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NEA Celebrates Passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act
WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The National Education Association issued the following news release on Dec. 10, 2025:
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NEA celebrates passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act
Becky Pringle: "Every student in this country, regardless of ZIP code, should have access to strong opportunities and adequate resources."
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Yesterday, the United States Congress passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, renewing critical funding to supports rural counties with school resources, road maintenance, wildfire mitigation, public safety, and other essential community needs.
Rural schools
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- The National Education Association issued the following news release on Dec. 10, 2025:
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NEA celebrates passage of Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act
Becky Pringle: "Every student in this country, regardless of ZIP code, should have access to strong opportunities and adequate resources."
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Yesterday, the United States Congress passed the Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act, renewing critical funding to supports rural counties with school resources, road maintenance, wildfire mitigation, public safety, and other essential community needs.
Rural schoolseducate 20 percent of America's public school students - more than 7 million students in rural districts, plus another 2.5 million attending rural schools in districts not designated "rural" by the Census Bureau. These schools are not just places for students to learn - they are central to rural communities, providing places for educators, students, parents, and neighbors to gather and form community. With this reauthorization, counties will again be able to invest these funds to strengthen their schools.
"Every student in this country, regardless of ZIP code, should have access to strong opportunities and adequate resources," said Becky Pringle, president of the National Education Association.
Congress has consistently renewed the Secure Rural Schools Act with overwhelming bipartisan support, though the most recent reauthorization expired at the end of Fiscal Year 2023. The Secure Rural Schools Reauthorization Act will fund the program through Fiscal Year 2026.
"Our kids deserve rich and varied curricula. They need science labs and music. They need sports and art. And in a nation where one in five public school students attend a rural school, we need the Secure Rural Schools Act to ensure every public school student has what they need to learn and thrive," Pringle continued.
The national educator shortage is especially acute in rural communities, where salaries and working conditions often make it difficult to recruit and retain teachers, education support professionals, and other school staff. Rural school districts are often the largest employer in their communities, so educator shortages and any funding shortages have a disproportionate impact on the local economy in rural areas. The Secure Rural Schools Act helps counties strengthen their entire school ecosystem, including educators and the surrounding community infrastructure.
"I am thankful to every Member of Congress who stood up for America's students and educators and championed this critical legislation. The bipartisan support - which will be needed again next year - will result in direct support to providing students, regardless of where they live, a well-rounded and robust education that inspires them, sparks their curiosity, and prepares them for the future," said Pringle.
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The National Education Association is the nation's largest labor union, representing nearly 3 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support professionals, school administrators, retired educators, students preparing to become teachers, health care workers, and public employees. Learn more at www.nea.org.
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Original text here: https://www.nea.org/about-nea/media-center/press-releases/nea-celebrates-passage-secure-rural-schools-reauthorization-act
[Category: Union]
Small Credit Union Committee talks advocacy, engagement strategy
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 [Category: Financial Services] -- America's Credit Unions posted the following news:
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Small Credit Union Committee talks advocacy, engagement strategy
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America's Credit Unions' Small Credit Union Committee met for the final time in 2025 Tuesday. The meeting included an advocacy and compliance update, reflecting on the success of last month's Small Credit Union Conference, and looked ahead to next year's spring Small Credit Union Conference in New Orleans.
The compliance team provided an update on:
* Dismissed NCUA Board members Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka's challenge
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 [Category: Financial Services] -- America's Credit Unions posted the following news:
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Small Credit Union Committee talks advocacy, engagement strategy
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America's Credit Unions' Small Credit Union Committee met for the final time in 2025 Tuesday. The meeting included an advocacy and compliance update, reflecting on the success of last month's Small Credit Union Conference, and looked ahead to next year's spring Small Credit Union Conference in New Orleans.
The compliance team provided an update on:
* Dismissed NCUA Board members Todd Harper and Tanya Otsuka's challengeto be reinstated to the board (including this week's arguments in Trump v. Slaughter );
* NCUA priorities with Chairman Kyle Hauptman as the sole board member;
* A reminder that NCUA's succession planning rule is effective Jan. 1; and
* Needs related to H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill) guidance, including on auto loan provisions, remittances, and Trump Accounts.
The committee discussed new initiatives underway to enhance small credit union advocacy in 2026, and planned small credit union programs for the upcoming Governmental Affairs Conference.
