WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, on Friday applauded inclusion of a dedicated set-aside in the education funding in the COVID-19 relief package for summer enrichment programs. Murphy has been a vocal proponent of providing dedicated funding for summer programs and the need to provide kids with enrichment opportunities this summer that help them reset socially and emotionally.

“This is great news. The trauma COVID-19 has wrought on kids’ social and emotional health demands our attention. It’s true that some kids will benefit from summer school. But many others will simply need an opportunity to reset and reconnect through summer enrichment programs, which is exactly why I pushed hard to get funding for summer programs in this COVID relief bill,” said Murphy. “This set-aside in education money will help states, school districts, community-based organizations and municipalities work together to provide a variety of enrichment opportunities and significantly increase the number of free or affordable slots to kids in need and provide children a chance to do something fun in a year that’s been brutal on them. By investing in summer enrichment opportunities, we're giving kids—of all socioeconomic backgrounds—a chance to just be kids.”

This week, Murphy authored an op-ed in Hearst CT to make the case for funding for summer enrichment programs in the COVID-19 relief bill. In the op-ed, Murphy stressed the social and emotional toll the pandemic has taken on students and the importance of providing opportunities for children from low-income backgrounds to participate in summer programs. Last month, Murphy led 12 Senate Democrats in sending a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urging additional funding for these summer enrichment programs in the next COVID-19 relief package. Last month, Murphy also laid out the need to fund summer programs in the next COVID-19 relief package on the Senate floor and offered his ideas in an interview with Education Week.

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