Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the previous question, and I do so in support of our students. Our amendment would ensure that students get back in schools safely and soon. Students have been out of the classroom for far too long, and the costs of at-home learning are far greater than we could have ever imagined, especially when it comes to mental health for our kids. My bill, the Reopen Schools Act, would prioritize State COVID relief grants for education for schools that are reopening. It would require schools to offer at least partial in-person learning in order to receive these Federal pandemic relief funds. These funds were intended to help students get back into the classroom safely, taking important precautions. Congress sent States this money so we could reopen schools safely, yet this hasn't happened in so many communities across our country. I am so proud of our home State of Iowa for already taking a stand for students and requiring schools to offer an in-person learning option. But The Washington Post found that roughly one-third of all K- 12 school districts in the United States right now are only offering virtual learning. So this means one-third of our classrooms are closed and one-third of our school playgrounds are still roped off. The cost of this goes well beyond academics. Child depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges are surging. The science shows kids need to be back in school. The SPEAKER pro tempore.…”