For the second time in two weeks the U.S. Senate on Oct. 20 failed to pass a bill critical to student learning, this time voting down the Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act, part of President Obama's original Jobs Act designed to secure the future of our students and preserve educator jobs. Last week, the Senate failed to reach the 60 votes needed to move the Jobs Act forward. Pieces of the package were introduced as separate bills – offering another way to pass critical elements of the President’s plan. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) introduced the Fix America’s Schools Today (FAST) Act (H.R. 2948/S. 1597), which would have provided needed resources for school repair and modernization – a centerpiece of the Jobs Act.
The President introduced the Jobs Act, a bill designed to jumpstart economic growth and job creation, last month. The bill included resources to prevent educator layoffs and rebuild public schools and colleges. Calling for $30 billion to help prevent up to 280,000 teacher layoffs nationwide, the Jobs Act was designed to save 37,000 educator jobs in California. The reintroduced bills serve to preserve the intent of main aspects of the original Jobs Act.
LEARN MORE
College students, local leaders say region needs American Jobs Act
The American Jobs Act
More on the Jobs Bill
White House report: Teacher Jobs at Risk
NEA.org provides action links and data
View the Education Votes site for additional information
WHAT YOU CAN DO
Email Congress: Tell them to put Americans back to work and keep students learning!