{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://figures.house.gov/media/press-releases/figures-booker-hayes-ezell-introduce-bipartisan-bill-cover-college-and-trade", "Figures, Booker, Hayes, Ezell to Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Cover College and Trade School Costs for Families of America\u2019s First Responders, Teachers, and Social Workers", "2026-09-24", "2026", "2026-09", "Democrat", "House", "AL", "Shomari Figures", "F000481", "figures.house.gov", "figures", "https://figures.house.gov/media", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Today, Rep. Shomari C. Figures (AL-02), Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Rep. Jahana Hayes (CT-05), and Rep. Mike Ezell (MS-04) will introduce the bipartisan Public Service Educational Assistance Act, a bill to support the families of critical public service employees by covering the full cost of higher education and training opportunities for the dependents of educators, first responders, and social workers.\n\n\"Educators, first responders, and social workers show up for us in our classrooms, our emergencies, and our hardest moments, year after year,\" said Booker. \"Their families carry that sacrifice too, often quietly, through long hours and stretched budgets. After 20 years of service, the least we can do is make sure their kids can go to college without drowning in debt.\"\n\n\u201cTeachers, social workers, and first responders dedicate their lives in service to our communities, oftentimes unable to provide opportunities they fight so hard for others to enjoy, to their own children,\u201d said Hayes. \u201cI am pleased to introduce the Public Service Educational Assistance Act alongside Congressman Figures to honor the work of public servants and make it easier for their own families to pursue higher education.\"\n\n\u201cAs someone who spent more than four decades in law enforcement, I know the sacrifices that come with a career dedicated to serving your community\u2014not just for the individual wearing the badge, but for their entire family,\u201d said Ezell. \u201cThe Public Service Educational Assistance Act recognizes that commitment by helping provide educational opportunities for the children of those who have devoted decades of their lives to public service. I\u2019m proud to help introduce this legislation to support the families of our law enforcement officers, first responders, educators, and others who dedicate their careers to serving their neighbors.\u201d\n\nThis legislation establishes a federal education assistance program covering the full cost of postsecondary education and training opportunities \u2013 including those enrolled in trade schools and vocational programs \u2013 for the dependents of educators, first responders, and social workers who have completed at least 20 years of qualifying service.\n\nThis bill is endorsed by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association.", 1, "2026-09-25T10:04:52Z", "2026-09-25T10:05:46Z"]], "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://figures.house.gov/media/press-releases/figures-booker-hayes-ezell-introduce-bipartisan-bill-cover-college-and-trade"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.423043828457594, "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"}