“The COVID-19 relief package approved by the House of Representatives includes nearly $40 billion for students and higher education institutions, money that is badly needed to help address the financial devastation and economic dislocation caused by the pandemic. This is vital and welcome assistance, but we have identified at least $97 billion in critical needs left unaddressed by the emergency relief legislation approved in December.
We urge the Senate to quickly take up and approve this legislation. But we also continue to stress that additional higher education relief funding should be included to meet the full needs of colleges and universities facing precipitous declines in revenues and soaring new expenses and millions of students and families struggling to cope with lost jobs or reduced wages. We look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers from both chambers and the Biden administration as this legislation moves toward final passage.”