Supporting teachers. We must recruit and retain world-class teachers, which is why I am a strong proponent of increasing teacher compensation.
Support increasing teacher compensation and improving teacher recruitment and retention.
Occurrences
Evidence
The official Education issue page states: "Solve the teacher shortage by expanding recruitment programs and increasing teacher pay and benefits."
On April 27, 2026, the House Record included floor debate on H.R. 5334, the Supporting Early-childhood Educators’ Deductions Act, which would extend the educator expense deduction to early-childhood educators; the text says this would give them the same deduction and acknowledges the bill is bipartisan.
Assessments
Houlahan has continued to publicly support higher teacher pay, benefits, recruitment, and retention, and the 2026 House activity on H.R. 5334 shows a concrete same-term legislative step in the educator-support space. However, the cited bill is narrow, extending an expense deduction to early-childhood educators, and the evidence does not show a broad delivered increase in teacher compensation or a comprehensive recruitment and retention outcome. This merits partial credit rather than full delivery, with an effort badge for legislative action short of the promised outcome.