Following months of delays, Congress ended the week on the verge of finally fulfilling a basic function: it passed the remaining bills to support education and other vital public services into the fall, closing the books on FY2024 funding and averting a government shutdown.
The vote followed months of wasted time, caused largely by the dysfunctional House Republican majority that toyed with succumbing to far-right pressure to walk away from the previous budget agreement from nearly a year ago. The majority at last relented to the reality that in both chambers, most members support the original agreement.
Indeed, the education funding bill sticks closely to the agreement reached in debt ceiling negotiations last year, meaning overall funding for education is essentially level. That is a victory, however, and your voices were a crucial factor in making that happen.
As you know, the GOP majority unveiled an extreme plan last summer to cut education funding by 30 percent and gut Title I by 80 percent, which would have precipitated as many as 224,000 education job losses. NEA members’ activism helped shut that plan down. The final bill actually includes small increases for Title I, IDEA, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and minority-serving institutions (MSIs). A summary can be found here.
Of course, there is always more to be done to provide students with the tools to learn and grow, and educators with the support to thrive and remain in the profession. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) prepares students to learn, and the American Families and Workers Act of 2024 would reduce child poverty by raising the Child Tax Credit, and would also encourage construction of affordable housing. The Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act would put homeownership within the reach of more educators.
Help build support for all three by taking action below!
In solidarity,
Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association
P.S. Congress is now on a two-week recess. The next NEA EdAction in Congress will be emailed April 7.
CHEER: Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) were instrumental in moving forward the nomination and confirmation of NEA-supported judicial nominee Nicole Berner for the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Berner was confirmed by the Senate on March 19 and began serving the next day.
CHEER:Reps. Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Julia Brownley (D-CA) introduced the bipartisan Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act (H.R. 7748). The bill will provide school food service professionals with the tools to prepare nutritious meals.
CHEER: Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the Early Childhood Nutrition Improvement Act (S. 4002), NEA-endorsed legislation that would strengthen the Child and Adult Care Food Program, including by adding a third meal to ensure the youngest learners have access to nutritious food.