FACT CHECK: President Biden and Democrats Reopened Schools with American Rescue Plan Funds 

Governor Kim Reynolds is trying to mislead the American people in her State of the Union response tonight. The truth is that 99% of schools are open today thanks to the American Rescue Plan, which Governor Reynolds along with every Republican in Congress opposed. 

Thanks to President Biden and Democrats’ American Rescue Plan, 99% of schools are open for in-person learning – up from less than half when President Biden took office. 

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona: “Ninety-nine percent of schools are safely open for in-person learning and that is a testament to the hard work and partnership of school communities – particularly parents, educators, district leaders and school staff.”

News 8: “‘We walked in, only 47% of our schools were open full time. We knew the challenges. We knew that there were folks that were divided about how we move forward,’ Cardona said… 99% of schools around the country are open one year later, Cardona said.”

Governor Reynolds, along with every single Republican in Congress, opposed the American Rescue Plan, which delivered over $122 billion for K-12 schools and helped them safely reopen. 

Sioux City Journal: “Gov. Kim Reynolds has made it abundantly clear she’s not happy with the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill that passed the U.S. House Saturday.”

USA Today: “Every Republican voted no Wednesday as the Democratic-led U.S. House passed the $1.9 trillion legislation. No Senate Republican voted for the bill when it came before that chamber Saturday.”

Department of Education: “Department of Education Announces American Rescue Plan Funds for All 50 States, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia to Help Schools Reopen”

Bloomberg: “The American Rescue Plan Act flooded U.S. schools with $122 billion in an attempt to blunt the pandemic’s impact. Now, a picture is emerging of how districts plan to spend the cash on everything from student enrichment to adding staff to air filtration in buildings.”

###