Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today joined in introducing a bill to help prevent educator layoffs.

The economic downturn of the past two years has led to extremely tight state budgets.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – legislation that is helping rebuild the New Mexico economy – provided over $500 million over two years to support our state's schools and prevent educator layoffs that harm students and the future of our state.

While the economy is beginning to show signs of growth, state budgets continue to suffer.  Many New Mexico school districts have been forced in recent months to consider workforce reductions to remain solvent.  To bolster our public schools and prevent educator layoffs, Bingaman has joined Senator Tom Harkin in introducing the Keep Our Educators Working Act today.  The bill will create a $23 billion Education Jobs Fund to help keep teachers, principals, librarians and other school personnel on the job as states face crippling budget shortfalls.

"We cannot be a prosperous nation without an educated workforce.  As the economy gains strength, we need to continue investing in our schools and our children," Bingaman said.  "This legislation would help bolster schools budgets, keep teachers in classrooms and provide students with the best opportunities to learn."

New Mexico would receive approximately $150 million under the Keep Our Educators Working Act.  Funding could be used for:

• Compensation and benefits and other expenses necessary to retain existing employees, and for the hiring of new employees, in order to provide early childhood, elementary, secondary, or postsecondary educational and related services; or
• On-the-job training activities for education-related careers.

Cosponsors of the measure so far include: Senators Begich (D-AK), Bingaman (D-NM), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Burris (D-IL), Dodd (D-CT), Durbin (D-IL), Gillibrand (D-NY), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Merkley (D-OR), Mikulski (D-MD), Murray (D-WA), Schumer (D-NY) and Stabenow (D-MI).

Bingaman is a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee – the panel with jurisdiction over the U.S. Department of Education.