Gregory Meeks: “Education is recognized as the surest path to economic mobility. However, over the past year and a half, the COVID-19…”

“Education is recognized as the surest path to economic mobility. However, over the past year and a half, the COVID-19 pandemic has rattled educational systems across the world, presented challenges unlike anything we have seen in the last 100 years since we had the last global pandemic, and it jeopardizes access to education for students around the world. While some students and educators quickly adapted and overcame these challenges, the widespread disruptions caused by the pandemic will invariably have lasting impacts on communities at home and abroad. The Global Learning Loss Assessment Act of 2021 will allow us to better understand the effect the pandemic has had on global learning, and also find ways to help get students back on the path to continued learning and future success. I know from my home city that the lack of availability of educational school buildings and lack of dialogue and conversations with other students in the classroom has hurt them. We need to evaluate and make sure what needs to be done so they can make up that time and continue the path to success because our Nation here in the United States and in the countries around the world are dependent upon it so that we can have a better tomorrow. That is why I thank Ms. Houlahan for her bill, along with Mr.…”