On Thursday, Congressman Mike Garcia, R-Santa Clarita, co-sponsored the Re-Open Schools Act (H.R. 682) that aims to speed up the process of reopening schools through controlling funds from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER).  

Introduced by Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, R-IA, the Re-Open Schools Act has garnered co-sponsors from 37 Republicans, with Garcia announcing his support this week.

“From day one, I have been adamant about getting our kids back into school,” Garcia said in a statement Thursday. “For too long we’ve neglected our children’s need for in-person education and the sanctity of their mental health. We need to get our kids back in school safely and as quickly as possible.”

The bill includes making two-thirds of the $54 billion in K-12 education COVID-19 funding conditional upon if the state is working to bring kids back into schools. It would also require local education agencies to submit an education plan that would result in at least 50 percent in-person attendance.

These plans require a timeline for re-opening, a description of the number of days during the week in-person instruction would be offered, as well as an assurance that schools will offer as many in-person classes as safe and practicable. 

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“The Re-Open Schools Act will incentivize schools to reopen safely so that our children no longer suffer,” Garcia said.

According to the bill, schools that do not reach the minimum 50 percent attendance rate will receive prorated funding.    

The GOP legislation that Republicans argue would help students get back into classrooms safely and as soon as possible, was blocked by the House for immediate consideration twice. 

Some amendments were offered in response to the rejection, with Representatives Michelle Steel and Greg Murphy proposing to require school districts to re-open to serve high-risk students as a condition of receiving funds from the ESSER fund, which remains largely unspent. 

To find out more about the Re-Open Schools Act, click here.

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