Look. The NEA consistently presents itself in the national eye as a "pro-education" organization that's all about the kids. They don't come out and say, "You know, we're a left-wing labor organization with the primary function of making sure we have as many dues-payers as possible to feed our leftist political agenda and increase our own power base."

Short version: the NEA is nothing BUT "labor concerns." You know this as well as I do, but this is not their "public face."

An estimated $200 million a year in dues flows through this organization.

I don't know if you linked all the way through to the actual agenda list. I did, and I read all of them. I urge everyone here to do so, and tell me if this outfit is primarily about education, or even about teachers as such.

New Business Item 2 (Revised)

NEA affirms and supports the decision of the Executive Committee to participate in the national Wal-Mart Consumer Education Campaign initiated by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. Further, NEA strongly encourages state and local affiliates and individual NEA members to participate in this campaign.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 3

The NEA will investigate financial firms it endorses as to their positions on Defined Benefit Systems and the privatization of Social Security. NEA will make available to its members and affiliates the names of organizations that are leading these attacks on our members' retirement security.

The NEA will encourage NEA Benefits and NEA affiliates to endorse and do business with firms that support our position on these practices that protect our members' retirement security.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 4

I move that NEA add the words "other" and "multi-ethnic" in addition to "unknown" in the category of ethnicity on all forms.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 5

NEA Human and Civil Rights Department will begin in 2005-2006 to implement programs and activities, as a part of NBI 13, of 2004, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the historic merger of the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Teachers Association (ATA), which occurred in 1966.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 6

The NEA will form a coalition with other like-minded organizations and individuals to protect Social Security and the Defined Benefit Systems of this country. NEA will publish in NEA Today information about these efforts and encourage and educate our members of the continuing efforts to attack our members' retirement security.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 7

The RA directs that NEA Today publish an article explaining the differences between Defined Benefit and Defined Contribution Pension Plans. The article should include examples of what is occurring in states.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 8

The NEA President, Reg Weaver, will direct the HIN to write an article on health problems from exposure to fragrance chemicals in NEA Today.This will include a questionnaire for membership using a variety of methods such as an online NEA web site posting, form in the article and questionnaires available at the 06 RA Hall of Health. The results will be published in NEA as well as posted on the NEA Web site, including a list of products identified by members as triggering health reactions.The questionnaire results will be posted to the NEA Web site.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 9

Recognizing the great support provided by NEA and the NEA-HIN, which are working to obtain outside funding to again send 25 additional members to the EPA Tools for Schools Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Symposium, should these funds not be forthcoming by November 1, 2005, NEA shall provide funds which will include a pre-symposium day for NEA members focusing on how to organize members around IAQ and Environmental Health issues. Attendees sign a commitment with their state president to establish an IAQ plan or activity.

ADOPTED AS AMENDED

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New Business Item 10

NEA shall make health care an organizational priority by creating a workgroup to advise state and local affiliates on this issue. No less than 50% of the workgroup shall be active members. The workgroup shall be charged with developing and disseminating strategies that state and local affiliates can utilize in addressing health benefit issues.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 11

The NEA shall expand our nationwide plan to elect pro public education candidates to Congress in 2006 by sponsoring political training for members in targeted areas leading up to the election.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 13

That NEA continue to oppose attempts by billionaire Eli Broad and any other entities to remove elected school boards from cities in California and in any other state or territory.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 14

NEA will develop communications and programs to educate its members from Social Security states regarding the impact on their retirement if they move to a non-Social Security state and become employed by a state agency.

NEA will continue to educate members from Social Security states regarding the impact on their retirement benefits if they move to a non-Social Security state and become employed by a state agency.

Additionally, NEA will encourage all NEA state affiliates and their members to contact their state's Congressional Representatives and Senators, asking them to support legislation to repeal the Social Security offset statute.

