During the month of August members of the United States Congress depart Washington, D.C. and return to their home states/districts to hear from constituents about pressing issues in their communities. This time away from Washington allows members of Congress to conduct town hall meetings and other community events giving school board members the opportunity to attend a forum or schedule a direct meeting/event with federally elected officials.
The August Congressional Recess period is a terrific time for school board members to engage their members of Congress and highlight issues, concerns, and success stories that are beneficial in advocating for your division and public education at large. This time can also assist in growing the relationship between your member of Congress and your school division.
2026 Congressional Recess:
- The United States Senate is out until September 14, 2026.
- The United States House of Representatives is out until August 31, 2026 and will again be off for another week beginning September 7, 2026.
The topic(s) of discussion with your member of the Virginia Congressional Delegation will vary across school divisions. We suggest you localize your conversations as Congressional members want to hear how federal policy is impacting their constituents. Stay positive and focus on K-12 education.
One area of concern for your division may be the recent changes to the Department of Education, which would officially move offices from the Department of Education to other federal departments. Another topic to engage with your Congressional delegation is the possible cut or even elimination of the E-Rate nationwide program that provides school districts and libraries with $3 billion in funding for internet connectivity expenses.
Below are sample talking points you may wish to include in your meeting.
Local Programs and Federal Funding
The E-rate program, also known as the schools and libraries universal service support program, helps connect schools to affordable broadband and provides deep discounts for telecommunications, internet access, and internal connections. The program dates back to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and has since provided high-speed internet to nearly every classroom and library branch in the country. In 2025, E Rate provided more than $3 billion in discounts on broadband, Wi-Fi, and related equipment to public and private schools and public libraries, with higher discounts available to lower-income communities. If E-Rate discounts disappear, schools’ ongoing financial obligations under existing contracts will remain. Schools could therefore be forced to cut staff and programming to secure the funding needed to maintain their technology infrastructure.
We urge Congress to uphold its commitment to students in public education by continuing to provide the resources, programs, and services necessary for academic success.
Contacting Your Member of Congress
United States Senate Member Listing and Office
Contacts:https://www.senate.gov/states/VA/intro.htm
United States House Member Listing and Office
Contacts:https://www.house.gov/representatives
Warm regards,
Sofhia Pineda
VSBA Government Relations Specialist
