Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia Leads Members of the Texas Democratic Congressional Delegation in Expressing Disappointment with TEA’s Decision Not to Disburse CARES Funds to Local Education Agencies

WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) led members of the Texas Democratic Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to Mike Morath, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) Commissioner, to express their disappointment with TEA's decision to use CARES Act funds to offset state losses instead of disbursing funds directly to local school districts. Congresswoman Garcia issued the following statement:

"Students and teachers across Texas readily adjusted to distance learning during the last third of the 2019-2020 academic school year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our teachers and school district officials made many last-minute adjustments to ensure that students were able to safely and successfully finish the school year.

When the CARES Act was passed, education relief dollars were supposed to help school districts offset losses brought about by unexpected school closures, sanitation and cleaning efforts, and distance learning costs, among others. This is why my colleagues in the Texas Democratic Congressional Delegation and I are concerned by Commissioner Morath's decision to instead use these relief funds to offset state losses.

We have a responsibility to our teachers and students, and urge Commissioner Morath to reverse his decision. Our local school districts across the state were relying on these funds, and this decision will only hurt students and teachers across the state."

Click here for the final letter.

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Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the House Judiciary and Financial Services Committees.