April 29, 2018

Tell your representative to protect SNAP and school meals by opposing H.R. 2

The Farm Bill (H.R. 2) heading for the House floor includes harsh changes in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), our nation’s largest anti-hunger program. Formerly known as food stamps, SNAP helps feed one in five U.S. children. H.R. 2 could cause as many as 265,000 students to lose access to free meals at school; it also unnecessarily expands current work requirements for adults. Click on the take action button and tell your representative to protect SNAP by opposing H.R. 2.

Tell Congress not to create a voucher program for military-connected students

The Military Education Savings Accounts Act (S. 2517/H.R. 5199) could be attached to the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act, creating a voucher program for students with parents on active military duty. Like other forms of vouchers, education savings accounts divert resources to private, often religious, schools ill-equipped to provide comprehensive services and support. The proposed program could also reduce Impact Aid for public schools serving large numbers of military-connected students – one of the reasons the National Military Family Association and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) are against it. First action on the bill was this week in subcommittee and the proposal was not included. Help keep it that way by clicking on the take action button and telling your representatives to oppose any private school voucher program for military-connected students.

Tell Congress not to strip military educators of bargaining rights

The Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) is threatening to strip educators represented by the Federal Education Association (FEA), the NEA affiliate composed of educators who work in schools on military bases in the United States and overseas. The proposal could deprive FEA members of their bargaining rights and civil service protections under the pretext of increasing efficiency. Students in DoDEA schools are top performers despite challenges such as parental deployments and frequent moves. On the 2017 National Assessment of Educational Progress, the nation’s report card, DoDEA eighth-graders were number one in reading; DoDEA fourth-graders tied their counterparts in Massachusetts for the top score in mathematics. Click on the take action button and tell Congress to oppose using the National Defense Authorization Act to deprive DoDEA educators of their bargaining rights and civil service protections.

Cheers and Jeers

Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), David Cicilline (D-RI), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Don Beyer (D-VA), and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) for unveiling the newest plank in their economic agenda, “A Better Deal: Tools to Succeed in the 21st Century,” which calls for greater investment in science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics (STEAM) learning programs
Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) for giving floor speeches opposing the nomination of Stuart Kyle Duncan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Representative Anthony Brown (D-MD) for introducing a bill to raise the educator tax deduction from $250 to $500 and index it to inflation