Albuquerque, New Mexico, Federal Land Conveyance Act of 2013

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleagues, both Representative Carson from Indiana and my colleague from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows), for their support on S. 898. As you have just heard, this is a companion bill to a nearly identical bill, my bill H.R. 3998, which passed this body on June 17.

Now, we have also heard that this bill is to sell a Federal building at fair market value which costs more in its current lease arrangement than it does in this transaction and arrangement. You have also heard that this is an incredible school, memorializing an incredible legacy.

But what you haven't heard today is that the foundation has raised more than $3 million to continue to invest not only in the purchase of the building but to expand their educational footprint in New Mexico.

In my district in Albuquerque, we have difficulties reaching out to a high-poverty, high at-risk high school group. This school has incredible outcomes. They are seeing a 100 percent graduation rate, 80 percent graduation rates out of college; and of that 80 percent, nearly all of those students continue a very aggressive community relationship. Part of this school's requirement is that not only do you meet your basic high school curriculum but you have to invest considerably in community work in a variety of nonprofit and charitable work.

I want to also give a special thanks and extend my gratitude to Senator Tom Udall for working with me on this bill and to Chairman Shuster and Ranking Member Rahall for their help in bringing the legislation to the floor.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill that helps the Amy Biehl High School to continue to provide Albuquerque students with a first-rate education while also preserving a historic piece of downtown Albuquerque.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source