• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Wednesday, July 6, 2022
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home Federal Government

Ernst Helps Introduce Bill to Get Students Back in School

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst introduced legislation that prohibits federal funding to schools that do not provide an in-person learning option by April 30, 2021.

Iowa TorchbyIowa Torch
February 4, 2021
in Education, Federal Government
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Ernst Expresses Concern About Trump’s Upcoming Senate Impeachment Trial

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has served in the U.S. Senate since 2015.

RELATED POSTS

Iowa’s members of Congress react to Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade

Eighth Circuit Court lifts preliminary injunction of Iowa mask mandate ban

Ernst introduces bill to move federal agencies out of D.C.

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, joined with seven of her colleagues to introduce the Put Students First Act of 2021, legislation that would prohibit federal funding to schools that do not provide an in-person learning option by April 30, 2021.

In January, leading health experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that America’s schools should reopen as soon as possible if precautions are taken – namely mask-wearing and social distancing – and that new scientific research provides “a path forward to maintain or return primarily or fully to in-person instructional delivery.”

Additionally, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky reiterated in a press conference on Wednesday that “vaccination of teachers is not a prerequisite for safe reopening of schools” and that is clear “that there is increasing data to suggest that schools can safely reopen.”

“President Biden’s own CDC director agrees that we can safely open our schools—and we should,” Ernst said. “This is a matter of emotional and academic development and the mental health of our kiddos, as well as the well-being of our working families. I’m proud to join this effort that will ensure schools that put our children first receive additional federal support during COVID-19.”

Senator Ernst joined U.S. Senators Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Rick Scott, R-Fla., Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., Steve Daines, R-Mont., and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., to introduce this bill.

ADVERTISEMENT

President Joe Biden committed to reopening schools within his first 100 days as president. The Biden Administration claims that an infusion of $130 billion is necessary for schools to reopen safely. Several studies show that K-12 schools are not significant drivers of COVID-19 transmission when schools implement masks and social distancing.

Despite evidence indicating that schools can and should reopen safely, a number of teachers’ unions demand conditions that would not allow schools to be reopened until 2022.

Some key points of what ThePut Students First Act of 2021 does:

  • Prohibition of federal education funds for K-12 schools that do not reopen: This bill mandates that the Secretary of Education cannot provide any federal education dollars to schools that do not provide an in-person learning option by April 30, 2021.
    • Schools that do not reopen, and have already received FY21 and/or COVID-19 relief dollars, would be required to return these funds. This provision would apply to any future infusions of COVID-19 relief dollars being currently debated by Congress.
  • Use of forfeited and returned funds: Following the return or forfeiture of funds, states in which schools closed for in-person learning would have fifteen days to submit a plan to the Department of Education for how to use those funds to support school choice options for students impacted by school closures.
  • Grants to states with the highest percentage of schools offering in-person instruction: If a state with shuttered schools chooses not to offer school choice options to their students, those funds would then be granted to states with the highest percentage of local education agencies in the state serving schools that offer in-person instruction.
  • Child Nutrition: Nothing in this Act would alter or preclude any eligibility, funding, or requirements related to the National School Lunch Program.

Read the bill below:

E0CDC3483CB36BC9347A3FB670E4BB1B.putting-students-first-act--aeg21116-002-
Tags: Bill HagertyCenters for Disease Control and PreventionCOVID-19Joe BidenJoni ErnstK-12 EducationKevin CramerMarco RubioMarsha BlackburnRick ScottSteve DainesThom Tillis
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Pate Announces $1,000,000 Election Cybersecurity Grant to Iowa Counties

Next Post

Iowa House Committee Approves Bill Requiring Pledge of Allegiance in Schools

Iowa Torch

Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans.

Related Posts

the united states capitol building in washington
Federal Government

Iowa’s members of Congress react to Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade

June 25, 2022
mining excavation on a mountain
Opinion

Ernst: Securing critical minerals is essential for America’s national security

June 20, 2022
Hendrickson & Williams: Governor Reynolds’ Tax Reform Ideas are Pro-Growth
State Government

Iowa to allocate $100M in federal funding for school safety

June 16, 2022
Opinion

Miller-Meeks: More than a high-class problem

June 13, 2022
Ernst: World War II Army Ranger vets finally get the honor they deserve
Opinion

Ernst: World War II Army Ranger vets finally get the honor they deserve

June 13, 2022
Ernst: Let’s build the border wall instead of charging taxpayers to babysit materials
Opinion

Ernst: Let’s build the border wall instead of charging taxpayers to babysit materials

June 7, 2022
Next Post
Iowa House Committee Approves Bill Requiring Pledge of Allegiance in Schools

Iowa House Committee Approves Bill Requiring Pledge of Allegiance in Schools

How Iowa’s Republican U.S. House Members Voted on Cheney

How Iowa's Republican U.S. House Members Voted on Cheney

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Bill Gustoff Announces Campaign for Iowa House District 40

Bill Gustoff Announces Campaign for Iowa House District 40

January 31, 2022
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds delivers the Condition of the State address in the House Chambers at the Iowa Capitol Building on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021. Photo Credit: Bryon Houlgrave/The Des Moines Register

Iowa Christian Schools Group Says Reynolds’ K-12 Education Bill Needs Improvement

January 23, 2021
architecture building buy buyer

Study: Midwest cities about average in housing market overvalue trend

June 6, 2022

Popular Stories

  • Schultz: Governor Highlights Successes in Western Iowa

    Reynolds to ask Iowa Courts to reconsider recent abortion rulings

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Iowa employers say attracting a quality workforce is a top priority

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Axne attacks Nunn in first campaign ad

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Several Republican incumbent lawmakers lose primaries

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Bill Gustoff Announces Campaign for Iowa House District 40

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.