ADOPTED AS AMENDED

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New Business Item 15

The NEA will advocate that all school districts receiving federal, state and local technology funds utilize those funds to close the achievement gap, enhance data systems to support accountability and provide the training necessary for teachers and education support professionals to become highly qualified users of technology, in order to support pupil learning.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 16

In accord with the NEA Legislative Program, NEA shall develop and implement a communications plan to inform members of the dangers of proposed inititives that:

- Repeal "pick-up" rules for employee contributions to state or local governmental retirement plans,
- require cafeteria plans and other salary reduction plan amounts be subject to FICA taxes, and
- require all state and local governments and their employees, without regard to their dates of hire or participation in a retirement system, to pay the Medicare payroll tax.
- Further, NEA shall provide information to state affiliates and urge state affiliates to actively oppose these proposals.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 17

NEA Today and This Active Life will feature the plight of the Defined Benefit Retirement systems and update recent events. The editors will use material NEA has already developed in the Retirement Security Tool Kit to help educate the members about the crisis looming for these plans.

ADOPTED AS AMENDED

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New Business Item 18

The NEA shall annually provide information about and promote the designation of April as National Donate Life month to promote organ and tissue donation throughout the United States. Such information and promotion shall be included in NEA Today, This Active Life and a permanent link shall be established on the NEA Web site/home page.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 19

In accord with the NEA Legislative Program, NEA shall develop and implement a communications plan to inform members of the adverse consequences associated with any effort to either directly or indirectly divert Social Security Trust Fund surplus amounts to private accounts within Social Security.

SUBSTITUTE ADOPTED

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New Business Item 20

Moved:

The NEA support the efforts of NCPERS (National Conference on Public Employee Retirement System) titled America's Retirement Security adopted by NCPERS on May 12, 2005, and consisting of the following (4) principles. 1) To oppose all legislative efforts to abolish defined benefit plans and replace them with 401(k)-styled individual accounts; and 2) To preserve and protect death and disability benefits for all workers, and 3) To hold accountable those who support, finance or advocate, either directly or indirectly, the abolition of secure, guaranteed defined benefit pension and 4) to ensure workers receive secure guaranteed pension benefits, not gambled pension benefits.

ADOPTED WITH EDITORIAL CHANGE

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New Business Item 21

The NEA, in conjunction with the Student Advisory Committee, will conduct a review of the NEA Student Program:

- To explore funding of organizers assigned by NEA regions to assist states in student organizing and transition to certified membership.
- To explore grants to states for pilot programs for transition from student to certified membership.
- To establish membership potential and membership goals for student programs.
- To seek input from current and past student members for program enhancement and improvement of transition to certified membership.
- To explore grants by NEA regions to increase student member attendance at Regional Leadership Conferences.

Report to be presented to NEA Budget Committee, NEA Board of Directors, and to the NEA RA 2006.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 23
The NEA will give members the option to receive publications including NEA Today and This Active Life in electronic format rather than in hard copy.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 25
Moved:

The NEA renew and enhance its nationwide initiative to educate our members of the dangers of privatization of our defined benefit pension plans, the impact on retirement benefits and public education, and what NEA is doing to combat these dangers.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 26

NEA, through HIN, will provide a minimum of six trainings on indoor air quality and environmental health issues upon request of a state, region or local. Priority will be given to regional requests. Training information will continue to be sent to state presidents, state executive directors and regional planning chairs.

SUBSTITUTE ADOPTED

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New Business Item 27

I move that NEA propose to the National Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee the publishing of a commemorative stamp honoring the vital contributions made to public education by all ESPs.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 28

That NEA make our resolutions easily accessible on NEA's public website.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 29

I move that NEA emphasize collective bargaining and work to expand the number of states that have collective bargaining. NEA will also assist its state affiliates in collective bargaining states in educating their members about the importance of maintaining their NEA membership when they move to teach in school districts in states which do not have collective bargaining.

ADOPTED AS AMENDED

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New Business Item 30

NEA will undertake a two-tiered campaign to educate the public about the alternative governance arrangements required of schools in year 4 of program improvement under the so-called No Child Left Behind Act and promote option (V) restructuring as the most reasonable under the circumstances. Specifically,

NEA will use all available means to educate its members on the issue and use existing resources to identify and work with schools, through their state and local affiliates, that are subject to school improvement, corrective action and restructuring.
NEA will encourage outside organizations to participate in this effort to educate the public.

REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE

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New Business Item 31

In addition to the hard copies the delegates receive, the following publications to be used at the Annual Meeting will be published on the NEA Web site at least one month prior to the Annual Meeting:

1. Charter, 2. Constitution, 3. Bylaws, 4. Standing Rules, 5. Policy Statements, 6. New Business of the prior Annual Meeting, 7. Reports on Implementation of Actions of the Prior Annual Meeting, 8. Resolutions, 9. Legislative Program, 10. Reports on Committees, 11. Financial Reports of Independent Auditors, 12. Strategic Plan and Budget, 13. Budget Technical Manual, and 14. any additional information that helps to make these accessible.

REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE AS AMENDED

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New Business Item 32

Move that NEA, utilizing existing policy, study the feasibility of initiating a boycott of Gallo wine.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 33

The NEA will develop a strategic program to help NEA Republican members advance a pro-public education agenda within the Republican Party.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 34

NBI: Defending Affirmative Action and Opposing the Deceptive "Michigan Civil Rights Initiative"

The NEA will defend the national affirmative action victory that resulted from the Supreme Court decision in Grutter v Bollinger by opposing Ward Connerly's anti-affirmative action ballot initiative, deceptively known as the "Michigan Civil Rights Initiative" (MCRI).

The NEA will support efforts to keep MCRI off the ballot due to extensive fraud and deception in petition gathering.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 35
The NEA will work in coalition with appropriate accrediting agencies (e.g. NCATE), state credentialing agencies, and advocacy groups (e.g. NABE) to encourage pre-service and in-service (including induction) training of teachers and education support professionals in current theory, effective pedagogy, and successful strategies for meeting the needs of English Language Learners (ELLs).

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 37

The NEA, using existing resources, will develop a series of "white papers" or monographs focusing on the changing demographics of the Hispanic community nationwide and the implications for public education (pre-K through university) through limited distribution to the NEA Board of Directors, the state affiliates, and large locals and through electronic distribution to all NEA members.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 38

NEA Representative Assembly directs President Weaver to express NEA's opposition to the annual observance of "Take Your Child to Work Day" during the traditional school year to the appropriate organization(s). We request this worthwhile day be observed during a non-attendance day for students (or one with less impact on student learning).

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 40
That the NEA investigate and report in its publications the present status of student freedom of speech in light of the 1986 Hazelwood decision and State constitutions, and inform members of available resources such as the Student Press Law Center that can assist in protecting students' free speech rights.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 41
That the NEA disseminate, through NEA Today and other publications, specific recommendations to its membership designed to prevent compromising situations that could lead to allegations of inappropriate professional behavior. That the NEA design a leaflet or other publication especially for novice school employees outlining these recommendations, and distribute this publication to state affiliates for distribution to and retention by employees entering the profession.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 42
The NEA shall work with other pro-democracy and pro-labor organizations to lead an education campaign among members and the general public about the need for support of strong public programs and institutions in the face of increasing privatization.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 44

I move that the newly created ESEA special committee develop a comprehensive strategy to deal with the next reauthorization of ESEA. This strategy should focus on member and affiliate involvement. The committee shall have representation from the Executive Committee, the NEA Board, and state and local affiliates. The committee members should have experience with ESEA at the state and local level. At least 50% of the members shall be active members. The committee shall issue regular reports to states and locals with a report with recommendations given at the 2006 NEA-RA and at subsequent RAs until the bill is reauthorized.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 45

I move that NEA investigate the establishment of an affordable/workforce housing programs for members.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 47

The NEA will inform members about reasons for the boycott of Gallo wines called by the United Farm Workers, AFL-CIO.The NEA will ensure that Gallo wines are not served at any function of the Association.

REFFERED TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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New Business Item 50

NEA will inform its members about its support for the provisions of the Student Bill of Rights (HR 2178), which would hold states accountable for providing all students access to the fundamentals of educational opportunity.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 53

SUBSTITUTE TEXT:

The NEA deplores the inappropriate use of words such as "retarded" and "gay." The usage of slurs like this is demeaning in nature and conveys a negative stereotype. Whenever derogatory and abusive language is used in the public limelight the NEA, state and local affiliates should regularly and aggressively respond.

