Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1535219
The Background I N M A R C H 2 0 2 5 , President Trump signed an executive order to dis- mantle the Department of Education, putting billions of dollars in vital funding for public school students in jeopardy. Several thousand Depart- ment of Education staff have been laid off and school districts across the country have received conflicting and confusing directives, including threats from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to withhold funding for school meal programs for children living in poverty. Currently, $2.7 billion in critical federal funds goes to schools state- wide to provide meals for more than 3 million students — for many children the only nutritious meal they have available. And federal funding enables California schools to provide services to more than 800,000 stu- dents with disabilities, over 15% of all California students. Roll Call CTA delegations asked to meet with the following members of Congress, who represent districts at high risk with threatened federal cuts to school meals, Special Education support and more. Representatives who refused to meet are noted. • Rep. Ken Calvert, Congressional District 41, Corona • Rep. Vince Fong, CD 20, Bakersfield • Rep. Darrell Issa, CD 48, Temecula — no meeting • Rep. Kevin Kiley, CD 3, Rocklin • Rep. Young Kim, CD 40, Anaheim • Rep. Doug LaMalfa, CD 1, Chico — no meeting • Rep. Tom McClintock, CD 5, Modesto — no meeting • Rep. Jay Obernolte, CD 23, Hesperia • Rep. David Valadao, CD 22, Hanford Chico Unified Teachers Assn. President Charlie Snyder stands outside of Rep. Doug LaMalfa's office; LaMalfa refused to meet with Snyder and others in the CTA delegation. Left to right: CTA Pre-Retired member Dennis Kennedy, CTA Board Member Greg Abt, a legislative aide, Rep. Jay Obernolte, Hesperia Teachers Assn. President Jim Resvaloso and a legislative aide. CTA Board Member Jesse Aguilar (at far end of table), Andrew Camacho, Lynn Childree, Steve Comstock, Ed De La Vega, Rafael Gonzales and Amy Kilburn met with Rep. Vince Fong's staff. CTA/NEA-Retired member Kelly Villalobos, CTA Board Member Eva Ruiz and Los Banos Teachers Assn. member Jennifer Wilkin tried to set up a meeting with Rep. Tom McClintock, who never responded. They went to his office during designated walk-in hours but found the door locked. 25 M AY 2 0 2 5