HR 4658
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Bill overview
This bill, titled the Stopping Teachers Unions from Damaging Education Needs Today Act, aims to reform the National Education Association (NEA) by imposing stricter requirements on how it accepts dues from government employees and limiting its political activities. Specifically, it mandates that employees must explicitly consent to membership and dues payments, prohibits payroll deduction, and restricts the NEA’s ability to engage in political activities, promote certain ideologies, or participate in strikes. The bill also repeals the NEA’s exemption from paying District of Columbia property taxes and requires the NEA to submit annual reports to Congress.
Key provisions
- Requires explicit consent for dues payments from government employees.
- Prohibits NEA from using payroll deduction for dues.
- Restricts NEA’s political activities and contributions.
- Prohibits the NEA from promoting critical race theory or advocating for related concepts.
- Requires NEA officers to be U.S. citizens.
- Mandates annual reports to Congress.
- Prohibits NEA from calling or participating in strikes.
- Repeals the NEA’s exemption from District of Columbia property taxes.
Who is affected
- National Education Association (NEA)
- Teachers and educators
- State and local government employees
- Public schools
- Union members
Notable changes
- Eliminates the NEA’s ability to accept dues through payroll deduction.
- Restricts the NEA’s political spending and advocacy.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 4658
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To amend chapter 1511 of title 36, United States Code, to impose certain requirements on the National Education Association, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Stopping Teachers Unions from Damaging Education Needs Today Act STUDENT Act
or the
.
Congress finds the following:
The National Education Association (referred to in this section as the NEA
) was chartered in 1906 by an Act of Congress (34 Stat. 804, chapter 3929) to elevate the character and advance the interests of the profession of teaching; and to promote the cause of education in the United States
(36 U.S.C. 151102) and remains the only labor union that has a Federal charter.
By continuing to hold its Federal charter, the NEA’s actions and advocacy effectively receive Congress’ seal of approval.
The NEA can no longer be considered a patriotic or national organization worthy of its Federal charter as it has drifted substantially from its core mission and become a massive political operation dedicated to electing Democrats and imposing a radical progressive agenda on the schools of the United States.
In July 2019, NEA members held an assembly and voted against adding a business item to the organization that stated: The National Education Association will rededicate itself to the pursuit of increased student learning in every public school in America by putting a renewed emphasis on quality education. NEA will make student learning the priority of the association
.
In the same assembly, NEA members voted in support of the right to an abortion, supporting illegal immigration, and expanding professional development for educators to help create student Gender Sexuality Alliance clubs.
According to disclosures made to the Office of Labor-Management Standards, from September 2019 to August 2021, the NEA spent over $116,700,000 on political activities and lobbying, and in the 2020 election cycle, 95.7 percent of candidate campaign contributions by the NEA went to Democrat candidates.
The NEA adopted measures in July 2021 to support critical race theory, calling it reasonable and appropriate
, and to spend $56,500 on researching and shaming organizations fighting the inclusion of critical race theory in schools.
ADL) due to the ADL’s position on Israel and countering antisemitism. Cutting ties would mean no longer using ADL materials on antisemitism and Holocaust education nor promoting the ADL’s statistics or programs.
At the same assembly, the NEA members voted to refer to President Donald J. Trump’s policies as fascism
.
Section 151103 of title 36, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
Except as otherwise provided in this section, eligibility for membership in the corporation and the rights, obligations, and designation of classes of members are as provided in the bylaws.
Section 151105 of title 36, United States Code, is amended—
in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking The
and inserting (a) Powers.—The
; and
by adding at the end the following:
The corporation shall comply with the following requirements:
The corporation, or a director or officer of the corporation as such, may not contribute to, support, or participate in any political activity or in any manner attempt to influence legislation.
discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, or national origin; or
establish or observe any quota based on race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, or national origin in matters concerning membership, corporate governance, or personnel.
Each officer of the corporation shall be a citizen of the United States.
the District of Columbia;
each State in which it is incorporated; and
each State in which it carries out activities.
The corporation shall keep—
The corporation shall submit to Congress an annual report on the activities of the corporation during the preceding fiscal year.
The Attorney General of the United States may bring a civil action in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for appropriate equitable relief if the corporation—
On dissolution or final liquidation of the corporation, any assets remaining after the discharge or satisfactory provision for the discharge of all liabilities shall be either deposited in the Treasury of the United States as a miscellaneous receipt or divided equally among employed individuals who are, at the time of dissolution or final liquidation, members of the corporation or any of its State or local affiliates.
No part of the compensation received for work performed on behalf of the corporation, or any of its State or local affiliates, by any officer or representative of the corporation, or any of its State or local affiliates, who is an employee of a State or local government (as such terms are defined in section 3371 of title 5), may be derived from payments made by the State or local government to the corporation or its officers or representatives.
The corporation and its State or local affiliates shall not—
require or encourage staff, officers, affiliates, or members to affirm, adopt, or adhere to any belief of concept that—
the United States is fundamentally or irredeemably racist or sexist;
an individual, by virtue of sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin—
is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously; or
should be blamed for actions committed in the past by other members of the same sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin;
an individual’s moral character is necessarily determined, in whole or in part, by the sex, race, ethnicity, religion, color, or national origin of the individual; or
promotes antisemitic beliefs or practices, including beliefs that perpetuate harmful stereotypes about Jewish people, deny or minimize the Holocaust, or promote hatred or discrimination against Jewish individuals based on identity, ancestry or connection to and beliefs about Israel; or
call, or participate in, a strike, work stoppage, or slowdown affecting a State or local government (as such terms are defined in section 3371 of title 5); or
condone any activity described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph by failing to take action to prevent or stop such activity.
Section 151106 of title 36, United States Code, is repealed.
The analysis for chapter 1511 of title 36, United States Code, is amended by repealing the item relating to section 151106.