21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act

Floor Speech

21ST CENTURY GREEN HIGH-PERFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES ACT -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 19, 2009)

SPEECH OF HON. MAXINE WATERS OF CALIFORNIA

The House In Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2187) to direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to State educational agencies for the modernization. renovation, or repair of public school facilities, and for other purposes:

* Ms. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2187, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Schools Facilities Act. In addition to authorizing critical funding for school modernization, this bill also authorizes a specific funding stream of $600 million over six years for public schools that were damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

* We know that these funds are critically needed. As Education Week reported, in the hours after Hurricane Katrina struck, more than 100 public schools in New Orleans were flooded. And the roughly two dozen schools that didn't flood suffered wind and rain damage.

* Even though it has been nearly four years since the storm, many children continue to attend classes in temporary structures that are ill-suited to providing a 21st Century education. In addition, 21 percent of schools remain closed.

* The funds authorized in H.R. 2187 will help put an end to the legacy of damage left by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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