Reps. Chu, Mannion, and Carter Introduce Legislation to Help Schools Reopen and Recover after Disasters

WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) joined Rep. John Mannion (NY-22) and Rep. Troy Carter (LA-02) in introducing the Restarting Education After Disasters Act, legislation to strengthen federal support for communities whose schools have been forced to close due to a disaster.

The Restarting Education After Disasters Act would reauthorize and improve the U.S. Department of Education's Immediate Aid to Restart School Operations (Restart)Program. Intended to help defray expenses related to restarting operations, re-enrolling students, and reopening K-12 schools impacted by a disaster, the Restart program historically receives one-time funding through disaster supplementals tied to specific federally declared emergencies. This legislation would newly authorize multi-year funding for the Restart Program, ensuring more predictable and timely assistance to affected schools.

Last year, the Eaton Fire forever changed the communities of Altadena and Pasadena, scorching 14,000 acres, destroying over 9,000 structures, and taking the lives of 19 of our loved ones. Multiple schools were burned to the ground, and many additional schools faced closures and relocations as well as severe impacts to teachers, staff, and students who lost their homes or were otherwise displaced by the fires. Despite these significant disruptions, Restart funding has been unavailable to schools impacted by the Eaton Fire because President Trump and congressional Republicans still refuse to take up Governor Newsom's disaster supplemental funding request.

"I'm happy to join Reps. Mannion and Carter in introducing this legislation to provide an annual source of emergency relief funding for K-12 schools. The Department of Education's Restart program is essential to helping schools reopen after disasters. But currently, Restart only receives one-time funding through specific disaster supplementals," said Rep. Chu. "One year after the Eaton Fire devastated my district in Southern California, killing 19 people and destroying more than 9,000 structures including multiple schools, our community still hasn't received a federal disaster supplemental. By providing annual funding for the Restart program, the Restarting Education After Disasters Act would ensure schools in my district and around the country don't have to wait on a disaster supplemental to receive vital relief."

Importantly, the bill would also expand eligibility for Restart to include schools impacted by state-declared disasters, not just federally declared emergencies-addressing a gap that leaves too many communities without access to critical federal support. The legislation would also ensure Restart funds can be used for facility and equipment repairs and minor renovations, helping schools pay for urgent infrastructure needs. In addition, it would prioritize assistance for schools closed for 30 days or more, directing resources to communities facing the most severe disruptions.

Extended school closures take an educational and emotional toll on students, families, teachers, and school staff, and it is important to get students back into classrooms as quickly and safely as possible. As schools across the country face increasing disruptions from floods, fires, hurricanes, and other extreme weather events, the Restarting Education After Disasters Act would ensure federal education recovery funding is reliable, equitable, and responsive.

Representative Mannion said, "As an educator for almost thirty years, I know that kids learn best in person, with stability, structure, and as little disruption as possible. What students, teachers, and families in Oneida experienced made clear that when disasters shut down schools, the consequences are felt far beyond the building. This bill is about making sure schools have the resources they need to reopen and recover quickly."

Representative Carter said, "After a disaster, it's imperative that we prioritize getting our students back into classrooms. This bill ensures schools aren't left behind simply because a disaster didn't receive a federal declaration. By reauthorizing and strengthening the Restart program with reliable funding, expanded eligibility, and clear authority to address urgent facility repairs, this bill gives states and schools the tools they need to recover faster and smarter. When schools are forced to close for weeks or months, students pay the price-and this legislation ensures federal support is there when it's needed most."

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