Richmond Leader

Washington, D.C. – On July 19, 2023, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) voted against House Republicans’ Schools Not Shelters Act to stand up for education funding, America’s school systems, and asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants.  

H.R. 3941 threatens to take away funding from a school if any of its facilities are used to temporarily house asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants. The bill would primarily affect title I programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.

“Extreme MAGA Republicans assert the Schools Not Shelters Act seeks to keep our students safe and make up for learning loss, but neither of those claims are true,” said Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan. “This bill is yet another example of the GOP’s concerning pattern of deflection and distraction. Instead of taking meaningful action to address the real issues impacting our students’ safety and academic progress, like gun violence, teacher shortages, or widespread attacks on our schools’ curriculums, House Republicans advanced a harmful, ineffective piece of legislation to demonize asylum seekers and undocumented immigrants and strip funding away from our schools. I voted no on this meaningless bill, and I urge my House Republican colleagues to confront the real issues facing American students and families.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has long used schools, places of worship, and community centers as temporary shelters. H.R. 3941 prohibits the emergency sheltering provided exclusively to one targeted group – undocumented immigrants – unless it is in response to a natural disaster.  

The Schools Not Shelter Act passed the House on a vote of 222 to 201.

Read the full bill text here.

Original source can be found here.