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You are here: Home / NEA Updates / NEA EdAction May 20, 2024

May 21, 2024

NEA EdAction May 20, 2024

National Education Association
EdAction In Congress
 

President Biden is preparing to sign into law the NEA-supported Maternal and Child Health Stillborn Prevention Act, which passed the House by a vote of 408-3 last week and the Senate by unanimous consent in September.

More than 23,000 U.S. pregnancies end in stillbirth every year—10 times the number who succumb to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the leading cause of death among children in their first year.

Research shows that as many as 1 in 4 stillbirths could be prevented—an effort in which this bill could play an important role. 

On a less encouraging note, last week the House passed the NEA-opposed Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) Reform Act (H.R. 354) by a vote of 221-185. The bill would allow off-duty and retired law enforcement to carry concealed firearms almost everywhere that is open to the public—including schools.

Expanding the presence of guns will NOT keep students and educators safe. Congress needs to enact commonsense reforms to help prevent gun violence.

On May 23, just a few days from now, the House Agriculture Committee will vote on a plan to slash funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), America’s first line of defense against hunger.

This unconscionable plan could deprive as many as 17 million children of nutritious food every month.

Coming later this summer is another House GOP plan to cut education funding—potentially by as much as 10 percent. We defeated their extreme bill last year, and we can do it again.

Keep sending those emails. Tell Congress what you think!

In solidarity,

Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association

FEATURED ACTION

Strengthen America’s Most Effective Anti-Hunger Program

Teachers and support staff know that welcoming, safe, and supportive learning spaces that are accepting of all cultures, languages, and identities help students do better in school. They can also help save lives.

Take Action  ➤
Children in line to receive a school meal

Congress Must Vote on Bills to Prevent Gun Violence

Commonsense gun laws deserve to get a vote in the House.

Take Action  ➤
a person holds a sign that reads ''we just want to live through high school''

THIS WEEK’S CHEERS AND JEERS

JEER: 205 Republicans and 16 Democrats voted for the LEOSA Reform Act (H.R. 354), which could increase the number of guns in all kinds of spaces—from schools to national parks.

Article by WHEA / NEA Updates

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