search
Sections List
American Journal News

McCarthy demands answers on school reopening. They're in the American Rescue Plan.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy voted against the COVID relief plan, which provides funding to make it possible for schools to safely return to in-person instruction.

By Josh Israel - March 25, 2021
Share
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy demanded on Thursday that President Joe Biden lay out a plan to return students to in-person learning. The California Republican voted against such a plan just two weeks ago.

As Biden prepared to hold his first formal press conference, McCarthy tweeted some “Qs for President Biden on education.”

“1. Students deserve to be in school 5 days a week. What is your admin doing to ensure children get the education they deserve?” McCarthy asked. “2. Will you call on teachers unions to follow the science and CDC guidance to allow for 3 ft of distancing?”

Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, McCarthy has been trying for months to make his demand for an immediate return to full in-person learning a wedge issue.

“Our kids are struggling, Mr. President. Enough is enough: we need to reopen our schools,” he tweeted on Feb. 25.

But his concerted push has swayed few votes. A Morning Consult/Politico poll in February found 55% of American voters did not want to reopen schools until teachers had received coronavirus vaccinations, while 34% preferred to reopen schools immediately.

Navigator Research found earlier this month that, by a 47% to 32% margin, more Americans trusted Biden and Democrats to make determinations about “how and when to reopen schools” than trusted Republicans to do so. Seventy-five percent of those surveyed sided more with those who want to make sure schools reopen “the right way for the safety of students” than with those who “want to reopen schools immediately.”

Biden said in December, “It should be a national priority to get our kids back into school and keep them in school.”

“If Congress provides the funding, we need to protect students, educators, and staff,” he said. “If states and cities put strong public health measures in place that we all follow, then my team will work to see that the majority of our schools can be open by the end of my first 100 days.”

Earlier this month, Congress passed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, providing more than $125 billion in funding for measures to make it possible for schools to safely return to in-person instruction.

McCarthy, who called the plan “the most progressive bill” in U.S. history, voted against it and successfully convinced his entire GOP minority caucus to do the same.

Despite GOP claims made well before the first 100 days of his term were even up that Biden had broken his promise, the president noted on Thursday that he is on pace to deliver on it.

Noting that he had aimed to get a majority of K-8 schools fully open for in-person instruction within the first 100 days, he told reporters that nearly half of those schools now are are open five days a week.

Biden acknowledged, “Not yet a majority, but we’re really close, and I believe in the 35 days left to go, we’ll meet that goal as well.”

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


AJ News
Subscribe to our newsletter.
Read More
AJ News
Latest
House Republicans roll out new plan to decimate Medicaid

House Republicans roll out new plan to decimate Medicaid

By Jesse Valentine - April 24, 2025
Trump White House plans to garnish wages of student loan borrowers

Trump White House plans to garnish wages of student loan borrowers

By Jesse Valentine - April 22, 2025
Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

Megadonor embroiled in ethics scandal gave thousands to Winsome Earle-Sears

By Jesse Valentine - April 21, 2025
“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

“I Was Terrified To Get Pregnant Again After Having to Flee Tennessee for a Life-Saving Abortion”

By Bonnie Fuller - April 21, 2025
Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

Goldman Sachs: Trump’s tariffs will lead to job losses

By Jesse Valentine - April 17, 2025
Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

Democrats take stand for wrongly deported Maryland man

By Jesse Valentine - April 16, 2025
North Carolina law would make it illegal for Democratic AG to sue Trump

North Carolina law would make it illegal for Democratic AG to sue Trump

By Jesse Valentine - April 11, 2025
Older Americans suffer under Republican slash and burn policies

Older Americans suffer under Republican slash and burn policies

By Jesse Valentine - April 09, 2025
Scott Brown got Trump’s tariff plans for New Zealand very wrong

Scott Brown got Trump’s tariff plans for New Zealand very wrong

By Jesse Valentine - April 08, 2025
Trump admin canceled Social Security contracts to punish Maine governor

Trump admin canceled Social Security contracts to punish Maine governor

By Jesse Valentine - April 03, 2025
Senate Republicans vote to eliminate cap on overdraft fees

Senate Republicans vote to eliminate cap on overdraft fees

By Jesse Valentine - April 03, 2025
Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

Forced to carry a dying baby, this Texas mother of four says she didn’t think it could happen to her

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

Despite pleas from women and doctors, Texas may implement even more abortion restrictions

By Bonnie Fuller - March 28, 2025
Trump’s antiwar claims don’t hold up in leaked group chat

Trump’s antiwar claims don’t hold up in leaked group chat

By Jesse Valentine - March 28, 2025
Frontline Republican governors cheer on Department of Ed closure

Frontline Republican governors cheer on Department of Ed closure

By Jesse Valentine - March 26, 2025
GOP-led legislatures ramp up abortion restrictions

GOP-led legislatures ramp up abortion restrictions

By Jesse Valentine - March 18, 2025
HHS slashes vaccine research, amplifies misinformation

HHS slashes vaccine research, amplifies misinformation

By Jesse Valentine - March 11, 2025
Senate Republicans scrap consumer protections for payment apps

Senate Republicans scrap consumer protections for payment apps

By Jesse Valentine - March 10, 2025
Rep. Don Bacon admits he voted for Medicaid cuts

Rep. Don Bacon admits he voted for Medicaid cuts

By - February 28, 2025
Trump admin cracks down on affordable weight-loss treatments

Trump admin cracks down on affordable weight-loss treatments

By Jesse Valentine - February 27, 2025
Republican lawmakers are lying about Medicaid fraud

Republican lawmakers are lying about Medicaid fraud

By Jesse Valentine - February 26, 2025
Trump’s education pick: schools may lose funds for teaching Black history

Trump’s education pick: schools may lose funds for teaching Black history

By Jesse Valentine - February 13, 2025