State senator seeks better air quality in schools, prevent spread of coronavirus

U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich introduced a bill Thursday aimed at improving air quality in schools.

The Keeping Schools Safe Act would include $1 billion in funding for ventilation and air quality monitoring. It also would mandate the creation of coronavirus-specific technical guidance for heating, ventilation and air condition systems.

School districts across the country are struggling to balance the health risks faced by educators at risk for COVID-19 with parents’ and children’s needs for in-person learning. The challenges are unprecedented, Heinrich said.

“That is why I am introducing this legislation to provide elementary and secondary schools with funding to improve air quality and ventilation — putting them one step closer to safely reopening,” the New Mexico Democrat said.

Heinrich does not have any Republican co-sponsors for the bill. It could join a number of COVID-19 relief bills that have stalled in the Senate.

On Thursday, the White House backed a $1.6 billion counter-offer from Republicans on a $3.4 trillion aid package passed by the House in March.

Heinrich’s bill focuses narrowly on air quality and supports in-person learning, a priority of President Donald Trump. It also would give final grant-making authority to the U.S. Education Department.

In Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest school district, officials estimate improving ventilation systems would cost millions, and there’s no money from the state to do that, Albuquerque television station KOB reported.

Unsafe ventilation was a major factor in the district’s decision to remain online-only through the end of the year.

Under the legislation, the Department of Education would establish a grant program for schools in a variety of urban, suburban and rural areas. The bill prioritizes grants for schools that serve significant numbers of low-income students, but can be awarded to any school district. It also mandates that 5 percent of grants go to schools managed or funded by the federal Bureau of Indian Education. Of those schools, 55 are in New Mexico.