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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 25, 2000

News Release

Stalled Congress Sneaks Home to Campaign, Failing to Deliver for Education

"If They Think No One is Noticing, They're Wrong"

Washington, D.C. -- National Education Association President Bob Chase decried Congressional leadership's failure to bring any meaningful education legislation to a vote, while providing a "free pass" for members to go home and campaign - "no doubt extolling their education achievements," said Chase. "Congressional leaders said they would adjourn last month, then it was last week, and now they're claiming to leave town this week. All the while, they have not been able even to pass basic appropriations bills that enable the government to operate."

The Congressional standstill is jeopardizing funding to hire and train new teachers, reduce class size, modernize schools and provide afterschool programs. Chase praised President Clinton's decision to deny continued stopgap-spending measures that allow Congressional leaders to continually postpone action on appropriations bills. This reliance on stopgap spending measures is what eventually lead to the government shutdown of 1995.

"At stake is $25 billion in interest free school modernization bonds, $1.3 billion in grants for urgent school repairs, $1.75 billion to hire an additional 20,000 teachers to reduce class size, $400 million for additional after school programs, and over $500 million for teacher quality programs," said Chase.

Typically the final weeks of the Congressional session are marked by a frenzy of activity and negotiation to complete work on critical appropriations bills, but this year is signified by short work weeks and stop-gap continuing resolution measures. Chase expressed outrage over inaction on funding for education while members spend long weekends at home campaigning. "Every member of Congress ought to stay in Washington until they complete work on appropriations bills," Chase said. "If they think no one is noticing, they're wrong.

"With Congressional Budget Office projections of a five-year non-Social Security surplus of $695 billion, there is no excuse for not devoting a fraction of the surplus to reduce class size, hire new teachers, modernize schools and provide students afterschool learning opportunities," said Chase.

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