Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher (TX-07) and all democratic members of the Texas delegation are calling on U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to ensure schools receive the federal support Congress provided through COVID-19 relief legislation.  

In a letter to Secretary Cardona, the members note that Governor Abbott is one of only two governors that has refused to send Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds approved more than one year ago in the CARES Act to Texas schools, denying Texas schools direct access to $1.2 billion.  In addition, Governor Abbott has yet to provide Texas schools the $5.5 billion in ESSER II funds, which became available January 6, or the $12.4 billion from the American Rescue Plan, two thirds of which became available March 24.  They urge the Department to strictly enforce requirements outlined in the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA) and the American Rescue Plan Act to ensure the essential funding provided by these bills reaches schools as intended by Congress. 

“Schools urgently need resources to help re-open safely and to support students, which Congress provided through the CARES Act, the year-end COVID relief bill, and the American Rescue Plan.  Unfortunately, Governor Abbott has delayed and diverted the delivery of these funds, which is why it is vital that the Department of Education strictly enforces the protections against these actions to make sure Texas students have the aid they need,” said Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher.  “I will continue to work on to ensure our educators have the help that Congress intended for them.” 

In their letter, the lawmakers write: “These funds were intended to help schools address learning loss, meet mental health challenges with the increase of youth suicide, provide tutoring and remedial assistance, close the digital divide, improve ventilation and a host of other locally-determined needs. But due to bad faith denial and delay of these funds by Governor Abbott, not a single dollar of the already-approved ESSER funds have reached Texas schools.”

“We cannot accomplish the important goal, which we share with the Administration, of reopening schools safely when the ten percent of America’s school-aged children living in Texas are denied access to essential federal assistance,” the lawmakers continue.  “We look forward to working with the Department to hold our Governor accountable for complying with federal maintenance of effort and equity requirements.”

You can read the full letter here.