News Release

Statement by National Education Association (NEA) President Reg Weaver on the Planned Cuts to Major Federal Services

WASHINGTON – “The NEA strongly opposes the significant cuts being planned as part of the budget reconciliation process – particularly those cuts that will affect the millions of students receiving necessary federal financial aid for their post secondary education.

“With more than 8 million postsecondary students receiving financial aid, and 70 percent of this support coming from the federal government, we know that this money is currently being used by those who need it most. This need will only grow in the next decade when undergraduate enrollment in colleges and universities will increase by 14 percent. Of those new students, 80 percent will come from minority backgrounds and one in five will live in poverty.

“Knowing this, it’s unreasonable for our country’s leaders to make dramatic cuts that affect those most in need, and will affect our future for decades to come. In short, these are the wrong cuts at the wrong time.”

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Oct. 18, 2005

For more information, contact:

Denise Cardinal , NEA Public Relations (202) 822-7239

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, college faculty, school administrators, education support professionals, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers.