Chairman Miller Statement on $10 Billion Education Jobs Bill and Additional State Aid
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today issued the following statement after Speaker Pelosi announced the House of Representatives will return to Washington next week to vote on legislation recently moved forward by the Senate to invest $10 billion to save teachers jobs.“I look forward to returning to Washington next week to ensure our teachers, principals, librarians, guidance counselors and countless other school professionals keep their jobs and our students are able to grow, thrive and succeed. While this won't avert all teacher layoffs, it is a critical lifeline for education professionals across the country.”
The legislation would provide $10 billion to help local school districts save or hire teachers and other education professionals. Funds would be distributed through the state’s primary elementary and secondary funding formulae or each school district’s relative share of Title I. In Contra Costa and Solano counties in Miller’s district in California, nearly 600 school professionals have been laid off.
The legislation would also provide $16 billion in additional funding to states through the FMAP program.
Miller introduced the Local Jobs for America Act in March to help create and save public and private sector jobs and restore vital services in local communities. The provision in the bill to support education jobs was initially included in the Jobs for Main Street Act of 2010, which passed the House in December 2009. For more information about Miller’s work to save and protect jobs, click here.
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