The NEA will develop cultural and age appropriate tools, and press releases, newsletters, articles to be available online to use as needed.
The NEA Executive Committee and President will issue public statements when they determine that an incident is of national significance and address the issue to members through NEA Today.

AMENDMENT TO THE ORGINAL NBI TEXT:

The NEA deplores the use of words which are perjorative in nature or convey negative stereotypes. Whenever, in the opinion of the NEA Executive Committee, such words are used blatantly and inappropriately in the media (print, radio, TV, movies, etc) the NEA will respond as follows:

The Executive Committee will discuss the incident.

If the Executive Committee believes the language is abusive, they will then direct the president of NEA to write a letter to the offending entity explaining why the language is hurtful and harmful.

The incident, as well as the response of the offending entity, will be reported in the NEA Today and a press release will be sent to the media in a timely manner.

SUBSTITUTE AND AMENDMENT TO THE ORIGINAL NBI REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE

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New Business Item 54

The NEA will explore the feasibility of using existing sources of information from credible institutions such as the Center On Budget and Policy Priorities, to educate its members on the regressive taxation practices of the Federal Government, utilizing NEA publications and the NEA Web site.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 56

Support for Education for Prisoners and Former Prisoners

The NEA will support the education of current and former prisoners. The NEA will seek out and build alliances with labor unions representing teachers and education support professionals inside jails, prisons and youth guidance centers to advocate for increased support for education of prisoners and people coming home from prison. The NEA will also advocate for ending discrimination that former prisoners face when trying to pursue educational opportunities. The NEA will print an article in the NEA Today on these issues.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 59

The NEA through the Health Information Network will promote research and resources on women and heart disease by means of

- articles in the NEA Today
- using the NEA website
- an exhibit booth at the annual Representative Assembly
- This Active Life
ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 60

NEA-HIN will coordinate resources and provide information through existing NEA publications and the NEA website to members regarding diseases that impact the learning environment as a result of the emotional functioning of students diseases and health conditions not widely publicized, such as Alopecia Areata, Lupus, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, any illness or disease that may cause temporary or permanent hairloss or baldness, etc.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 61

The NEA calls on President Bush and Congress to:

- support our troops by creating an exit strategy to end the U.S. Military occupation of Iraq and bring our troops home.
- provide adequate veterans benefits and meet the needs of our veterans for adequate jobs, education, and healthcare.

The NEA will:

support NEA members and their families called upon to serve in Iraq by identifying and providing information about resources and services to help meet their special needs, by advocating for their interests and by protecting their jobs, seniority, and benefits.
advocate the reordering of national priorities toward peace and the human needs of our people.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 62

NEA will provide information and encourage participation in Operation Iraqi Children. This program helps provide school supplies to Iraqi school children. This process can be accomplished through means of communication including the NEA Today, the NEA website, and other means to activate local affiliates to support this humanitarian outreach.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 63

The NEA, thru NEA Today and other means of communications, shall educate members about the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and its serious negative consequences for education. Moreover, the NEA shall actively participate in coalitional efforts to defeat this regressive trade agreement in line with the oppositional position taken by Education International on CAFTA due to commercialization of education and privatization of public services.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 67

To the greatest extent possible, NEA will commit itself and strongly encourage its affiliates to purchasing promotional products that are manufactured in the United States.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 69

Through existing publications and training programs, NEA will educate members and affiliate staff about potential problems arising from the move to paperless employment records. NEA will also provide state and local affiliates with advice regarding bargaining and lobbying strategies to insure that employees have the option either 1.) to receive written copies of all employment records (e.g. pay stubs, sick leave utilization, payroll deductions, etc.) or 2.) to access the employee's employment records through an employer-provided computer and printer, with no cost to the employee. In addition, NEA will provide advice on strategies to insure that adequate internet security is in place to protect employee confidential information.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 70

The NEA shall publicize the position of the Education International on the need for debt cancellation in underdeveloped countries.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 71

I move that the NEA President ask an appropriate NEA committee the current membership status, number and potential of institutional teachers and ESPs.

The study should include information on the membership categories used by state affiliates for teachers and ESPs in these settings and an assessment of the membership potential in this category of teachers and ESPs.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 72

The National Education Association will conduct a review of existing literature and research studies of school reform, specifically small schools conversion, with regard to employee issues -- training-support, workload-conditions, turnover rate, grievances, contracts, and to student issues-graduation, dropout rate, academic performance, college-career paths, safety, and the sustainability of small schools. The results of review will be made available to NEA members through the usual channels.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 73

NEA will work to form coalitions with university deans of education, parent-teacher, business, student (education student) organizations and NCATE to consult on changing curricula at America's universities, and how teachers teach teachers to reflect our changed student populations.

REFERRED TO THE PRESIDENT AS AMENDED

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New Business Item 75
The NEA will declare a designated area of the NEA/RA and related meetings and activities a fragrance free zone.

REFERRED TO THE ANNUAL MEETING REVIEW COMMITTEE AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 76

In accordance with Resolution I-20 (Invasion of Privacy) and Legislative Program 1 (High Quality Public Education), section g (EDUCATION FUNDING), and to protect the privacy rights of students, NEA will publicize to members in NEA Today and in any other relevant materials, its opposition to mandatory submission of such information as required by NCLB section 9528.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 77

The NEA will continue to fund the Social Security state cadre training and workgroup activities. In addition NEA shall develop a training component to be utilized at the state and local level.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 78

NEA will urge its members that they "do not shop" at Wal-Mart and Sam's Club due to Wal-Mart's anti-union, low-wage, low-benefit policies that have left its employees in need of hundreds of million of dollars in public aid for various health care and social safety net programs.

REFERRED TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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New Business Item 79

It is moved that the RA goes on record condemning President Vincente-Fox of Mexico's support of the insensitive use of ethnic stereotypical caricatures by giving a news release and publication of article in NEA Today voicing NEA's position.

REFERRED TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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New Business Item 81

The NEA shall research the possibility of offering, as part of the existing training program, either regional or national levels of training that would support the significant history of labor unions. The training will have a focus that emphasizes delivery of age appropriate curriculum to students.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 82

NEA will develop a comprehensive strategy to deal with the new and more sophisticated attacks on curricula, policies, and practices that support GLBT students, families, and staff members in public schools.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 84

NEA through its publications and programs will bring to the attention of members the challenges and opportunities facing grandparents and other relatives providing custodial or custodial-like care for legal minors and dependents.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 85

NEA, along with State associations, will visibly and actively assist all locals with the implementation of the requirements needed to meet the highly qualified standards of special education personnel as stated by IDEA and NCLB through legal advocacy and technical assistance.

REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 86

The NEA shall continue to provide identity theft information and consider offering programs such as "Identity Theft Shield" to its members.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED

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New Business Item 87

The NEA RA recommends to the NEA Board of Directors that the Joint Pre-conference and NEA convention be scheduled by selection of either Plan A or Plan B; the decision with advisement of NEA State Presidents according to the following:

Plan A: NEA convention to begin each year on July 4th, utilizing July 4 as a registration day; NEA convention to begin on July 5th.Joint "Pre-Conference" can be held EITHER before or after July 4th NEA convention.

Plan B: NEA convention ENDS on July 3rd: "Pre-Conference" either before or after (Women & Minorities) July 4th always off.

REFERRED TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

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New Business Item 88

NEA will ask the NEA Health Information Network to provide information to members regarding "acceptable" mercury levels set by the past administration as compared to the higher levels recently adopted by the present administration, and to educate members about the adverse impact of mercury exposure on student learning. Additionally, NEA will monitor the lawsuit Environmental Defense v. EPA, which challenges the EPA decision to increase mercury emission levels. NEA also will explore the feasibility of filing an amicus brief if and when the case is appealed.

ADOPTED

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New Business Item 91

In the interest of member health and safety at NEA sponsored events; NEA will explore alternatives to using LATEX (natural rubber) products (such as latex balloons and gloves) during NEA sponsored events.

ADOPTED AS MODIFIED