The U.S. House of Representatives voted on July 1 for $10 billion to avert massive teacher layoffs and $5 billion in Pell Grants to aid college students with tuition. An estimated 138,000 jobs will be potentially saved due to the approval. Click here to read more.
“Today, as a direct result of educators’ voices and efforts, we are a step closer to making sure children do not have to bear the brunt of our nation’s economic woes,” said NEA President, Dennis Van Roekel.
The American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, both of which are National affiliates of the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel, have been pressuring Representatives to take a stand against the Obama Administration’s comments to veto the bill. In the weeks leading up to the vote, NEA and AFT members made phone calls, wrote letters and emails to Congress demanding they vote to approve funding.
“It’s deeply disappointing that a Democratic administration would threaten to veto a jobs bill because paying for it would require a negligible cut from its new pet programs. We understand the administration wants to protect its favorite programs for future disbursements, but we need to protect kids and this generation of new teachers now,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten.
Action moves next to the Senate. The Alliance encourages all members to join with our NEA and AFT affiliates to continue to put pressure on our Senators and encourage them to pass the Education Funds Jobs.
Click here to email your Senator and ask them to support education funding.
Together we can make a difference!