Congressman Cleaver votes to save 3,300 teacher jobs in Missouri
Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved legislation that will save or create 319,000 American jobs in local communities, including 161,000 teacher jobs, and also discourages American corporations from shipping jobs overseas. By a vote of 247 to 161, the House passed H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act. President Obama indicated he would sign the legislation into law later today.
The legislation includes $10 billion to save teacher jobs and $16.1 billion in health assistance to the states. The funding will also keep police officers and firefighters on the job. The bill is completely paid for.
“Education in America has changed since I sat in a classroom in Waxahachie, Texas,” said Congressman Cleaver,” Growing up, it was common to have teachers who stood at the front of the classroom with only a two-year degree under their belt. Today, most teachers hold a full four-year degree, and over half have earned master’s degrees. Our teachers are as educated as they have ever been, and they work equally as hard. The average primary or secondary school teacher works over 50 hours a week, including time spent helping kids find the right bus, directing fundraisers, and advising student clubs. They are a precious resource and an unflagging force, laboring daily for the public good.”
“As the economic crisis eroded the coffers of state and school districts, many of our teachers found their jobs in jeopardy. In the last few months it became clear that budgetary concerns in state and local governments all over our country threatened our schools. But last week my colleagues in the Senate approved a measure to infuse our cash-strapped states with the funds necessary to keep our teachers in the classrooms and off the unemployment lines,” said Cleaver.
The bill derives its funds from cuts to programs in current and future budgets. The bill also raises revenue by closing a tax loophole that has been exploited by multi-national companies who send jobs overseas.
According to estimates from the Department of Education, the $10 billion in education funding will save 161,000 teacher jobs nation-wide. The Economic Policy Institute estimates the Medicaid funds will save and create 158,000 jobs, including preventing the layoff of police officers and firefighters. More than half of these jobs will be in the private sector, including workers who contract for or supply services to state and local governments.
Under the bill, Missouri will receive an estimated $189 million in emergency education funding. It is estimated that 3,300 Missouri teacher jobs would be saved by this funding.
The legislation uses the same formula to distribute the education funds to states as was used in the State Fiscal Stabilization Fund under the Recovery Act. The formula allocates funds based on each state’s relative population of individuals ages 5 to 24 and of each state’s share of the total population. Governors will distribute funds to districts using the state’s primary funding formulae for K-12 education or each district’s share of Title I. Once the bill is enacted, Governors will be required to tell local school districts which formula they plan to use to allocate the funds to ensure districts can plan immediately to hire back staff.