Investing in A New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. SABLAN. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, I want to highlight how H.R. 2 helps America's schools.

Schools began the coronavirus crisis already in significant need of repair, but revenue shortfalls caused by the virus are causing local governments to cut teaching staff. They cannot afford to invest in facilities. So H.R. 2 includes the Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act, a $100 billion plan of Federal investment from the Education and Labor Committee.

Funds are front-loaded to address emergency needs to reconfigure schools to meet CDC guidelines. Our bill also helps the 16 million students nationwide without online access gain reliable, high-speed internet for digital instructions. And there is a special $500 million set aside for insular area schools, which are particularly challenged.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman DeFazio for this time to speak and also for adding the Marianas to the AMBER Alert system, which I asked for and is included in H.R. 2.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' for H.R. 2, and the Reopen and Rebuild America's Schools Act.

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