EAST LANSING — The following statement can be attributed to Michigan Education Association President and CEO Chandra Madafferi, a teacher from Oakland County:

“The Michigan Education Association applauds the state Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 911, which will permanently end the state’s 3% tax on more than 100,000 veteran teachers and school support staff.

“Our union has worked closely with lawmakers to pass this legislation because it will provide much-needed financial relief to hardworking educators and help alleviate some of the economic pressures contributing to the shortage of qualified educators in our children’s schools.

“In addition, Senate Bill 911 will reduce payroll taxes for school districts by 5.75%, freeing up funding for local schools so they can invest more into the classroom to help students learn.

“We look forward to working with Gov. Whitmer and state representatives in the coming days and weeks to ensure final passage of this critical legislation. Michigan students deserve to have the best and brightest educators working in their schools, and key to that is making sure we are providing teachers and school support staff the full compensation they have earned.”