Published:
NH Delegation Announces Nearly $7 Million in Federal Grants for Manchester, Lebanon & Pease Airports from December COVID Relief Legislation
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Maggie
Hassan, a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Committee, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Representative Annie Kuster, and
Representative Chris Pappas announced today that through the American Rescue
Plan, New Hampshire K-12 schools will receive $350,501,633 to help schools
safely reopen and support students. The American Rescue Plan includes Senator
Hassan’s amendment
to require schools receiving these funds to develop and make public reopening
plans, as well as dedicated
funding that Senator Hassan helped secure for students who experience
disabilities.
Ahead of First Lady Jill Biden’s visit
to Christa McAuliffe School today, Senators Hassan and Shaheen met
with the First Lady to discuss the importance of this funding. Upon Dr.
Biden’s arrival at the school, Representative Kuster welcomed the First Lady to
New Hampshire.
“Our kids need to get back to fully
in-person learning as quickly and safely as possible, which is why we
prioritized school funding as part of the American Rescue Plan,” said Senator
Hassan. “This significant funding to New Hampshire will help ensure that
schools have the resources that they need to get more kids back into the
classroom full-time. It will also help address the learning loss, as well as
the social and emotional challenges, that many have experienced over the last
year. I am pleased that the First Lady gets to see firsthand today how hard our
teachers and students are working during this time, and I know that this
funding will be a big help for them.”
“The pandemic has been challenging for
all of us, but our kids have really borne the brunt of this crisis. Many
struggled with remote learning and were separated from their friends, teachers
and classrooms, which foster a vital learning environment. Getting our kids
safely back in school has been a top priority and was crucial during
negotiations on the American Rescue Plan, which is why I’m so pleased to see
these federal resources be distributed swiftly, with an estimated $350 million
coming home to New Hampshire,” said Senator Shaheen. “The impact of the
COVID-19 crisis on our education system has been all encompassing. We’ve seen
our kids struggle with their mental health, parents juggle working and teaching
from home, students fall through the cracks who don’t have requisite technology
or access to broadband to learn remotely, educators and faculty worry about
staying safe on the job and much more. For almost a year, I heard from New
Hampshire parents, educators and faculty about the urgent need for funding to
address these needs. I’m glad to share with them that help is on the way.”
“Re-opening our schools safely and
getting students back into classrooms is essential to our efforts to rebuild
from this pandemic and get our New Hampshire economy back on track,” said
Representative Kuster. "I’m proud to have advanced provisions in
the American Rescue Plan Act which President Biden signed into
law last week that will deliver critical funding for our schools, teachers,
staff, and students. These federal funds will help to ensure that schools are
safe, make up for lost learning due to COVID-19, and ensure our Granite State
students continue to receive a high-quality education as we recover from this
pandemic. I will continue working in Congress to ensure our NH schools,
teachers, and staff have the resources they need to help our students get
ahead.”
“We know that the best
place for all Granite State kids is back in the classroom,” said Representative Pappas. “That’s why a crucial component of the American Rescue Plan
included significant funding to help schools reopen safely to full-time,
in-person learning. Students, teachers, and staff have been through a year
unlike any we’ve ever experienced before, and it has not been easy. I’m pleased
that New Hampshire will be receiving $350 million to get kids back in school
and ensure our teachers and staff remain safe as we come back from this
pandemic.”
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