Recognizing National Teachers Appreciation Week

Floor Speech

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Ms. HOYLE of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, this week is National Teachers Appreciation Week. The best way that we can show appreciation in Congress for our teachers is to fight for good wages, hours, and working conditions in the classroom.

In Oregon, the average starting teacher salary is a little over $39,000. That is lower than the national average. Educators also make 81 cents on the dollar compared to other professionals with similar experience, credentials, and degrees.

Mr. Speaker, 94 percent of U.S. teachers spend their own money on their students to ensure classrooms have the resources they need, like books, supplies, music, and art. Put this all together and it is no wonder teachers can't pay off their student loans or buy homes in the communities where they teach.

We need workers to be able to afford to buy homes in their communities, and we also need to raise teacher pay. Their current salaries aren't keeping up with the rising cost of living. The pay gap is only growing and creating a teacher shortage crisis.

That is why, on National Teachers Appreciation Week, I am proud to cosponsor the American Teachers Act, which would help States raise the minimum teacher salaries to $60,000 for public K-12 schools.

Mr. Speaker, I thank our teachers. It is far past time we back them up.

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