Senate Releases Text of COVID Response Package

On Monday evening, Senate Republicans released the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protections and Schools Act (HEALS Act), a bill to continue addressing the immediate needs brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. The $1 trillion bill which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) described as “our framework for another round of historic relief for American workers and families” is the Senate’s proposal for Congress’s next major COVID-19 package.

Missing from the HEAL Act is any funding directed to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Within the bill, $105 billion would go to the Education Stabilization Fund, created through the CARES Act. The funding, the bulk of which comes with strings attached, is broken down as follows:

• $5 billion for the Governor’s Emergency Relief Funds, which governors have considerable discretion over
• $70 billion for the Elementary and Secondary Education Fund, which is allocated based on the Title I formula
  • One-third of funds would be distributed immediately to local educational agencies (LEAs)
  • Two-thirds are contingent on LEAs presenting plans to governors that incorporate in-person instruction, making any school or district that has opted for fully virtual instruction ineligible
  • States must reserve funding for nonpublic schools based on the pre-pandemic proportion of Title I eligible students attending nonpublic schools
• $29 billion is directed to institutions of higher education, with an emphasis on supporting low-income and minority students
• $40 million for student aid administration
• $65 million for the Institute of Education Sciences to conduct the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP)

Additional provisions include the authorization of Emergency Education Freedom Scholarships (private school vouchers) for K-12 students; consolidation of student loan repayment plans; amending the Free Application for Federal Student Loans (FAFSA) to allow families to document pandemic-related changes in family income; and various waivers, including allowing the Secretary to authorize a continuation of IDEA Part C services beyond a child’s third birthday if the transition to Part B is delayed.

The HEAL Act is considered the opening bid for Senate Republicans, who will now need to negotiate a final package with their minority counterparts and the House of Representatives—which has put forth a $3 trillion proposal. 

Action Alert

The Senate HEAL Act has missed the mark on many key CEC priorities, including dedicated emergency funding for IDEA, keeping public funds in public education, and supporting the work of educators to serve all students—whether in-person, remotely, or through a hybrid model—who deserve support. Now is the time to get loud.

As Congress embarks on negotiations for a final COVID-19 response package, they need to hear from you.

Please follow this link to our one-step action alert to make your voice heard.