"I call on him to stop playing politics with California's schools, sign the legislation distributing these funds and get our schoolchildren the aid they so desperately deserve"
LOS ANGELES – Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.), a member of the House Education and Labor Committee, today issued the following statement in response to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's decision to withhold $1.2 billion in federal school jobs grants for the state of California. Just over one month ago, Rep. Chu and her colleagues passed an emergency $26 billion bill to prevent the layoffs of nearly 300,000 teachers and other state and local government workers across the country.
"Today, I was stunned to learn of Governor Schwarzenegger's refusal to release $1.2 billion in emergency aid for California's teachers," Chu said. "His decision puts the jobs of 16,500 California teachers at risk – right as we begin a new school year. I call on him to stop playing politics with California's schools, sign the legislation distributing these funds and get our schoolchildren the aid they so desperately deserve."
Congresswoman Chu's career in politics spans 24 years. She was elected in July 2009 to the U.S. House of Representatives as the Representative of California's 32nd District, which includes East Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley. She is a member of the House Judiciary, Government Oversight and Education and Labor Committees. A lifelong educator, Congresswoman Chu taught community college classes in Los Angeles and East Los Angeles for 20 years. She holds a Ph.D. in psychology and a B.A. in mathematics.
