EdAction in Congress February 23, 2020
Make higher education more affordable and accessible
Members of the NEA Board of Directors met with lawmakers earlier this month and urged them to reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA) and address the urgent need to make college more affordable and accessible. The College Affordability Act (H.R. 4674), a comprehensive reauthorization of the law, cleared the House Education and Labor Committee but has not yet come to the floor. NEA supports the bill and successfully advocated for expanding Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility to include adjunct and contingent faculty—a huge victory. Tell your representative to support H.R. 4674 and your senators that students and educators need a comprehensive HEA reauthorization. READ MORE and TAKE ACTIONFebruary 24-28 is Public Schools Week
A record number of lawmakers signed the bipartisan, bicameral resolution declaring February 24-28 Public Schools Week: 45 senators and more than 70 representatives—and still growing. The resolution recognizes the importance of our nation’s public schools and honors those who work tirelessly to support and strengthen them. Public education is the foundation of 21st century democracy. Our public schools are open to every child—regardless of ability, wealth, or country of origin—and 9 out of 10 students attend them. The Public Schools Week resolution sends an important message: Strengthening our public schools strengthens America. The House sponsors of the resolution are Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Sam Graves (R-MO); the Senate sponsors are Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jon Tester (D-MT). Urge your representatives to contact one of them and become a cosponsor. TAKE ACTION