SANTA BARBARA, CA– Today, Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif) announced that the Department of Education has approved California’s application for $1.2 billion to fund teacher’s jobs in the upcoming year. The funding was made available thanks to the passage of Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act which Capps voted for.

The full cost of the legislation, $26.1 billion, was completely offset and actually contributes to deficit reduction. In fact, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, the bill would actually reduce the deficit by $1.37 billion over the next ten years.

“I applaud the Department of Education’s quick action to get this much needed funding to California to invest in our kids and keep teachers in the classroom. This investment, in conjunction with an additional $487 million in Recovery Act funding for education jobs in California announced last week, will go a long way towards ensuring that children on the Central and South start the school year off right,” said Capps.

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