Committee members also shared what they're hearing in their various regions across the country, and departing committee members Afena Federal Credit Union President/CEO Karen Madry, Fort Dodge Family Credit Union Manager Julie Pingel, Jersey Central Federal Credit Union President/CEO Chris Chichester, and Somerville's Credit union CEO Ron Draper were recognized for their multiple years of service on the committee.
The committee will meet next in January and welcome several new members.
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Original text here: https://www.americascreditunions.org/news-media/news/small-credit-union-committee-talks-advocacy-engagement-strategy
Registered nurses at St. Joseph hospital in Bryan, Texas vote decisively to join National Nurses Organizing Committee / National Nurses United
SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Dec. 10 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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Registered nurses at St. Joseph hospital in Bryan, Texas vote decisively to join National Nurses Organizing Committee / National Nurses United
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Registered nurses at CommonSpirit Health's St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital (St. Joseph Health) in Bryan, Texas voted decisively this week to join National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), the nation's largest and fastest-growing union of registered nurses.
"This is a great day for the nurses at St.
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SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Dec. 10 [Category: Union] -- National Nurses United issued the following news release:
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Registered nurses at St. Joseph hospital in Bryan, Texas vote decisively to join National Nurses Organizing Committee / National Nurses United
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Registered nurses at CommonSpirit Health's St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital (St. Joseph Health) in Bryan, Texas voted decisively this week to join National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), the nation's largest and fastest-growing union of registered nurses.
"This is a great day for the nurses at St.Joseph Health and for the patients in our community," said Tara Cassell, a registered nurse in the labor and delivery unit. "Nurses have come together to ensure that our voices are heard as we advocate for our patients. We were compelled to organize and form a union because of our deep concerns about our patients' safety and well-being. We are excited to build a strong contract that protects nurses and patients so we can provide the best care possible."
The election was held on Dec. 9 and 10 and was conducted by the National Labor Relations Board.
Nurses at the 316-bed facility say they voted to join the union because it is critical that nurses have a say in making decisions in patient care, staffing, and to help recruit and retain experienced nurses, which leads to improved patient care.
St. Joseph Health is owned by CommonSpirit Health, one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the nation. CommonSpirit Health made $1.1 billion in profits last year. In past years, the compensation for CommonSpirit Health CEOs has been among the highest for nonprofits in the country. Former CEO Lloyd Dean and current CEO Wright Lassiter, lll took home a combined $36.6 million in 2024. Nurses contend that CommonSpirit clearly has the funds to address the patient safety issues at St. Joseph Health.
"Nurses understand the importance of putting patient care and safety before profits," said Katie Oberhelman, a registered nurse in the medical unit. "As we bargain for our first contract, we will be negotiating for our patients. We must demand safe staffing in all our units and on every shift that takes into account the acuity of our patients. We must put in safeguards against workplace violence in order to ensure that our hospital is first and foremost a place of healing."
Nurses will now move to elect their bargaining team and prepare to negotiate their first contract.
NNOC/NNU now represents more 17,000 nurses at 33 CommonSpirit Health facilities across the country.
National Nurses United is the largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses in the United States with more than 225,000 members nationwide. NNU affiliates include California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, DC Nurses Association, Michigan Nurses Association, Minnesota Nurses Association, and New York State Nurses Association.
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Original text here: https://www.nationalnursesunited.org/press/rns-at-st-joseph-hospital-in-bryan-texas-vote-decisively-to-join-nnoc-nnu
Fed seeks information on future of Reserve Bank check services
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 [Category: Financial Services] -- America's Credit Unions posted the following news:
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Fed seeks information on future of Reserve Bank check services
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The Federal Reserve published a request for comment Tuesday, soliciting feedback on potential strategies for the future of the Reserve Banks' check services. Responses will be used to assess possible strategies for the future of the Reserve Banks' check services, including potentially substantial changes that may have longer-term effects on the payments system.
Check services allow a depository institution to send checks
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 [Category: Financial Services] -- America's Credit Unions posted the following news:
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Fed seeks information on future of Reserve Bank check services
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The Federal Reserve published a request for comment Tuesday, soliciting feedback on potential strategies for the future of the Reserve Banks' check services. Responses will be used to assess possible strategies for the future of the Reserve Banks' check services, including potentially substantial changes that may have longer-term effects on the payments system.
Check services allow a depository institution to send checksto the Reserve Banks for forward collection and choose various options for when and how checks are sent for collection based on deposit deadlines, the level of check sorting done by the depositing institution, and funds availability for checks deposited.
