ALEXANDRIA, Va., (April 29, 2021)—Last evening, President Joe Biden delivered his first address to Congress, outlining his plans for infrastructure investment, education and childcare programs, and immigration reform. He also called for racial justice and an end to systemic racism in America, pledged to protect the American people from the epidemic of gun violence, and pledged to protect LGBTQ Americans. National PTA President Leslie Boggs issued the following statement on President Biden’s address.

“Since our founding, PTA has been the conscience of the country when it comes to issues that affect children and youth. For years, PTA members have advocated for sensible gun safety and violence prevention policies that will make our communities and schools safer for everyone and save lives. We’ve also called for more to be done to end the problems of unequal justice and institutional and systemic racism in the United States. We’ve further called for explicit protection of LGBTQ youth, as it is critical to their overall health, well-being and long-term success. And we’ve consistently advocated for comprehensive immigration reform and in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

“PTA firmly believes that every child deserves to have every opportunity to reach their full potential in life and every person deserves to enjoy the freedoms guaranteed to all Americans, regardless of their race, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, ability or socioeconomic status. National PTA applauds President Biden’s commitment to racial justice and ending systemic racism in America, addressing gun violence, protecting LGBTQ youth and advancing immigration reform. We, too, call on Congress to urgently address these issues.

“President Biden also outlined in his address his American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan, which call for vital investments in infrastructure and education, preschool, childcare and nutrition programs. National PTA believes schools are a critical part of our nation’s infrastructure and it is essential that investments are made to repair, renovate and modernize school facilities to ensure they are safe and well-equipped to advance student achievement, grow our economy and improve our competitiveness. National PTA also believes that children must have access to nutritious foods and beverages to thrive in and out of the classroom; preschool programs should be affordable and accessible to all families; safe, quality and affordable childcare is paramount for children, families and our economy; and educator leadership is an important investment. The investments included in the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan are essential to making this a reality.

“Investing in America’s children is an investment in our nation’s future. As we have throughout our history, National PTA remains committed to working closely with the administration and Congress to ensure investments are made so that every child’s potential becomes a reality.”

About National PTA

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. For more information, visit PTA.org.