Republicans are considering more than $ 70 billion in aid to schools as part of the next coronavirus aid package currently under negotiation.
“There will be more than $ 70 billion that this president has already authorized to work with Congress to try to make sure that we not only keep classrooms safe, but also keep students safe,” said the White House chief of staff. Mark Meadows
Mark Randall Meadows Republican Party signals cut of Trump’s payroll tax in Republican coronavirus bill; for now, the White House, the Senate Republican standoff over trial funds The Republican Party plans more than a billion for schools in the coronavirus package MORE He told Fox News about the upcoming Republican proposal for the fifth coronavirus relief legislation.
When asked if he was leaving a meeting Monday night with Meadows and top Republican senators if there would be more than $ 70 billion for schools in the Republican plan, Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin
Steven Terner MnuchinGOP points to Trump’s payroll tax cut on Republican coronavirus bill: For now, the White House and Senate clash with the Republican Party over trial funds The Republican Party watches over a billion for schools in the coronavirus package MORE He told reporters that “it would be a good guess.”
“It is a lot of money,” added Mnuchin.
The amount of funds to be awarded to schools and the restrictions to be imposed on them have emerged as an early fight in the upcoming negotiations.
As states across the country see an increase in the number of coronavirus cases, school districts have to weigh whether they should bring students to classes in person, take virtual lessons, or do a combination of both.
President Trump
Donald John TrumpDHS expands staff authority to collect information on people who threaten monuments: Republican report points to Trump’s payroll tax cut on Republican coronavirus bill, for now Trump threatens to duplicate Portland in other major cities PLUS It has threatened to disburse schools that do not reopen for face-to-face classes this fall.
“Democrats think it would be politically bad for them if US schools open before the November election, but it is important for children and families. They can cut funds if they don’t open!” He tweeted earlier this month.
The threat has received fierce criticism from Democrats, who have warned against using federal money to try to push schools to reopen their classes in person.
The total discussed by Republicans is also less than the $ 175 billion Democrats proposed for schools in late June.
Leading Republican senators, including those involved in drafting the education portion of the bill, have also rejected the idea of linking coronavirus aid to the reopening of schools. They say that schools that resume classes in person will probably need more help to cover the associated costs, those that do not teach in person will probably still need federal assistance.
“I just don’t think you can come up with a one-size-fits-all federal federal policy for everyone. The circumstances are very different, “said the senator. John Thune
John Randolph ThuneGOP points to Trump’s payroll tax cut on Republican coronavirus bill: For now, the Republican conflict in the Senate over the White House over trial funds The Republican Party plans more than a billion for schools in coronavirus package MORE (RS.D.) asked about linking educational funds for reopening schools for in-person classes.
Senator Roy Blunt
Roy Dean Blunt, White House, Senate, Republican Showdown Over Trial Funds The Republican Party Plans More Than A Billion For Schools In Coronavirus Package Make Vulnerable Children A Priority In Response To Pandemic (R-Mo.) He added that “part of that support” could be conditioned because schools that reopen would have different costs.
“[But] I think that in any case, schools at all levels have been affected by what happened, so I think much of that support should not be conditioned, “he added.
Mnuchin and Meadows met with Blunt, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee Richard Shelby
Richard Craig ShelbyGOP eyes more than a billion for schools in coronavirus package This week: Confederate statues debate, fifth coronavirus bill heats up House panel wraps up lightning fast allocations for 2021 MORE (R-Ala.) And President of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Work and Pensions Lamar Alexander
Andrew (Lamar) Lamar Alexander White House, Senate Republican Shock for Trial Funding The Republican Party considers more than a billion for schools in coronavirus package. Hill’s Coronavirus Report: Former HHS Secretary Sebelius Gives the Trump Administration a D in Managing the Pandemic; Oxford and AstraZeneca report positive dual immunity results from first MORE vaccine trial (R-Tenn.) Monday night. A significant part of their discussion, they said, was about school funding.
The Republican group will meet again on Tuesday morning.
“Well, just a better understanding of how we can … more effectively use federal dollars to help 135,000 public and private schools, and 6,000 universities, safely open this fall, as much as possible in person. That’s what I hope to do, “Alexander said when asked what he hoped to get out of Tuesday’s meeting.
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