U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative:
On behalf of our 3 million members and the students they support and teach, we submit these comments and amendment vote recommendations on H.R. 8800, the fiscal year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Votes on the amendments may be included in NEA’s report card for the 119th Congress.
We urge you to VOTE NO on the rule for considering the NDAA because doing so would incorporate the so-called SAVE America Act, the voter suppression bill to “solve” a problem that does not exist: rampant voting by people who are not U.S. citizens. The House has already voted on it and the Senate has rejected it repeatedly. Adding this bill to the NDAA is playing politics, and is unacceptable.
The Federal Education Association (FEA), an NEA affiliate, represents 6,000 educators in Department of Defense Activity (DoDEA) schools stateside and overseas. Wherever they live and work, our members are passionate about ensuring that our nation’s students have access to a public education that inspires their desire to learn. For DoDEA educators, this mission takes on special significance and urgency—their students face unique challenges, including multiple deployments and relocations.
We are pleased that the bill would prevent reductions-in-force in DoDEA schools; restore collective bargaining for civilian Department of Defense (DoD) employees and DoDEA educators; and enhance medical coverage in Guam, Japan, and elsewhere for civilian DoD employees, including DoDEA educators.
With regard to amendments, we urge you to VOTE YES on any that would make meaningful reforms to immigration enforcement by ICE and Border Patrol to help prevent future violence and harm to our children and communities.
We urge you to VOTE NO on the:
- Amendment by Rep. Bob Onder that would strike Sec. 1115, the bipartisan provision restoring collective bargaining for DoDEA educators
- Amendment by Reps. Claudia Tenney and Addison McDowell that would undermine the highly successful DoDEA school system by establishing a pilot school voucher scheme for military families
- Amendment by Reps. Nancy Mace and Claudia Tenney that would target and heighten the risk of discrimination against a marginalized student community in DoDEA schools
- Amendments that would hurt LGBTQ+ individuals by stoking hostility or making them the targets of derision and harassment. Such measures degrade the nurturing environments that promote learning and growth.
Military-connected students face many challenges, as do the educators who are dedicated to supporting them. We urge you to take into account their unique circumstances and sacrifices, and vote accordingly on amendments to the FY27 NDAA. Thank you for considering our views.
Sincerely,
Kimberly Johnson Trinca
Director of Government Relations
National Education Association
