NEW YORK – Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday was joined by Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.) in writing to Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) to call attention to the impact that lapsing federal resources may have on children and parents as students return to school.

The members expressed confidence in Education Commissioner Dr. Betty Rosa and Chancellor of New York State Board of Regents Dr. Lester W. Young, Jr., citing their experience serving high-need students, centering social-emotional learning, supporting English language learners, and engaging with parents as vital in serving broader New York as the state recovers from challenges exacerbated by the pandemic.

“As you know, multiple sources of federal pandemic relief have either expired, including Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) enacted under the CARES Act,” the members wrote in the letter. “Additional federal pandemic relief enacted at the end of December 2020, such as increased SNAP benefits, paid sick leave, and paid family and medical leave tax credits will expire at the end of September.”

Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, which offered enhanced unemployment benefits, expired September 4, leaving millions of Americans scrambling to make ends meet without safe, secure employment as the Delta variant continues to spread. The members argued that the lapse of these programs, in addition to the upcoming lapse of other measures, will increase the strain on parents, students, and educators as the school year begins, making it even more important that education leaders are uplifted and empowered to lead.

“From our constituents, we believe we need state education leaders who have experience effectively serving high-need populations,” the members wrote. “A nationwide eviction crisis is a significant threat to a safe and sustainable return to in-person learning. It cannot be understated that every facet of a child’s life has been impacted by the pandemic, potentially exposing them to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Because a suite of federal resources is not, or will soon not be, available, we believe it is important that New York has strong educational leadership in place.”

Click here to read the full text of the letter.

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