Van Hollen, Merkley, Colleagues Push for Critical Support for Higher Ed Students, Schools Amid Coronavirus-Related Campus Closures

U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen joined Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) in urging Senate leadership to include essential support provisions for students, colleges, and universities in the third coronavirus emergency relief bill.

The senators explained in their letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader, and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee—Senators Lamar Alexander and Patty Murray—that colleges and universities across America have risked their long-term financial stability in the interest of the public’s health, and are in dire need of support. 

“COVID-19 has jeopardized the health, learning, and livelihoods of millions of vulnerable students, and threatens to further destabilize the institutions of higher education upon which our nation depends,” the senators wrote. “Universities and colleges have taken unprecedented steps to respond to the global pandemic. From identifying new ways to deliver classes online to implementing necessary campus-wide closures, our public and private nonprofit institutions, including historically black colleges and universities, have moved rapidly to protect countless students and employees across the country.”

“As a result, colleges and universities face significant losses in revenue and face new, unexpected costs. These institutions rely on tuition; an anticipated decline in international and domestic enrollment would be devastating. It is highly doubtful that our higher education systems can continue operations, employment, and teaching without timely stop-gap funding from Congress,” the senators continued.

Specific requests outlined in the letter include protecting college and university students—many of whom depend on financial aid for their livelihood—from aid disruptions that could destabilize them and their families with no means of support, and emergency stop-gap funding for colleges and universities as they invest in remote learning tools.

Signers include Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Bob Casey (D-PA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tom Carper (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Gary Peters (D-MI), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)

The full text of the letter is available here and below.

Dear Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Schumer, Chairman Alexander and Ranking Member Murray:

Thank you for your swift and robust action to alleviate the health and economic impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). As you prepare for a third economic relief package, we respectfully urge you to prioritize substantial financial support for students and institutions of higher learning.

COVID-19 has jeopardized the health, learning, and livelihoods of millions of vulnerable students, and threatens to further destabilize the institutions of higher education upon which our nation depends. Universities and colleges have taken unprecedented steps to respond to the global pandemic. From identifying new ways to deliver classes online to implementing necessary campus-wide closures, our public and private nonprofit institutions, including historically black colleges and universities, have moved rapidly to protect countless students and employees across the country.

As a result, colleges and universities face significant losses in revenue and face new, unexpected costs. These institutions rely on tuition; an anticipated decline in international and domestic enrollment would be devastating. It is highly doubtful that our higher education systems can continue operations, employment, and teaching without timely stop-gap funding from Congress. 

Several student and education advocates share our concerns and have proposed immediate assistance from Congress. These organizations include the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, the American Council on Education, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, and the Association of American Universities.

We implore you to include vigorous financial assistance for students and higher education institutions in the forthcoming COVID-19 relief package. We ask you to prioritize the following measures:

1. Protecting students from student aid disruptions: Students often depend on financial aid for their livelihood. Any disruption to that aid would destabilize students and their families who may have no other means of support. We request that student aid be retained regardless of changes in enrollment, work status, or circumstances which would otherwise jeopardize aid eligibility.
2. Emergency stop-gap funding for colleges and universities: Remote learning and suspended campus activities are vital steps to limit further spread of the virus. We request robust stop-gap funding to support institutions as they deal with unprecedented disruption and transition to nontraditional learning and cultural environments.

We thank you for your support of these critical investments in our nation’s students and institutions of higher learning.

Sincerely,