Friend, when I was 6 years old, my mom suffered a back injury and was, like so many Americans, overprescribed opioid pills, which led to a decades-long struggle with addiction.

It’s fair to say I faced a lot of obstacles as a kid. I often felt like I didn’t have a foundation. But one of the biggest reasons I got through it — and became the first in my family to graduate from high school and college, and eventually a member of Congress — was because I had incredible teachers and mentors in Jeffco’s public schools who believed in me.

And this Teacher Appreciation Day, I want to take a moment to say thanks — and to stand up for every child’s right to the same quality public school education that I received.

I had so many incredible teachers throughout my education, but there’s one in particular who stands out all these years later: my 5th and 6th grade teacher Ms. Jurgemeyer. Even when things were really tough, she was there for me. She pushed me to pursue my dreams and made me feel like I could accomplish anything I set out to, despite challenges that felt completely overwhelming at the time.

Today, some of my GOP colleagues in Congress want to gut funding for public schools and instead fund even more giveaways to corporations and billionaires. If that happens, then more kids in this country are going to fall through the cracks and lose out on the bright future they deserve.

I’m determined not to let that happen, Team. If you agree with me that Congress needs to put funding for our public schools ahead of giveaways for corporate special interests, I hope you’ll join my call for action. Please sign your name next to mine and tell Speaker Mike Johnson that public schools can’t afford any more budget cuts.

Thank you,

Brittany