United States Senate
Washington, DC 20010
Dear Senator:
On behalf of our 3 million members and the 50 million students they serve, we urge you to address the issues below in whatever legislative vehicle—or vehicles—moves during the post-election session. Votes on these issues may be included in NEA’s report card for the 118th Congress.
JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS
NEA advocates for the confirmation of fair-minded and ethical judges who are committed to civil and human rights. For the rest of the 118th Congress, we urge the Senate to make confirming every judicial nominee a priority—especially Karla Campbell for the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and Judge Mustafa Kasubhai for the District of Oregon.
GPO/WEP REPEAL
The Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) rob more than 2.8 million dedicated public servants, including many educators, of Social Security benefits they have earned. To fully repeal GPO/WEP, we urge you to support and push for a vote on the Social Security Fairness Act (S. 597).
EDUCATION FUNDING
Due to years of budget caps, ongoing education programs receive $13.6 billion less in annual appropriations than they received a decade ago (after adjusting for inflation). We urge you to adhere to funding levels in previously passed legislation and invest in targeted increases for the students most in need. Pass the FY2025 appropriation before the end of this legislative session.
RURAL SCHOOLS
The Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program helps support schools, roads, and other municipal services in more than 700 counties in 41 states and Puerto Rico. SRS made its last authorized payment in April 2024. Pass the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act of 2023 (S. 2581) before the end of this legislative session.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE SCHOOLS
The House version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (S. 4638) includes a voucher-like program administered by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) for schools in Bahrain. We urge you to eliminate this program because it would rob schools of essential resources and students of First Amendment, due process, and other fundamental rights.
INDIAN BOARDING SCHOOLS
Hundreds of thousands of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children were forced to enroll and assimilate in government- and church-run boarding schools. Many died, went missing, or were murdered; survivors were often the victims of abuse. Pass the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act (S. 1723) before the end of this legislative session.
Thank you for considering our priorities for the remainder of the 118th Congress.
Sincerely,
Marc Egan
Director of Government Relations
National Education Association
