing resolution since signed into law by President Biden. This one extends current funding levels through early 2024 in two steps. Funding for 4 agencies expires Jan 19, while funding for the rest—including education—expires Feb. 2.
In closing, NEA again salutes the victory made possible by your advocacy. I am thankful for your efforts and voices. Enjoy the holiday!
In solidarity,
Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association
CHEER: Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the Senate companion to the NEA-supported Child Care Nutrition Enhancement Act (S. 3294) that would improve the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), including by raising reimbursement rates for snacks and meals.
CHEER: The U.S. Senate rejected S.J. Res. 43, which would have overturned the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan that has reduced payments to zero for more than half of the 5.5 million borrowers enrolled in it.
CHEER: Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) introduced the Protection of Kids in Detention (PROKID) Act (S. 3323) to improve and enforce transparency, protection, and accountability for all immigrant children in government custody.
CHEER: Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (OR), Mark Takano (D-CA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), and Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) are leading a Dear Colleague letter opposing the inclusion of a “parents bill of rights” in the National Defense Authorization Agreement.
