Success Stories

The pro-public education Congress YOU helped elect has been listening to your calls and e-mails! Congress adjourns this weekend for a congressional recess (two weeks for the House; one week for the Senate) after passing a number of pro-public education bills supported by NEA. Victories for educators, schools, and students include:

Increased education funding for this year

Congress passed a year-long "continuing resolution" providing an increase of $1 billion for education programs, including for Title I, special education, and Pell Grants.

Increased education funding for next year 

Both the House and Senate passed budget resolutions that would provide $6 billion more for education than requested by the President. The budget resolution provides a blueprint for how federal funds will be spent in the coming year.

Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act

The Senate passed a five-year extension of this critical program, which ensures a consistent funding stream for schools in rural, timber-dependent counties. The House passed a one-year extension of the program.

Educator tax deduction

The Senate passed an amendment to its budget resolution that would make permanent the tax deduction for educators' out-of-pocket classroom supply expenses, increase it from $250 to $400, and extend it to cover professional development expenses.

Student loan rates

The House passed the College Student Relief Act, which would reduce the interest rate on subsidized student loans by half.

Children's health

Both the House and Senate included $750 million in funding for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) in emergency "supplemental" funding bills for the current fiscal year. This funding is necessary to ensure continued services to eligible children.

School bus safety

The House passed a bill requiring a comprehensive assessment of the threat of a terrorist attack on the nation's school bus transportation system.

Minimum wage

Both the House and Senate passed bills increasing the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour.