WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan took to the Senate floor today to push for significant additional funding for schools in the next COVID-19 relief package as teachers, parents, and students prepare for the upcoming school year. The Senator also discussed the importance of additional funding to expand broadband access in order to support the remote learning needs of students and teachers.
To watch the Senator’s speech, click here.
“We have known for months that schools would face enormous challenges this fall. And federal delays have only made the situation more challenging across the country,” Senator Hassan said. “For months, the Senate Majority Leader stalled action on an additional COVID-19 relief package, saying that he felt ‘no urgency.’”
Senator Hassan continued, “Now, he’s released a completely inadequate and unacceptable proposal that provides too few resources to schools and would actually withhold aid if schools don’t fully reopen in-person.”
As an alternative to Senator McConnell’s proposal, the Senator highlighted a $430 billion proposal that she cosponsored that would help schools navigate the year ahead and address some of the most pressing issues facing students.