Durbin Discusses Need for Impact Aid with Representatives from Illinois Schools

Press Release

Durbin Discusses Need for Impact Aid with Representatives from Illinois Schools

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Impact Aid Coalition, today met with representatives from the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools (NAFIS) to discuss the need for increased Impact Aid in schools serving the Great Lakes Naval Base, Scott Air Force Base and other federal lands. Officials from nine Illinois school districts were in attendance including: North Chicago, Elwood, Lemont, Mascoutah, Wilmington, Burr Ridge, Highland Park, Community Consolidated and Cass.

"We need to make sure that school districts have the funds they need to provide each student with a quality public education," said Durbin. "Many local school districts across the U.S. cover areas that include federally owned land exempt from local taxes which fund public schools. Impact Aid fills this gap in funding to make sure that no student is left behind."

Senator Durbin has consistently supported higher funding for impact aid. The Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Appropriations bill for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services and Education includes a measure that increases Impact Aid funding by $20 million. Earlier this year, the Appropriations bill was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which Durbin is a member, and is awaiting approval by the full Senate.

In January, Durbin and Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) introduced legislation that would allow the five school districts serving the Great Lakes Naval Training Center to pool their students to maximize federal education assistance through the Impact Aid program. The bill would allow North Chicago School District 187 to maintain its heavily impacted status and the associated federal assistance. It would also allow the schools in the community to distribute that assistance among school districts affected by the new distribution of naval housing.

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