Stopping Teachers Unions From Damaging Education Needs Today (STUDENT) Act

H.R. 4705, sponsored by Rep. Scott Fitzgerald

The STUDENT Act would amend the federal charter granted by Congress in 1906 to the National Education Association. The National Education Association is the largest teachers union in the United States. It is the only union with a congressional charter.

Since 1791, Congress has approved legislation granting charters to over 90 entities ranging from the Bank of the United States, the first to receive a congressional charter, to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Congress can also amend or repeal the charters.

A recent article co-authored by Rep. Fitzgerald notes, “When Congress granted the National Education Association a federal charter in 1906, it tasked the union with promoting ‘the cause of education in the United States.’ In so doing, lawmakers recognized it as one of the country’s official “patriotic and national organizations.”  The authors continue, “Today the NEA (along with the American Federation of Teachers) haunts public education with unparalleled influence in the service of advancing left-wing politics.”

The STUDENT Act amends the NEA’s federal charter to protect all members by ensuring their right to affirmatively consent to having their dues collected, prohibits the organization from using member dues for political purposes, and prohibits taxpayer-funds from being used to pay the salaries of the union officers.

Rep. Fitzgerald said, “I introduced the STUDENT Act to rein in some of the worst practices to help make the NEA less divisive, more in line with other federally-chartered organizations, and more responsive to the needs to students.”

Bill Status:  The STUDENT Act was introduced on July 18, 2023, and referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Additional Resources

OP ED: America’s Largest Teachers Union Isn’t Beyond Reform
July 18, 2023
Wall Street Journal, Scott Fitzgerald and Aaron Withe

PRESS RELASE: Rep. Fitzgerald: Fitzgerald Introduces Bill To Reform the National Education Association Federal Charter
July 19, 2023
Fitgerald.house.gov

Title 36 Congressional Charters
Congressional Research Service
Nov. 15, 2021