Congressional Republicans introduce bill to repeal federal charter for large teacher's union

Republican Reps. Scott Fitzgerald and Jim Banks introduced a measure Thursday to repeal the century-old federal charter granted to the National Education Association, arguing the group has shifted too far to the left.

Fitzgerald, of Wisconsin, and Banks, of Indiana, members of the House's Republican Study Committee, argue the congressionally chartered labor union has abandon its core mission to "advance the interests of the profession of teaching; and to promote the cause of education in the United States."

Fitzgerald further argues: "Rather than supporting students, the NEA consistently put the interests of progressive teachers’ unions over the learning of students. It is time for Congress to say enough is enough and revoke the NEA’s federal charter," said Fitzgerald.

According to the committee, in recent years the NEA, which was granted the charter in 1906, has supported heavily partisan initiatives such as prolonged school closures during the pandemic and the inclusion of Critical Race Theory in curriculums.

Furthermore, during the last election cycle, the union gave 95.7% of its candidate campaign donations to Democrats. 

"There is now no daylight between the NEA’s agenda and the radical left’s agenda," said Banks, the committee chairman.

Their National Educational Association Charter Repeal Act is cosponsored by 16 GOP House members and endorsed by the National Right to Work Committee.

The measure likely has little chance of passing in the Democrat-controlled chamber but would have a strong chance of passage if the GOP wins control of the House in November.