We scored several victories during last week’s markup of the FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act(NDAA). The bill governs Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools, here and overseas, where educators are represented by the Federal Education Association (FEA), an NEA affiliate.
As NEA and FEA urged, the bill extends the current maximums for student-to-teacher ratios, requires the Secretary of Defense to report on efforts to reduce standardized testing, and re-establishes a transfer program for DoDEA educators overseas.
Unfortunately, it also creates a voucher-like program in DoDEA Bahrain that would rob schools of resources and students of First Amendment, due process, and other fundamental rights. The absence of accountability invites fraud and abuse—especially when funds go to schools or institutions outside the purview of the United States, as they would in Bahrain.
Our goal now is to eliminate the voucher program when the full House votes.
We’ll also continue fighting to improve the Farm Bill advanced by the House Agriculture Committee in a largely party-line vote. (See cheers and jeers below for details.) The bill slashes funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by $30 billion over the next decade. As many as 17 million children could lose access to nutritious food every month.
Strong opposition to slashing SNAP could lead to changes in the bill.
The outline for the Farm Bill developed by Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) stands in stark contrast to the House bill. It protects and strengthens SNAP, America’s first line of defense against hunger, while furthering additional NEA priorities. Work on the bill is expected to continue in both chambers, potentially until after the November elections.
On Memorial Day, we will join in honoring and mourning the soldiers who died while serving our nation. Meanwhile, tell Congress what you think!
In solidarity,
Marc Egan
Government Relations Director
National Education Association
CHEER:Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Matt Cartwright (D-PA) reintroduced the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which protects the right of public employees to join unions and engage in collective bargaining on behalf of middle-class workers.
CHEER:Reps. Jeff Jackson (D-NC) and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced an amendment to the FY2025 NDAA that would re-establish the transfer program for DoDEA educators overseas.
CHEER:Every Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee voted YES on an amendment to eliminate the voucher-like program in DoDEA Bahrain, introduced by Rep. Jill Tokuda (D-HI) during the NDAA markup.
CHEER:Rep. David Scott (D-GA), Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee, urged colleagues to vote NO on the NEA-opposed Farm Bill.
CHEER: 21 Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee voted NO on the NEA-opposed Farm Bill: Reps. David Scott (GA), Jim McGovern (MA), Jim Costa (CA), Alma Adams (NC), Abigail Spanberger (VA), Jahana Hayes (CT), Shontel Brown (OH), Sharice Davids (KS), Elissa Slotkin (MI), Andrea Salinas (OR), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA), Jill Tokuda (HI), Nikki Budzinski (IL), Gabe Vasquez (NM), Jasmine Crockett (TX), Jonathan Jackson (IL), Greg Casar (TX), Chellie Pingree (ME), Salud Carbajal (CA), Angie Craig (MN), and Darren Soto (FL).
JEER:Every Republican on the House Armed Services Committee voted NO on the amendment to eliminate the voucher program in DoDEA Bahrain, introduced during the NDAA markup.
JEER:Every Republican and 4 Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee voted YES on the NEA-opposed Farm Bill: Reps. Don Davis (NC), Sanford Bishop (GA), Eric Sorensen (IL), and Yadira Caraveo (CO).
