Omaha, Nebraska - Today, the American Federation of Teachers announced their endorsement of Tony Vargas for Congress in Nebraska’s Second Congressional District.

“As a former science teacher and teacher coach, I’m proud to have the support of the American Federation of Teachers. This endorsement is especially significant to me personally because when I was a teacher, I was an AFT member and part of our school’s leadership team for our local AFT,” said State Senator Tony Vargas. “In Congress, just as I have in the Nebraska Legislature, I’ll always work to strengthen our public schools, make investments in education, and fight for teachers and all workers’ right to collectively bargain for better wages, retirement, and working conditions.”

In the Nebraska Legislature, Vargas has delivered on his promises to make investments in and expand access to education:

• Doubled (?) funding for the Nebraska Opportunity Grant program, which provides financial aid to low income and first generation college students.

• A former Americorps member himself, he also passed a bill that exempts Americorps members education awards, which they receive for their term of service, from income tax.

• LBXXX, which passed in 20XX, guarantees admission to all public colleges and universities for veterans.

• LBXXX (2017) required all public schools to have policies that support student parents, including accommodations for mothers to breastfeed or express breastmilk, and the ability to makeup missed school work after becoming a parent or due to childcare issues.

Initiative 42XX / the Save Our Schools initiative that aims to reverse the Legislature’s move to grant tax exemptions for donations to private schools is also expected to be on the ballot in 2024, marking a significant difference between Vargas, who supports the initiative, and Don Bacon, who opposes it.