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119-hr-2021119th CongressWALLET

American Teacher Act

Sponsored By: Representative Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]

Introduced

Summary

Raise minimum teacher pay to $60,000 (inflation-adjusted). This bill would create a four-year Teacher Salary Incentive Grants program to help states ensure every full-time teacher at qualifying public schools earns at least $60,000 starting in the 2026–2027 school year, with future increases tied to the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

Show full summary
  • Teachers: Full-time teachers at qualifying schools would be guaranteed a minimum annual salary of $60,000, adjusted for inflation, and part-time teachers would be paid on a prorated basis.
  • States and local districts: State educational agencies would get grants for four years and must use at least 85% of funds to award subgrants to local educational agencies, with priority for districts serving high Title I populations or rural and remote locales (locale codes 41, 42, 43). States must submit sustainability plans and enact or enforce statewide salary schedules. The bill also lets eligible states receive cost-of-living adjustment grants equal to the CPI-U change if they cannot otherwise keep up with inflation.
  • Teacher pipeline: The Secretary may reserve up to 4% of funds for a national campaign to promote teaching, encourage students to enter the profession, and diversify the teacher pool.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Proposed $60,000 minimum teacher pay

This bill would create 4-year state grants to set a $60,000 minimum salary for full-time public school teachers starting in the 2026–2027 school year. The floor would rise each year with inflation (CPI-U), with no cap above the minimum; part-time pay would be pro-rated. States must enact or enforce a salary schedule, use at least 85% of funds for district subgrants, prioritize high-Title I and rural districts, and show a plan to keep the pay floor after four years. Grant money must add to, not replace, other pay, and states or districts could not cut pay or state teacher loan forgiveness because of this grant. Only certified teachers who are the teacher of record at public schools would qualify, and collective bargaining rights would stay in place.

Cost-of-living raises for teachers

The bill would let eligible states get grants to give cost-of-living raises to the base salary and to each full-time teacher’s pay. The raise would match the CPI-U percent for the most recent year. A state would qualify only if its base salary is at least $60,000 and it shows it cannot keep up with inflation. Part-time pay would be pro-rated.

Funding window and teaching campaign

The bill would authorize funding for this program for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, subject to future appropriations. The Secretary could set aside up to 4% of the money for a national campaign to promote teaching and diversify the pipeline. That set-aside would slightly reduce the funds available for state and local grants.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]

FL • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6]

    SC • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]

    ME • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]

    MS • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]

    PA • R

    Sponsored 3/10/2025

  • Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2025

  • Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 4/29/2025

  • Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/15/2025

  • Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 7/10/2025

  • Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 8/8/2025

  • Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 10/14/2025

  • Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 10/15/2026

  • Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/21/2025

  • Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 10/24/2025

  • Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 10/31/2025

  • Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 11/4/2025

  • Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 12/9/2025

  • Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 1/16/2026

  • Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/3/2026

  • Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 3/24/2026

  • Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 4/22/2026

  • Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 6/3/2026

  • Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 8/31/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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