Team NEA Hosts Breakfast Reception for New Members of Congress

This morning I participated in a breakfast reception hosted by Team NEA for the new members of Congress and state presidents. The reception was held inside the United States Captiol building on this snowy morning in the Washington, D.C. metro.

I was pleased that both new members of Congress from Iowa were able to join us. The first to arrive was Congressman Dave Loebsack (CD 2). I am pictured here with Congressman Loebsack and NEA Executive Committee member Becky Pringle. Congressman Loebsack shared with us that he was granted his request to serve on the sub-committee on the reauthorization of the Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA/NCLB). As a college professor he set aside his own personal interest to work on a Higher Education sub-committee to honor the top priority of his wife, Terry. Terry is a newly retired/ISEA member of 35 years of teaching 2nd grade in Mount Vernon and Iowa City, IA. Executive Committee member Pringle's request to Congressman Loebsack was to keep the lines of communication open with NEA.

Also making time in his busy schedule to participate in the breakfast reception was Congressman Bruce Braley (CD 1). Congressman Braley (on the left) is pictured here with Team NEA Vice President Dennis Van Roekel and me. Congressman Braley shared with Vice President Van Roekel that his wife is a teacher and member of ISEA/NEA at Waterloo West High and his mother was a teacher in Brooklyn, IA. Congressman Braley does truly understand the difference great public schools make on the lives of America's children.

How lucky for Iowans and our nation's families that we have two new members of Congress that are making a positive difference in their lives!