To watch Senator Capito’s speech, click here or the image above.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), today
spoke on the Senate floor about the need to safely reopen schools. Yesterday,
West Virginia’s Board of Education voted in favor of students in Kindergarten
through eighth grade returning to five-day in-person learning.
HIGHLIGHTS:
FOLLOWING THE SCIENCE: “We knew little about how
the virus spread when most schools closed last March. But now, experts have had
the opportunity to learn more about the spread of the disease. Specifically, on
how it would spread through a K-12 school environment. At the end of January,
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published data showing
that in-person learning for K-12 students with limited, in-school COVID-19
spread is indeed possible. The school studies adhere to the public health
practices that many of us have followed; wearing a mask, social distancing,
washing hands, avoiding large groups, and quarantining after exposure to the
virus. Since this data was released, the CDC has gone on and issued additional
guidance for reopening our schools. This guidance focuses on many of the same
public health strategies, as well as cleaning facilities and additional
ventilation.”
VACCINE PRIORITY: “We also have safe and
effective vaccines. By enabling our teachers and other education professionals
to have the vaccine in a priority measure, we can continue to forge ahead with
reopening our schools.”
DISTANCED LEARNING AND THE
DIGITAL DIVIDE: “While data we’ve seen makes a very compelling case for why we can get
children back in the classroom with the right mitigation, other realities make
it even more necessary. With the option of remote learning at home, many
children, especially in states like mine in West Virginia, struggle with
connectivity. Despite robust funding from congress to address these issues, the
digital divide is very real and it begins to exacerbate the have and have-not
phenomenon. As a result, these children can be affected for years.”
CHILDRENS SAFETY: “The heightened stress,
school closures, loss of income, social isolation from this pandemic is
resulting in increased risk of child abuse and neglect. Without the safe space
of the schools and the watchful eyes of our teachers and other caring
professionals, I fear too many children are falling through the cracks, and
have nowhere to turn. Last week, our West Virginia Department of Health and
Human Resources (DHHR) Deputy Secretary said there were 8,000 fever referrals
to child protective services this year in our state. Sadly we know it’s not
because it’s not occurring, it’s because teachers and school employees aren’t
there to notice the abuse and neglect, and to be reporting it. This is where
are teachers are so incredibly caring and invaluable.”
WOMEN IN THE WORKFORCE: “As more workers are being
asked to physically return to their workplace, the lack of in-person learning
and adequate child care is hindering many from returning to work. This is
especially true for many women who work outside the home. In fact, many women
are having to quit their job as a result. According to data from the bureau of
labor statistics, the January jobs report showed that some 275,000 women left
the workforce, while about 71,000 men left the workforce. Overall, approximately
2.4 million women have left the workforce since last February.”
THANKING WEST VIRGINIANS: “I want to take a moment to
thank the teachers, parents and students who have adjusted, and readjusted,
over the past year. Despite the many challenges, whether they’re technical,
logistical, or emotional challenges, you’ve tried to make it work the best you
can. For that, we are all very grateful.”
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