Future strategies could range from "foregoing needed investments to keep operating costs at existing levels, with expected service degradation over time; to significantly simplifying or substantially winding down the services," according to the notice.
The notice acknowledges the steady decline in check use and the Reserve Banks' aging check infrastructure.
Comments are due March 9. America's Credit Unions will issue a Regulatory Comment soliciting member feedback and will submit its comments informed by this feedback by the deadline.
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Original text here: https://www.americascreditunions.org/news-media/news/fed-seeks-information-future-reserve-bank-check-services
Engaging key policymakers to advance credit union priorities
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 [Category: Financial Services] -- America's Credit Unions posted the following news:
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Engaging key policymakers to advance credit union priorities
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Directly engaging with key policymakers, America's Credit Unions President/CEO Scott Simpson and the advocacy team met with Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, on Capitol Hill Tuesday. As chair of the House Small Business Committee, Williams invited Georgia's Own Credit Union Chief Commercial Banking Officer Mike Sims to testify in February on behalf of America's Credit Unions on ways to enhance people's access to credit unions.
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WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 [Category: Financial Services] -- America's Credit Unions posted the following news:
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Engaging key policymakers to advance credit union priorities
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Directly engaging with key policymakers, America's Credit Unions President/CEO Scott Simpson and the advocacy team met with Rep. Roger Williams, R-Texas, on Capitol Hill Tuesday. As chair of the House Small Business Committee, Williams invited Georgia's Own Credit Union Chief Commercial Banking Officer Mike Sims to testify in February on behalf of America's Credit Unions on ways to enhance people's access to credit unions.
"It was great to spend time with Chairman Williams, who has long championed credit unions and legislation that strengthens credit unions' ability to serve consumers across the country and strengthen communities. Working closely together, we can achieve more to advance, empower and protect the future of credit unions," said Simpson.
Williams also introduced legislation to repeal the CFPB's small business loan data collection requirements under Section 1071 of Dodd-Frank. These efforts ultimately led the CFPB under the current administration to re-propose the rule, with comments due to the bureau Dec. 15.
Simpson noted credit unions' ongoing support for the Expanding Access to Lending Options Act (H.R. 4167), which Williams has co-sponsored, and shared credit union and league work to advance bipartisan legislation to provide veteran-owned businesses additional access to capital, the Veterans Member Business Loan Act ( H.R. 507 ).
The group also thanked Williams for conducting a full committee hearing this week on supporting veteran entrepreneurs today, and America's Credit Unions submitted a letter for the hearing's record.
America's Credit Unions will continue to meet with legislators and other policymakers to advance credit union priorities in the last few weeks of the Congressional session.
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Original text here: https://www.americascreditunions.org/news-media/news/engaging-key-policymakers-advance-credit-union-priorities
Akron Metro CEO Quietly Rakes in Big Pay Bonuses While Workers Get Nothing
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 [Category: Union] -- The Transport Workers Union of America issued the following news release:
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Akron Metro CEO Quietly Rakes in Big Pay Bonuses While Workers Get Nothing
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The Transport Workers Union is blasting Akron Metro leaders and warning of a potential strike, partly because of secretive pay bonuses totaling around $72,000 given to Metro CEO Dawn Distler while workers have been denied raises.
Akron Metro Bus Operators and other workers, represented by Transport Workers Union Local 1, haven't had a raise since June 2023. Distler received two annual pay raises
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 [Category: Union] -- The Transport Workers Union of America issued the following news release:
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Akron Metro CEO Quietly Rakes in Big Pay Bonuses While Workers Get Nothing
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The Transport Workers Union is blasting Akron Metro leaders and warning of a potential strike, partly because of secretive pay bonuses totaling around $72,000 given to Metro CEO Dawn Distler while workers have been denied raises.
Akron Metro Bus Operators and other workers, represented by Transport Workers Union Local 1, haven't had a raise since June 2023. Distler received two annual pay raisessince then. And Akron Metro's board, led by Board President Mark Derrig, voted behind closed doors in executive sessions to give Distler an 18% bonus in January 2024 and a 20.5% bonus in February 2025\.
"Akron Metro throws piles of cash at the CEO while refusing to negotiate a fair contract for the men and women who do the actual work, under very tough conditions," TWU Local 1 President Wayne Cole said. "Distler's bonuses alone amount to more money than some Bus Operators make all year. This is outrageous."
Metro Board President Derrig is chairman of the Summit County Democratic Party. He has also been actively involved in his union, CWA Local 4302, as a Chief Union Steward and Legislative Chair, according to his bio.
