Malliotakis Co-Sponsors Reopen Schools Act

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) yesterday cosponsored Rep. Ashley Hinson's (R-IA) Reopen Schools Act, legislation that would force the immediate reopening of in-person learning in schools across the country and take away federal relief funding specifically allocated for reopening if they do not.

“It is irresponsible for schools to remain closed after the CDC has said it is safe and when the federal government is providing funds so they can reopen with the proper precautions to protect students and staff," said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. "While the public health crisis in our country continues to improve, there is an emerging mental health situation in our student population caused by months of isolation from their peers. Schools not only provide the in-person learning that our young people need to prepare themselves for life, but also provide counseling, nutrition, intervention, school athletics and other critical support services. Not opening schools at this point is just pure negligence on behalf of local governments."

The $54.3 billion in funds Congress allocated to K-12 schools in December was designed to help schools reopen safely and cover costs including measures to improve air quality in schools and train staff on proper sanitation practices. The Reopen Schools Act will give 1/3 of those funds to local state educational agencies, while the remaining 2/3 can be accessed if the educational agencies submit a re-opening plan to their governor and the governor approves the plan. New York State was allocated $4,002,381,738.

Last month, Congresswoman Malliotakis sent a letter to New York City Mayor de Blasio calling for the mayor to immediately resume in-person learning and the Public School Athletic League (PSAL) at New York City middle and high schools. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study stating schools should resume in-person learning as soon as possible as long as proper social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines are put in place. Additionally, Governor Cuomo announced that local municipalities can resume high school athletics.