Washington, D.C. – Today, the Senate cleared a major 60-vote hurdle to move forward with a bill that will prevent mass teacher layoffs and provide medical services to those in need. The bill will provide $10 billion to keep teachers on the job, including $117 million for Oregon school districts. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the funding will save the jobs of approximately 1,600 Oregon teachers, improving education for children throughout Oregon. After clearing the supermajority threshold of 60 votes required to move the bill forward today, the funding is scheduled to receive a final, up-or-down vote in the Senate Thursday evening. It must then be passed by the House of Representatives and signed by the President before becoming law and the funds become available.
Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the vote:
“Oregon parents and teachers have good reason to breathe a little easier today. After weeks of delay, the Senate is poised to pass a bill that will save the jobs of thousands of Oregon teachers. There has never been a more important time to go to bat for Oregon’s teachers and students and today we won a close victory.”
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