A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that Members of Congress should substitute teach at least 1 day per year in a public school to gain firsthand knowledge on how to address the prevailing challenges facing educators and how to remove obstacles to learning for students.

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 426 Expressing the sense of the Senate that Members of Congress should sub- stitute teach at least 1 day per year in a public school to gain firsthand knowledge on how to address the prevailing challenges facing educators and how to remove obstacles to learning for students. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES NOVEMBER 14, 2019 Mr. KENNEDY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that Members of Con- gress should substitute teach at least 1 day per year in a public school to gain firsthand knowledge on how to address the prevailing challenges facing educators and how to remove obstacles to learning for students. Whereas teachers play a critical role in shaping the minds and lives of children; Whereas there are projected to be 3,200,000 full-time public school teachers in 2020; Whereas approximately 200,000 teachers leave the profession each year; Whereas in the 115th Congress, there were more than 2 times as many Members of Congress that had back- VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:22 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR426.IS SR426 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 426 IS grounds in public service or politics than Members of Congress that had backgrounds in education; and Whereas Members of Congress should be on the ground in public schools to understand the challenges that edu- cators and students face, including challenges relating to— (1) a growing shortage of teachers; (2) issues of teacher pay; (3) a lack of resources in both urban and rural areas; (4) teacher preparedness; (5) chronic absenteeism among students; (6) poverty; and (7) parental involvement: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) recognizes the contributions of teachers to 2 the United States; 3 (2) thanks teachers for their service; and 4 (3) recommends that each Member of Congress 5 spend at least 1 day per year serving as a substitute 6 teacher in a public school. 7 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:22 Nov 14, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR426.IS SR426 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS