AFT President Randi Weingarten Welcomes Senate Passage of Omnibus Spending Bill

WASHINGTON—American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed a fiscal year 2023 omnibus appropriations bill:

“Congressional leadership and appropriators have made clear with this budget that our government is committed to funding a family-friendly opportunity agenda that helps all Americans thrive. By including important increases for cornerstone federal investments like healthcare and public education, and funding critical national priorities that keep our country secure, safeguard our democracy, and protect our safety at home and abroad, this bill puts money behind the promise to make our government truly of, by and for the people.

“Importantly, the package includes resources for some of the things kids and communities need to recover and thrive, including mental health services and child healthcare, career and technical education and job training, and investments in gun safety. It also increases funding for the NLRB and OSHA to help keep working people safe on the job, continues our important aid to the people of Ukraine, and makes critical bipartisan reforms to the Electoral Count Act to help ensure our elections are secure. 

“While we’re disappointed that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and the child tax credit were not included in the package, we hope Congress revisits them soon. We wholeheartedly support this bill’s passage and the congressional efforts to get the job done.”