Maloney Listens to Concerns of Hudson Valley Teachers, Renews Call to Support Education Funding Amid Pandemic

Press Release

Today, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) hosted a virtual listening session with Hudson Valley teachers to discuss the reopening process of our schools, and the federal assistance needed to return to the classroom in a safe, efficient way.

"Our teachers are on the frontlines during this pandemic, and it's time for the federal government to give them the support they deserve. Today, I brought together educators from right here in the Hudson Valley to listen and learn more about what they need from the federal government before the fall.

"It's clear: we've got to support our schools with a rational, evidence-based and well-resourced system. Without that, our educators won't have what they need to teach safely and efficiently.

"The Heroes Act, which we passed out of the House in May, would be a real shot in the arm for our schools and our communities. It's time the Senate steps up and gets serious about the critically important provisions in this bill," said Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney.

Teachers from the Middletown, Monroe-Woodbury, Haldane, and Croton-Harmon school districts joined Rep. Maloney to discuss their concerns about returning to the classroom in the fall. The teachers also discussed the federal assistance needed for schools to transition to online, hybrid and socially-distanced learning. The event was livestreamed, and can be viewed here:

During the event, the importance of the Heroes Act -- the House-passed coronavirus relief legislation passed in May -- was highlighted. The Heroes Act would dedicate $90 billion to education, including $58 billion for K-12 institutions. Based on funding formula estimates, New York State would receive $5 billion in funding dedicated to our schools.

Additionally, the Heroes Act would provide an estimated $34 billion in new funds for New York State, and an estimated $32 billion in new funds for New York's counties and municipalities over two years, including an estimated $544 million for Westchester County, $216 million for Orange County, $165 million for Dutchess County, and $55 million for Putnam County.

Today, Governor Cuomo reiterated the need for dedicated state and local funding from the federal government to the New York Congressional Delegation, warning that without federal aid, the state would be forced to reduce funding for hospitals, schools, and local governments by 20%. A reduction of that size could cost schools in New York's 18th Congressional District over $193 million at a time when budgets are already strained due to adaptations in the wake of the pandemic.

The House also recently passed the Moving Forward Act, a sweeping transportation and infrastructure bill that invests $130 billion toward repairing and modernizing school facilities. These funds could be used to update ventilation systems, reconfigure classrooms and shared spaces to meet social distancing and safety guidelines, and expand broadband, all of which were concerns the teachers shared.

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