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H.R. 8150: SCHOOLS Act

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H.R. 8150: SCHOOLS Act

116th Congress · introduced 2020-09-01 · Education · Latest: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2020-09-01 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. Mucarsel-Powell, Debbie [D-FL-26] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
  4. Where it stands now: Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

SCHOOLS Act

Plain summary

Safe Considerations of the Health Of Our Learning Students Act or SCHOOLS Act This bill requires a study on safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) in schools. It also establishes a grant program to assist state educational agencies with implementing health and safety measures in schools. Specifically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) must study and report on the safety precautions necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in schools. The study must address (1) the minimum criteria that a community needs to meet to reopen schools for full-time in-person instruction; and (2) the best practices for such criteria, including with respect to public health capacity to conduct testing and contact tracing in the community. Additionally, the study must address the practices for crisis response personnel in schools, including the designation of at least one staff member to provide crisis response in each school. Further, the study must recommend practices related to staffing, facility conditions, transportation, and the organization of classes and other group settings. Finally, the Department of Education must award grants for state educational agencies to (1) implement guidance from the CDC related to health and safety measures; and (2) carry out certain activities, such as purchasing sanitation supplies. To receive a grant, a state educational agency must, among other things, offer remote digital learning options to students for the 2020-2021 school year. These grants may not be used to support private schools or for vouchers.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

SCHOOLS Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Alternatives

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Mucarsel-Powell, Debbie [D-FL-26] · 30 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Darren Soto (D-FL), Sylvia R. Garcia (D-TX), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Gilbert Ray Cisneros, Jr. (D-CA), Lois Frankel (D-FL), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Peter Welch (D-VT), Lori Trahan (D-MA), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Haley M. Stevens (D-MI), Mike Levin (D-CA), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (1)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong116-hr8150 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong116 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong116