[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 139 (Wednesday, August 5, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4887-S4888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           REOPENING SCHOOLS

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, let me also address for a moment this 
issue of reopening of schools. There is a debate raging across the 
country right now about what this autumn will look like for our 
Nation's schools, the schoolchildren, teachers, and school staff. You 
have heard the President, who has literally threatened those who don't 
reopen their schools that they may lose Federal funding if they don't 
reopen schools. What is that funding spent for? Special education, 
school lunches, help for kids in poor schools.
  The message has been reiterated by the loyal Education Secretary, 
Betsy DeVos. She, too, has joined in the threats of schools that don't 
reopen. Now the Republicans in the Senate have taken that threat and 
turned it into legislation with their proposal in the next relief 
package.
  Let me be really clear. There is a concern about empty classrooms. 
Those who study childhood behavior worry that lack of socialization 
takes its toll on childhood development. Teachers are often sentinels 
for evidence of child abuse, which now may be going unreported. Remote 
learning works well for some but not for others. But that is not the 
concern of this President. He wants schools back so he that can claim 
some kind of false victory over the coronavirus.
  Last week, I led 24 of my colleagues in writing to the majority 
leader and the Democratic leader opposing putting children and teachers 
in any danger by conditioning funding of schools reopening in person.
  Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Little Village Academy 
in Chicago with the Chicago Public Schools chief, Janice Jackson. Some 
wonderful people are there each day passing out lunches to the kids in 
the neighborhood who come around the school. They haven't reopened for 
classes. They hope they will, but that decision is still to be made.
  I can tell you that in Chicago and around my home State of Illinois, 
school boards, administrators, teachers, parents, and others are facing 
these decisions honestly. They have to provide a safe and effective 
learning environment for students and for teachers, whether that be in 
person, in school, or at home.
  Unlike President Trump, who is nicely insulated in the bubble of the 
White House with the multiple daily COVID-19 tests for everyone who 
just might come in contact with him, these education professionals in 
my home State of Illinois have to answer directly to the families in 
their communities. It is a decision that local officials are best 
suited to make without intimidation or threats from Washington, DC.
  But Washington does have a role to play. The best thing we can do to 
help local school districts through this difficult fall and beyond is 
to provide the Federal assistance and support they need to ensure the 
path they choose is one that keeps students and staff safe while 
allowing the learning and development to continue effectively.
  It is why, as we negotiate a fourth coronavirus response package, I 
will be pushing for the inclusion of the Coronavirus Childcare and 
Education Relief Act, being led in the Senate by Senator Patty Murray 
of Washington.
  In addition to supporting childcare, early education, and higher 
education, the bill provides $175 billion to elementary and secondary 
schools to help meet technology, cleaning, staffing, and other needs of 
schools. It provides funds to school districts based on their share of 
low-income children. In that way, it is similar to the CARES Act, which 
brought more than $200 million to the Chicago Public Schools and a 
total of $512 million across our State of Illinois. Compare that $175 
billion to the $70 billion being offered on the Republican side--
another classic example.
  We believe this is a serious national issue, when it comes to 
education. The Republicans do not. The amount of money that they are 
proposing is a fraction of what we offer, and much of it is conditioned 
on the schools actually reopening in person, regardless of what is the 
safest thing for the schools, the teachers, and the students in any 
given area.
  Congress shouldn't put State and local officials in the position of 
choosing between desperately needed Federal assistance and the safety 
of students and the school personnel. Congress should not incentivize 
schools to reopen in person prematurely or penalize those where the 
public health situation makes it dangerous.
  The argument from the administration seems to go: ``Well, if schools 
don't reopen, they either don't deserve or don't need any help.'' That 
is just not the case. Even schools that are not able to reopen in 
person need assistance ensuring their students, especially those from 
low-income families, have the ability to participate in remote 
learning. They need help keeping staff on payroll, preparing the 
buildings so they can return in person in the future, and addressing 
any number of difficulties this pandemic has created. For school buses, 
if there is going to be social distancing of the kids on the buses, 
will there be a need for additional buses and busdrivers?
  In addition to funding, the Federal Government should also ensure 
that schools have science-based guidance to support safely opening, 
free from political influence and Presidential quackery.
  They also need the flexibility to continue serving critical meals to 
our students, regardless of what the school year looks like this fall.

[[Page S4888]]

  Chicago Public Schools have done an incredible job providing 18 
million meals since March. We need to ensure the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture provides the range of alternative options needed to make 
sure that no kid in America goes hungry.
  Schools in Chicago and around our State don't need any more tweets or 
self-congratulatory briefings, Mr. President. They need Federal 
resources and guidance based on the best science our government has to 
offer. That is why I am fighting for this relief package to be at a 
level to meet the challenge we face across America

                          ____________________