On Saturday, March 6, the U.S. Senate passed H.R. 1319, the American Rescue Plan Act, sending the $1.9 trillion package back to the House for final adoption.
Senators approved by voice vote a bipartisan amendment offered by U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) to provide $800 million in dedicated funding to support the identification, enrollment, and school participation of children and youth experiencing homelessness, including through wrap-around services. This is eight times the annual appropriation of the Education for Homeless Children and Youth program. Senators Portman (R-OH), Sullivan (R-AK), Sinema (D-AZ), and Collins (R-ME) are co-sponsors of the amendment. These funds would come from the nearly $130 billion in aid within the bill for education championed by U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA).
The amendment follows Senator Murkowski and Manchin’s introduction last month of the Emergency Family Stabilization Act, S. 220.
SchoolHouse Connection is deeply grateful to these Senators for their leadership and commitment to ensuring that children and youth experiencing homelessness have access to the education and services they need to realize their full potential, avoid homelessness as adults, and recover from the trauma and loss of homelessness.
A big thank you to everyone who called or emailed their Senators to help make today’s victory possible!
To read the text of the amendment, click here.