{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-unveils-legislative-plan-transform-k-12-education", "Bonamici Unveils Legislative Plan to Transform K-12 Education", "2026-09-17", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "OR", "Suzanne Bonamici", "B001278", "bonamici.house.gov", "bonamici", "https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC [9/17/26] \u2013 Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced the Transforming Education for the Future Act, comprehensive legislation to modernize the K-12 education system and create a better future for students and families.\n\nThe American education system has experienced significant turbulence during the past decade, including the mismanagement and dismantling of the Department of Education, devastating effects of COVID-19, increased use of devices and social media, the rise of generative AI, and undermining of federal support for public schools. The Transforming Education for the Future Act provides the framework to address these critical issues and more. The legislation is the result of months of stakeholder outreach and member engagement.\n\nBonamici outlined her plan on the House floor. The video can be found here.\n\n\u201cFor decades, public schools have been asked to do more with less. Add to that the fact that we have seen many new and complicated challenges over the past ten years,\u201d Bonamici said on the House floor. \u201c...Circumstances have changed, but the American system of public education has not yet adapted. We need a public education system that meets the moment for today\u2019s students and tomorrow\u2019s. We need an education system that prepares students not to pass a test, but to think critically and build a future. We need to support the educators who make that possible. And we need to remove those barriers that stand between children and opportunity. The Transforming Education for the Future Act is a blueprint for doing just that.\"\n\nThe full text of the legislation can be found here. A summary of the legislation can be found here. The Transforming Education for the Future Act will:\n\nEmphasize a Well-Rounded Education for All Students\n\nFully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) so children with disabilities get the free and appropriate education and services they need and deserve.\n\nPromote hands-on project-based learning and inspire creativity and critical thinking by expanding access to career and technical education, arts, civics, humanities, and more.\n\nReduce state and federal reliance on standardized test scores and expand the use of multiple high-quality measures to capture a more accurate picture of student achievement.\n\nSupport Educators and Learning\n\nEnact policies to address discrimination and bias in K-12 schools, uphold civil rights, and address racial segregation.\n\nStrengthen the educator pipeline through historic investments in educator pay, improved working conditions, and ample resources for educators and staff.\n\nFund high-quality education research and promote transformational, evidence-based practices for student success and wellbeing.\n\nAddress Socioeconomic Barriers to Learning\n\nTriple funding for Title I to better serve students from disadvantaged backgrounds and the schools that educate them.\n\nEstablish free, universal preschool for all three- and four-year-old children through a federal-state partnership.\n\nEliminate stigma and reduce bureaucracy by making school breakfasts and lunches free for all children, provide summer meals and summer EBT, and streamline and expand the Child and Adult Care Food Program.\n\nRepeal the federal school voucher program, and restore funding and staff to the Department of Education so the federal government can effectively serve all students in all public schools.\n\nThe Transforming Education for the Future Act is endorsed by: American Federation of Teachers (AFT), American Psychological Association (APA), Glisten, National Association for Family, School, and Community Engagement (NAFSCE), National Center for Learning Disabilities, National Principals Association, National PTA, and the School Social Work Association of America.\n\n\u201cPTA firmly believes every child has a right to a high-quality, fair, equitable and well-rounded education as well as the tools and support to learn, succeed and thrive. Our association has long advocated for quality federal investments in our public education system, particularly for Title I, IDEA, Title IV-A, the Statewide Family Engagement Centers program and universal free school meals,\u201d said Dr. Bill Datema, president of National PTA. \u201cWe applaud Representative Bonamici for introducing the Transforming Education for the Future Act and leading the charge to ensure investments are prioritized in critical education programs and that every child has the support, programs, resources and services they need to reach their full potential.\u201d\n\nIn addition to the new policy objectives, this legislation also includes the following bills (alphabetically by legislation):\n\nAmerican Teacher Act (Rep. Frederica Wilson)\n\nArts Education for All Act (Rep. Bonamici)\n\nBlack History is American History Act (Rep. Beatty)\n\nChampioning Honest and Responsible Transparency in Education Reform (CHARTER) Act (Rep. DeLauro)\n\nExpanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act (Rep. DeLauro)\n\nFentanyl Awareness for Children and Teens in Schools (FACTS) Act (Rep. Bonamici)\n\nFull-Service Community Schools Expansion Act (Rep. Susie Lee)\n\nHolocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons (HEAL) Act (Rep. Gottheimer)\n\nIDEA Full Funding Act (Rep. Huffman)\n\nKeep Public Funds in Public Schools Act (Rep. Moore)\n\nKeeping All Students Safe Act (Rep. Beyer)\n\nMitigating Electronic Access Losses for Students (Rep. Bonamici)\n\nNew Essential Education Discoveries Act (Rep. Bonamici)\n\nPreparing and Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act (Rep. McBath)\n\nProtecting Our Students in Schools Act (Rep. Bonamici)\n\nReading Excellence and Achievement for Development (READ) Act (Rep. McBath)\n\nRight to Read Act (Rep. Grijalva)\n\nSafe Schools Improvement Act (Rep. Sanchez)\n\nSchool Violence Prevention Act (Rep. Hayes)\n\nSupporting the Mental Health of Educators and Staff Act (Rep. Bonamici)\n\nTeaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act (Rep. Meng)\n\nUniversal School Meals Program Act (Rep. Omar)\n\nThe Transforming Education for the Future Act is cosponsored by Representatives Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Nikki Budzinkski (D-IL), Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Angie Craig (D-MN), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Sylvia Garcia (D-TX), Adeltia Grijalva (D-AZ), Jared Huffman (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and, Andrea Salinas (D-OR), and Linda Sanchez (D-CA).\n\n###", 1, "2026-09-18T09:27:43Z", "2026-09-18T09:29:09Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://bonamici.house.gov/media/press-releases/bonamici-unveils-legislative-plan-transform-k-12-education"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.0144698899239302, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}