The U.S. Committee on Education & Labor held a hearing recently on the chronic underfunding of America’s public schools.  5th District Congresswoman Jahana Hayes is a member of the group. 

The 2016 National Teacher of the Year says she wanted to help the committee understand the educator uprisings in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Arizona, Kentucky, Los Angeles and in Denver.  She said if Congress thinks teachers are striking for salaries alone, then they don't get it. 

Walkouts have been started this school year over pensions, crumbling infrastructure and having top buy supplies with their own money. The committee touted the Rebuild America’s School Act as not only helping students, but also the economy. By investing more than $100 billion in school infrastructure, they say this bill would create 1.9 million good-paying jobs for local workers.