1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support current congressional legislation in support of educator professional learning and career sustainability. The Respect, Advancement, and Increasing Support for Educators(RAISE) Act of 2025, H.R.1611 and S.1697, proposes to create new refundable tax credits for teachers, increase the educator tax deduction for school supplies, and increase funding for programs that support teacher recruitment, retention, and professional development. The Teachers Are Leaders Act (H.R.5056) proposes to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for teacher leader development, with a focus on high-need schools and colleges partnering to use funds for these programs to focus in areas like peer coaching and curriculum development, with the goal of improving teacher retention and student achievement. The Preparing and Retaining Education Professionals (PREP) Act (H.R.5476) aims to support evidence-based programs for developing a diverse and well-prepared teaching workforce by addressing shortages, supporting evidence-based programs, increasing diversity, enhancing partnerships and streamlining data collection and the use of program data to enhance overall quality. The American Teacher Act (H.R. 2021)focused on increasing teacher salaries, including provisions for teacher professional development through grants to state and local education agencies, with the intended outcome of minimum salaries of $60,000 annually, adjusted for inflation, plus cost-of-living adjustments and a national campaign to promote the teaching profession and encourage more people to enter it. I urge you to support each of these pieces of legislation in support of public education and the professionals who serve it, in committee, on the floor, and when a vote comes up for any and all of these bills. Thank you.