GOP Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri proposed legislation that would restrict federal funding from schools that refuse to reopen for in-person classes.
Hawley introduced an amendment to Congress’ proposed COVID-19 stimulus package that would shutter schools from federal relief funds if teachers and students aren’t meeting in person.
“In spite of overwhelming evidence that schools can reopen safely, partisan advocates are using children’s education as a cudgel to push their radical agendas,” Hawley said in a statement. He cited a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that found little evidence of COVID-19 transmission in schools. The study recommended that schools can safely reopen with preventive methods, such as social distancing and mask mandates.
CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky also said on Wednesday that schools can safely reopen even if teachers are not vaccinated.
Data suggest school settings do not result in rapid spread of #COVID19 when mitigation measures are followed, including masking, decreased density, and proper ventilation. #CNNTownHall
— Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH (@CDCDirector) January 28, 2021
Hawley’s move is a part of a bipartisan push to reopen schools across the nation as soon as possible—but strategies for reopening have differed across party lines.
President Joe Biden‘s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief strategy prioritizes the reopening of schools by sending additional funds to all schools.
Biden has asked Congress for at least $130 billion in explicit funding for schools and $350 billion additional “flexible” funding that would support national school districts. Biden is striving to have most K-8 schools open by his 100th day in office.
“The federal government should put an end to this two-tiered education system for the haves and the have-nots by incentivizing schools to safely reopen,” Hawley said in the statement.
Josh Hawley introduced an amendment to the coronavirus relief package that would restrict federal funds to schools that refuse to reopen. Hawley asks questions of nominee for Administrator of the Small Business Administration Isabella Casillas Guzman during her confirmation hearing on February 3 in Washington D.C. Bill O’Leary-Pool/Getty Images
Democrats in the House and Senate filed a joint budget resolution on Monday to pass Biden’s package without any Republican votes.
“Federal funding is no obstacle here,” Senate Minority Leader McConnell said on the Senate floor Wednesday. “That’s more goalpost-moving. Congress has poured more than $110 billion into making education safe. As of last week, states and school districts had only spent about $4 billion of the roughly $68 billion we set aside for K-12 schools. That leaves $64 billion in the pipeline already.”
School districts across the nation are pushing for reopening have received pressure from teachers unions citing COVID-19 health and safety concerns. McConnell was critical of teacher unions on the Senate floor on Wednesday: “In my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, the largest school district in the state has a union-funded Board of Education Vice-Chair. He’s now saying that even if all school personnel get vaccines, he’d still be reluctant to open schools.”
.@LeaderMcConnell: In my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, the largest school district in the state has a union-funded Board of Education Vice-Chair. He’s now saying that even if all school personnel get vaccines, he’d still be reluctant to open schools. https://t.co/9d5qKbDeTQ
— Senator McConnell Press (@McConnellPress) February 3, 2021
Hawley’s statement did not explain how relief funds would be kept from schools, nor what criteria schools would need to meet in order to receive the aid.
Newsweek has reached out to Hawley’s office for comment, but did hear back in time for publication.
