NEA - National Education Association

23/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 24/07/2024 01:25

National Education Association Recommends Vice President Kamala Harris for President

WASHINGTON- Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association, announced today that the largest labor union in the country is recommending Vice President Kamala Harris for president. The union represents educators living in every congressional district-teachers, bus drivers, custodians, librarians, college professors, and school support staff who faithfully cast their vote in election after election.

"In 2024, the future of our students, our public schools, and our democracy are on the ballot. With so much at stake, the 3-million-member strong National Education Association-the largest labor union in America-is proudly and enthusiastically announcing its support of Vice President Kamala Harris.

The choice for the nation is clear: we can elect a president who will make sure our students can live into their full brilliance by prioritizing our public schools or a president who will demonize them and corporatize our schools, minimizing who has access and opportunities.

This was an easy decision. Vice President Harris' track record speaks volumes, she shares educators' priorities: supporting our students no matter their race, where they live or how much money their parents make. She has worked to strengthen public education, build up the middle class, and resource our communities. Not only did Vice President Harris help shape the American Rescue Plan, the single largest investment in education, she cast the tie-breaking vote to advance it. And together, the Biden-Harris Administration changed lives - including educators' lives - by wiping away more than $168 billion in student debt, after years of public service to America's students and our communities.

Vice President Harris has delivered time and again for students and educators, and educators know we can count on her continued partnership in expanding access to free school meals for students, investing in student mental health, working to ensure no educator has to carry the weight of crushing student debt and, doing everything possible to keep our communities and schools safe.

Our students' futures will be shaped by the decisions made in the Oval Office over the next four years. The time is now to unite behind Kamala Harris, a champion for students, public education and working families, rather than a convicted felon who wants to tear down our nation and destroy our democracy so only the wealthy can benefit. Now is the time to reclaim public education as a common good and to elect a leader ready to work hand in hand with educators to promote, protect and strengthen our public schools."

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The National Education Association is the nation's largest professional employee organization, representing more than 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, healthcare workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.