House Democrats stop effort to fully re-open schools by fall

By Oregon House Republican Caucus,

House Democrats unite against commitment to fully reopen schools by fall

House Democrats voted to oppose legislative action that would ensure schools are fully reopened for in-person learning in the fall.

Representative Vikki Breese-Iverson (R-Prineville) made a motion to pull her bill, HB 3399, from Rules Committee to the House floor for a vote. The proposal would require each public school to offer full-time, in-person classroom instruction during the 2021-2022 school year.

The motion failed on party lines with House Republicans voting in support and House Democrats voting in opposition to fully reopen schools.

“We have to get our kids back in the classroom for full in-person learning,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby). “They have suffered enough. Oregon families need certainty. They need to know that they will have the choice to return to school full-time by the fall.”