News

Thank you, Hill Day Heroes!

On Thursday, November 12, six buses pulled up to Garfield Circle in Washington, D.C., and a sea of black and white umbrellas made their way to Capitol Hill.

a handful of PA educators with umbrellas walking, Capitol building in the background

Our Hill Day Heroes on the move! (Photo credit: Kate Patterson/PAEA)

Some 260 PA educators and students fanned out across the various legislative buildings, visiting a whopping 150 Congressional offices in less than three hours.

Capitol Hill is a bit of a maze; maps came in handy.

Maps came in handy when navigating to the various legislative offices. (Photo credit: Kate Patterson/PAEA)

They talked with legislators and their staff about what PA students and educators need, and they asked them to support the new PA Education Modernization Acts.

close up of 2 PA educators sitting at table

Members of the North Dakota delegation make their case. (Photo credit: Kate Patterson/PAEA)

The response was enormous. On Monday, November 16, the public health bill gained two new cosponsors and the higher education bill gained three. All of these cosponsors were visited on Hill Day:

HR 3943 (Public Health) New Cosponsors

  • Rep. DeLauro (D-CT-3)
  • Rep. Rangel (D-NY-13)

HR 3944 (Higher Education) New Cosponsors

  • Rep. DeLauro (D-CT-3)
  • Rep. Rangel (D-NY-13)
  • Rep. Kaptur (D-OH-9)
PAEA's Head of Research Tony Miller and President Elect Jennifer Snyder talk with XXXX.

PAEA’s Head of Research and Policy Tony Miller and President Elect Jennifer Snyder talk with Tim Perrin from Polsinelli, the lobbying firm that helped us make Hill Day happen. (Photo credit: Kate Patterson/PAEA)

We made a big impression…

2 educators and 1 student in white coat smiling excitingly

Fun in front of Senator Elizabeth Warren’s office. (Photo credit: Kate Patterson/PAEA)

…but our work has just begun.

PA educators from XXX talking with ...

PA educators from Arkansas talking with a health staffer. (Photo credit: Kate Patterson/PAEA)

Stay tuned for more ways to help move this important legislation forward.

PA educators and students from XXXX came out in force! Here they are before heading into XXXX's office.

PA educators and students from Michigan came out in force! Here they are before heading into Senator Gary Peters’ office. (Photo credit: Kate Patterson/PAEA)