"It's absolutely hypocritical," TWU International President John Samuelsen said. "The Democrats are supposed to be the party of the working class. Unions exist to defend workers and advance their livelihoods, not take the side of bosses and lavish them with huge pay bonuses. We will take aggressive action if Metro doesn't come to its senses and negotiate a fair contract."
The new TV ads in Akron come after TWU workers in Philadelphia, with the full backing of TWU International, achieved victory with a tentative agreement for SEPTA workers just hours before a strike was about to be called, Samuelsen said.
"All of our focus is now on Akron," Samuelsen, who represents 163,000 workers in the airline, rail, and transit industries, said.
TWU International Administrative Vice President Curtis Tate traveled from Philadelphia to Akron along with TUUS Division staff.
"We weren't playing games in Philly, and we're not playing games here," Tate said. "Akron Metro needs to do right by the hard-working men and women who move the city of Akron. It needs to stop dragging its heels and get a deal done."
Transport Workers Union Local 1 represents Bus Operators, Vehicle Service Workers, and Clerical Workers. Akron Metro has hired an anti-union, or "union avoidance," law firm from St. Louis, McMahon Berger, to negotiate with Local 1. McMahon Berger charges Akron Metro $290 an hour. Distler hasn't attended a single negotiating session, Cole said.
To grant Distler the bonuses, the Metro board twice paused a public meeting towards the very end and went into a closed-door "executive session" to vote. In both cases, the board resumed the public meeting, briefly mentioned that percentage bonuses were approved for the CEO, and adjourned. Board member David Prentice was the only 'no' vote in the February 2025 vote. He is the Executive Secretary Treasurer of the Tri-County Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
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Original text here: https://www.twu.org/akron-metro-ceo-quietly-rakes-in-big-pay-bonuses-while-workers-get-nothing/
'Balanced and flexible' approach to AI will aid innovation, protect consumers
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 [Category: Financial Services] -- America's Credit Unions posted the following news:
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'Balanced and flexible' approach to AI will aid innovation, protect consumers
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To facilitate continued credit union innovation in the artificial intelligence (AI) space, Congress and regulators should take a balanced and flexible regulatory approach to risk management that accommodates innovation while protecting consumers. America's Credit Unions wrote to the House Financial Services Committee in advance of today's hearing on enabling AI innovation in financial services outlining
... Show Full Article
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 [Category: Financial Services] -- America's Credit Unions posted the following news:
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'Balanced and flexible' approach to AI will aid innovation, protect consumers
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To facilitate continued credit union innovation in the artificial intelligence (AI) space, Congress and regulators should take a balanced and flexible regulatory approach to risk management that accommodates innovation while protecting consumers. America's Credit Unions wrote to the House Financial Services Committee in advance of today's hearing on enabling AI innovation in financial services outliningthe specifics of such an approach.
The approach should include tailoring future actions related to AI in a way that distinguishes between the use of AI technology by regulated versus unregulated institutions. For credit unions, an appropriate regulatory framework should "recognize the need for less prescriptive intervention and greater accommodation of innovation through pilot programs, no-action letters, waivers, and elimination of outdated rules."
The letter also offers comments on legislation before the committee, which includes:
* The Unleashing AI Innovation in Financial Services Act (H.R. 4801) would create regulatory sandboxes for AI test projects at financial regulatory agencies. America's Credit Unions supports this bill;
* The Artificial Intelligence Practices, Logistics, Actions, and Necessities (AI PLAN) Act (H.R. 2152) would require the Secretaries of the Treasury, Homeland Security, and Commerce to develop a strategy to defend against national security risks posed by AI in financial crime. America's Credit Unions supports this bill, and encourages it to be expanded to include a role for functional financial regulators such as the NCUA; and
* A draft resolution to promote the use of AI in financial services and housing, given that it acknowledges the resource limitations faced by many smaller rural and community-based financial institutions and emphasizes the need for tailored regulation and highlights the need for cost-benefit analysis before regulators undertake AI-specific rulemakings.
Additionally, the letter urged further examination on a couple of other bills noticed for the hearing based on how they could impact smaller credit unions and the NCUA before moving forward.
America's Credit Unions has been leading the engagement with Congress on the AI issue for credit unions, having testified before the committee on the issue when the association testified last year.
Read the full letter
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Original text here: https://www.americascreditunions.org/news-media/news/balanced-and-flexible-approach-ai-will-aid-innovation-protect-consumers-0
