Sen. Marsha Blackburn Proposes Bill to Ban NEA Lobbying

Senator Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee introduced a bill on Tuesday aimed at banning the National Education Association (NEA) from influencing Congress through lobbying efforts.

This legislation follows another bill she sponsored that seeks to revoke the NEA’s parliamentary charter. Blackburn shared her thoughts with Breitbart News, stating that the NEA “waived its mission to support American teachers” and instead, has become a platform for promoting a far-left political agenda.

Blackburn described the NEA as “nothing more than a radical left activist group,” arguing that it is misusing its chartered status in Congress to push what she calls gender ideology, anti-Semitism, and propaganda in schools. Her bill, titled the “Ends Education Association’s Parliamentary Distribution Act” or “Teaching Act,” also mandates that the NEA submit an annual accreditation report to the Secretary of Education, assuring that it’s not engaged in lobbying activities. Additionally, the law requires the NEA to keep records for federal certification audits.

If the NEA fails to comply, the bill proposes revoking its status as a federal public corporation. The NEA was established in 1857 and has held a parliamentary charter since 1906, working as a nonprofit under federal law.

Blackburn’s office highlighted the NEA’s recent political activities as justification for the bill. Recently, the organization voted on a resolution to form a partnership with the Prevention League and advocated for democracy against Trump, even using the term “fascism” to describe Trump’s policies. This wording sparked some controversy, particularly after it was noted that the NEA mischaracterized the term in its documents, according to education expert Corey A. DeAngelis.

Under NEA President Becky Pringle, the association has also partnered with groups like the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which aims to incorporate gender ideology into K-12 education. This effort encourages schools to withhold information about a child’s gender identity from parents.

In 2021, the NEA focused on recruitment measures to support critical race theory. The organization was notably influential in opposing the reopening of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and had a significant role in shaping CDC guidelines during that time.

During the 2024 election cycle, nearly all of the NEA’s political donations—around 98%—went to Democratic candidates, as reported by Open Secrets. At this time, the NEA has not provided any comments regarding Blackburn’s bill.