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Bonamici Applauds Increased Investments in Well-Rounded Education Programs

March 21, 2018

WASHINGTON, DC [03/21/18] — Today Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, a leader on the House Education Committee, issued the following statement about the recently released government funding bill, which includes increased investments in Student Support and Academic Enrichment grants that support well-rounded education programs.

"Strengthening public education is about making sure schools have the resources they need to prepare students to succeed regardless of what path they take in life," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "Investing in our nation's students is an investment in the workforce, our communities, and in the leaders of tomorrow. By boosting funding for well-rounded education programs that help students overcome adversity, Congressional leaders are listening to the growing bipartisan coalition demanding increases in support for our public schools.

Bonamici continued, "More attention has been placed on the program since several tragic school shootings. Increasing funding for Title IV-A grants will play an important role in stopping violence through school-based mental health and other prevention programs so children can focus on learning. Schools should be a safe harbor, and no child should ever fear going to school. More must be done to prevent gun violence in our schools and our communities."

Bonamici has led efforts in the House to boost funding for Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) grants under Title IV-A of the Every Student Succeeds Act. SSAE grants give states and local school districts the flexibility and funding to meet the unique needs of their students.

The SSAE grants will support well-rounded education learning opportunities, including expanded access to arts, music, civics, and foreign language courses; violence prevention and trauma intervention programs; Advanced Placement, dual enrollment, and other rigorous and accelerated courses; and STEM courses, which may integrate arts and music to foster innovation and creative thinking.

"The Title IV-A Coalition, made up of a large and diverse group of organizations that support full funding of the SSAE flexible block grant, is extremely grateful for Congresswoman Bonamici's tireless support for this program since day one of its passage into law. Because of her strong leadership and continuous advocacy for full funding, school districts across the country will now have access to funds that allow them to meaningfully invest in programs that support safe and healthy schools, a well-rounded education, and access to an effective educational technology program," said Ally Bernstein on behalf of the Title IV-A Coalition.

Bonamici is the Vice Ranking Member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. In late 2015, she served on the select panel of House and Senate members that helped negotiate Every Student Succeeds Act. As part of this process, provisions authored by Bonamici to reduce duplicative testing in schools and support interdisciplinary educational programs were included in the bipartisan bill.