Letter to Democratic Colleague - Dear Colleague on Day of Action For The Children: Wednesday, September 2

Letter

Dear Democratic Colleague,

When people ask me what the three most important issues facing the Congress are, I have always said, "our children, our children, our children: their health, their education, the economic security of families, a safe and clean place for them to live, and a world at peace in which they can thrive." These priorities are largely addressed in The Heroes Act.

Right now, as children are going back to school, there is great angst among families across America about their children's well-being, which is gravely challenged by the coronavirus.

Our educators and school administrators understand the serious health risks posed by the coronavirus, as they are preparing for the new school year. That is why, of the 100 largest school districts, nearly two-thirds will be operating with full remote learning and many others will provide hybrid learning. A small number of schools in the largest school districts are planning for in-person learning.

Our negotiations on education are complicated because there is a vast difference in the amount needed for schools and how it would be spent. Sadly and dangerously, the President is bullying schools to reopen actually -- without actually giving them the money to do so in a way that protects children's health and prevents schools from being a vector that spreads the virus.

At the same time, the Secretary of Education's statement that children should be risk takers, saying "risk is involved in everything we do, from learning to ride a bike to riding a rocket into space and everything in between," is appalling in its callousness. For these reasons, Democrats and Republicans are not yet in agreement on funding numbers.

Happily, yesterday, a court decision was won by educators in Florida in blocking a dangerous partisan effort to force schools to reopen when it is not safe to do so. However, this is only a temporary victory and countless other school districts across the country face tremendous pressure to reopen before they are ready. Schools must be safe for children to be able to learn, for teachers to be able to educate and for families to begin the school year -- without having to risk their health and safety.

For The Children, we must crush the virus with testing, tracing and treatment. We must have robust support for state and local governments which fund education, have strong workplace protections so that teachers and children are safe, have strong funding for nutrition initiatives to feed hungry children and have rental assistance so that families and children do not become homeless.

The Heroes Act achieves all of these critical goals For The Children and more. Yet, Republicans have fallen short. They have refused to recognize the true needs of the American people during the pandemic and the accompanying economic crisis.

For this reason, I am calling for a Day of Action For The Children on Wednesday, September 2. As students return to school, I encourage Members to hold virtual events in their districts.

These events will provide an opportunity to hear from our communities about the impact of the pandemic on children and to shine a light on the urgency of Senate passage of The Heroes Act. In the attached letter, Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Bobby Scott has shared potential ideas for events, as well as current talking points on the challenges facing our children's education.

Thank you for your patriotic leadership For The Children.

Stay safe.

Source