NEA Hopeful For Its Congressional Agenda, But Won't Depend Just On Dems - 12/20/06

By Doug Cunningham

When the 110th Congress convenes in January, controlled by Democrats for the first time in over a decade, the National Education Association has hopes that it will be easier to advance its education agenda. But NEA President Reg Weaver says that agenda still depends on a bipartisan approach, despite the Democratic win.

[Weaver]: “So we’re going to continue to work with Democrats, we’re gonna continue to work with Republicans , Independents to meet the goals and the objectives that we think are important to make it possible for every child to have access to a great public school. And hopefully the task will be much easier as a result of November 7th than what it was in the past."

The NEA’s congressional agenda includes maximizing education funding, passing the minimum wage increase, increasing the affordability and accessibility of health insurance, reduction of dropout rates and strengthening higher education through the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.