21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. TITUS. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

This amendment, which I am offering with my friend and colleague from Colorado (Ms. Markey), will establish an advisory council to the Secretary of Education on green high-performing schools. The council will advise the Secretary on the impact of green high-performing schools on several 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Actoutcomes, including teaching and learning, health effects, energy costs, and environmental impacts. The council will also work with the Secretary to identify Federal policies that are barriers to helping States to make schools green and high performing, and it will recommend Federal policies to increase the number of such schools. Additionally, the council will provide technical
assistance to States and school districts.

The 21st Century High-Performing Public School Facilities Act is an important bill that will provide our students with a healthy, safe learning environment, will create jobs, and will provide environmental responsibility. At the same time, it is moving us closer to the clean energy economy of the future.

Our amendment will provide the Secretary with the tools he needs to ensure the opportunities outlined in this important bill are available to as many schools as possible. It will also ensure that the upgrades made to school facilities meet the highest standards of quality and that the Secretary is always getting feedback about how to improve the program.

I'd like to thank Chairman Miller and Messrs. Chandler, Kildee and Loebsack for their hard work on this bill.

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