Sen. Schumer Dramatically Increases COVID Relief Funding for Yeshivas

By Yehudit Garmaise

     Although the Democrats were not in favor of allocating much funding for private schools in the $1.8 trillion COVID relief bill President Biden signed Thursday into law, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D), the first Jewish leader of either chamber of Congress, secured $3 billion for yeshivas and other private schools.

   The House Democrats had sought to cap COVID relief for private education at approximately $200 million, however, after many in the Orthodox community lobbied Sen. Schumer to increase the funding for yeshivas, in the last moments of the bill’s rancorous negotiations, Sen. Schumer, “struck the House provision and inserted $2.75 billion — about 12 times more funding than the House had allowed,” the New York Times reported.

   Considering the Democrats’ fierce opposition to allocating additional funding in the COVID bill for private schools, BoroPark24 asked Rabbi Rosenfeld, a Bobov’er askan, why he thought Sen. Schumer was open to the requests of the Orthodox community for funding for yeshivas.

    I think it is very simple for those of us who work with Sen. Schumer,” Rabbi Rosenfeld said. “Sen. Schumer is a proud Yid and really wants to help our yeshivas. He has known our community very well: going back decades from when he was still in the Assembly,” in which he served from 1975 to 1981. “It is about his relationship with the Jewish community: his respect for us, and ours for him.”

    “This fund, without taking any money away from public schools, will enable private schools, like yeshivas and more, to receive assistance and services that will cover COVID-related expenses they incur as they deliver quality education for their students,” Sen. Schumer said in a statement to the Jewish Insider.

    “When I spoke to Sen. Schumer two weeks ago, he was very proud that he was able to help yeshivas,” said one askan, who lobbied Sen. Schumer. “So now many more yeshivas can receive help.”

    In addition, askanim ensured that fewer restrictions, such limiting funding to schools with fewer than 300 employees, are tied to the stimulus package.

   “Time and time again we see that the Orthodox community has a place in Sen. Schumer's heart,” a Boro Park askan said. “He will go out of his way, and as we see here, even against some in his own party, to help our yeshivas.”