Over $220 Million in Additional Recovery Funds to Minnesota for Education

Press Release

Today, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced that Minnesota will receive $220,403,088 in additional funds as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Welcoming the announcement, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) emphasized the difference that these funds will make in Minnesota's education system by improving the quality of education in our schools.

"This announcement could not have come at a better time. Our public schools are struggling with round after round of state and local cuts," said Congresswoman McCollum. "These additional federal funds will protect the quality of our students' education by helping to keep teachers in our classrooms while the state of Minnesota makes difficult decisions on school funding. I urge Governor Pawlenty to spend all of this funding for direct student services only, not on bureaucracies or testing companies. During these hard economic times, meeting the needs of our children must be the top priority."

"This funding is another example of how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act - passed without one Republican vote - is both saving and creating jobs in Minnesota and meeting the needs of our children," said Congresswoman McCollum. "President Obama and Democrats in Congress are going to keep working until a full economic recovery reaches every community."

Since it was signed into law last year, Minnesota has received $1.3 billion from the Recovery Act because of efforts of the Obama Administration and Congress to get the country back on track. Giving a boost to Minnesota's education system, these funds created over 6,000 jobs in the education sector.

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