New from - Congressman Eliot L. Engel

Rep. Engel Receives ‘A’ Grade From National Education Association

Says he will continue to stand up for public schools and oppose new administration’s voucher programs

 Congressman Eliot L. Engel received an “A” on the National Education Association’s (NEA) legislative report card for the 114^th Congress.

The report card, which can be found here, evaluates Members of Congress based on their votes on issues of importance to the NEA. In the 114^th Congress, those issues included reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, preserving the Affordable Care Act and protecting DREAMers.

“I am tremendously pleased to have earned an ‘A’ from the NEA,” Engel said. “As a former teacher and union member, I share the NEA’s commitment to high-quality public education, strong labor protections, affordable health care coverage, and LGBTQ rights. Given the new administration’s nominee for Secretary of Education, it is more important than ever to stand up for the indispensable federal programs that serve our students and to speak out against ill-advised proposals, such as school vouchers. We ought to support our public school students– not shift valuable resources away from already cash-strapped public classrooms.

“As a Member of Congress, I will continue to work to promote these values and make these issues a priority during the 115^th Congress.”

ENGEL MARKS INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY, RENEWS CALLS TO FIGHT HATRED

Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and co-chair of the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating anti-Semitism, today issued the following statement marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day:

“On this International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I remember the 11 million people—including six million Jews—who perished in one of humanity’s darkest chapters. In honor of those murdered, we must reassert our commitment to speak out against hatred—in all its heinous forms—in addition to any efforts to deny the Holocaust and rewrite history.  

“Combating the same racism and hatred that led to Holocaust must remain an international priority—in our country and around the world—as we continue to reinforce the words of ‘never again’ with international action. We look to Shoah survivors and those who resisted these crimes against humanity to inspire our struggle against bigotry. Because this hatred knows no borders, we must be united worldwide to ensure violence and hatred cannot prevail.”

ENGEL STATEMENT ON REFUGEE EXECUTIVE ORDER

Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement:

“This is a profoundly dark day for our country.

“In 1939, when Jewish refugees aboard the ship St. Louis could look ashore and see the lights of Miami, they thought the United States would be their salvation. But the power of fear and cowardice prevailed, sending those poor souls back across the ocean, many to their deaths. That moment is a stain on our country's history, and one that ran contrary to America's best values and traditions.

“Today, fear and cowardice are winning again. President Trump is slamming the door on the world's most desperate refugees, whose eyes are gazing upon our shores today, seeking the promise of America that has illuminated the world for more than two centuries.  He's building a wall and banning a religion, actions that won't keep us any safer, but will send a message that if you aren't a certain color, or don't speak a certain language or worship a certain way, you don't have a place in America. He's turning America's back on children who made a dangerous journey to escape violence and poverty, telling the huddled masses to find refuge elsewhere.

“In our best moments, America has been synonymous with freedom, hope, justice, and opportunity. That's not the America the world sees today.

“When Ronald Reagan likened America to a shining city upon a hill, he envisioned a place ‘teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace.’ Our beacon shines dimmer today, and I fear we've lost our way. We need to get off this dangerous course and restore the values that make us who we are as a nation.”