Congress has acted to provide essential aid to state and local governments that is estimated to save or create nearly a million jobs for educators, public employees, police officers, firefighters and others. 

Several estimates predict that 300,000 jobs in public schools could be lost next year due to the recession. Funding provided last year by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) helped to prevent many of these layoffs – but that funding is set to expire at the end of this year!

To prevent this crisis in public education, Congress is considering a $23 billion education jobs package. 

Several estimates predict that 300,000 jobs in public schools could be lost next year due to the recession. Funding provided last year by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) helped to prevent many of these layoffs – but that funding is set to expire at the end of this year!

To prevent this crisis in public education, the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on a $23 billion education jobs package THIS THURSDAY.

It is imperative that we all make our voices heard THIS Wednesday, by participating in the Speak Up for Education & Kids National Call-in Day. 

Read on for How YOU can MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE...

On March 13, 2010 the Obama administration relased its blueprint for reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  The blueprint places an increased emphasis on upgrading existing standards across the country, with the goal of the United States leading the world in college completion rates by 2020. 

Health Care Reform is now the law of the land and 32 million previously uninsured Americans will have access to the health care coverage they need.  This historic achievement includes several important reforms and cost containment provisions.  The measure immediately provides adults with pre-existing conditions access to affordable insurance; prohibits health plans from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions...

On March 21, 2010 the U.S. House of Representatives voted 219-212 to approve the health care measure originally passed by the Senate in December. This measure will now be sent to President Obama for his signature. In addition, the House passed a separate “reconciliation bill” that includes a package of fixes to the Senate bill, and must be passed by the Senate. The combined bills would extend insurance coverage to approximately 32 million Americans, cut the deficit by over $1 trillion in its second decade, and prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing health conditions or from dropping people who get sick.

President Obama has urged members of Congress to seize the current historic opportunity and pass health care reform. The House, Senate and White House are working on a series of amendments or "corrections" – as part of a reconciliation bill – that would act as the vehicle to make adjustments to the original $871 billion Senate bill.*

On February 1, 2010, President Obama announced his FY 2011 Budget Proposal.  The President's budget proposes $50.7 billion for the Department of Education's discretionary programs, which represents a $3.5 billion (7.5 percent) increase...

The House and Senate have both passed their versions of health care legislation, and there are major differences between the two on key issues.

Although both the House and Senate bills increase the possibility for more people to obtain health care coverage and end some of the most egregious insurance company abuses, there are serious issues with the Senate measure that must be addressed.

The U.S. Senate is nearing a final vote on its health care reform proposal.  Once the legislation passes the Senate, it will be merged with the House health care bill in a Joint Conference.  While the Senators who supported the legislation should be congratulated for their efforts, there are several flaws that must be addressed as the bill is conferenced. 

December 6th, 2009 marked the beginning of the AFL-CIO's TV ad "Pass Health Care: Don't Tax Benefits." The ad will run for two weeks and can be viewed at www.aflcio.org/healthcare.

With the House health care measure already passed, the Senate has now unveiled its version of health care legislation. While Senate Majority Harry Reid should be congratulated for bringing us one step closer to meaningful health care reform, there is still much work to be done.

The House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies are currently working on the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget. While AFSA thanks the Obama administration, Secretary Duncan, and members of the 111th Congress for the historic levels of education funding created through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), there is growing concern that the ARRA funds are supplanting baseline budgetary funds in certain programs, specifically in Title I and IDEA. To address this issue, AFSA President Jill Levy sent a LETTER to members of the House and Senate Subcommittees along with an outline of AFSA’s  “Recommended Enhancements for a More Effective FY2010 Federal Education Budget.”

AFSA would like to encourage all of its members to send this  sample  to the  Subcommittee Members to express your support for sustained funding levels towards education. Your voice truly can make a difference! 

The Employee Free Choice Act must pass this year, and the time to get involved is now! Recently, AFSA President Jill Levy sent a letter and Employee Free Choice Act TOOLKIT to every member of AFSA. It is very important you call and write to your representatives in support of this critical piece of legislation. To assist you AFSA has provided this SAMPLE LETTER and CONTACT information for every member of Congress in states where AFSA has a Local. It is also essential that AFSA members be heard in the media in support of the Employee Free Choice Act. Please submit this  SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR to your local newspapers. With your help, and the work of the AFL-CIO and its affiliates, the Employee Free Choice Act will become law this year!

On July 2, 2009, Al Franken was confirmed to be the junior, Democratic Senator from Minnesota. After being stalled in court for several months, the affirmation of Senator Franken gives the Democratic Party 60 members in the Senate and a potential filibuster-proof majority.

This Act allocates $600 million specifically for the reconstruction of Gulf schools that were affected by 2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In addition, this legislation will award state grants to schools in order to perform essential reconstruction efforts that will create a better learning environment for students, faculty, and benefit communities as a whole. Following the Act’s passage in the House, AFSA President Jill Levy sent this letter to all members of Congress here who voted in favor of the bill and demonstrated their support for creating an environment in public schools where children will feel safe and ready to learn. AFSA will continue to monitor this important legislation as it moves through the Senate.

in both the House (H.R 1409) and Senate (S. 560). This legislation simply seeks to amend existing law by placing the decision to form a union in the hands of employees – where it should be. AFSA President Jill Levy sent the following letters to every Member of Congress, either thanking them for their co-sponsorship of the bill, urging them to continue the support of the bill that they displayed in the 110th Congress, or urging them to support this vital piece of legislation. To learn more about the Employee Free Choice Act and AFSA’s involvement in supporting this important piece of legislation, please refer to the Employee Free Choice Act Toolkit that was mailed to every AFSA member in February and can also be found under the “Help Support the AFSA Employee Free Choice Act Campaign!!!” section of the website.

The AFL-CIO has compiled an archive of past votes for every member of Congress and organized the representative as voting either “right” or “wrong” on an issue, when workers rights are at stake. You can find information for all members of Congress (dating back to 1996), by clicking here. Alternatively, you can go to www.afl-cio.org and clicking the link under “Legislative Action Center”; then under “Main Topics,” click “Congressional Voting Record.”

AFSA is a participating member of the Forum on Educational Accountability (FEA), a working group from among the 149 signers of the Joint Statement on NCLB. With input from AFSA, the FEA has submitted legislative recommendations that will greatly benefit school administrators. Please visit www.edaccountability.org to read this legislation and to find out more!