Issue Position: Fixing Our Schools and Public Infrastructure

Issue Position

Chris knows that good roads and infrastructure are critical to a healthy society and economy. Modern green schools with proper classroom conditions have been shown to improve cognitive function as much as 300%. Chris recently served as lead negotiator on a deal to provide $100 million to cool hot classrooms, modernize aging campuses, and install solar panels and batteries that can save schools millions electric bills. When teachers asked for additional help, he followed up by passing another bill providing an additional $46 million.

Chris was recently named national "Best Policymaker" by the US Green Building Council Center for Green Schools for two laws he passed making Hawaii the first state to direct all public schools and universities to produce 100% of their own power from renewables by 2035. School and university power bills are expected to exceed $2 billion over the next two decades. By generating their own renewable power this money can be better spent on teachers and students in classrooms rather than paying utilities. To this end Chris also passed a law establishing a green revolving fund to allow the University of Hawaii to recycle energy savings into new energy saving projects.

When state highway funds ran short, Chris passed a bill providing $37m in emergency funding for sorely needed highway maintenance and repairs.

Source