[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 145 (Friday, October 7, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 7, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

                                 ______


                    IMPROVING AMERICA'S SCHOOLS ACT

 Mr. REID. During Senate consideration of S. 1513, the Senate accepted 
an amendment to specify that an eligible local education agency under 
the infrastructure title is one in which the United States owns Federal 
property of 90 percent or more. This amendment was also accepted by the 
conference committee. The intent of this provision, as established in 
the Record during its consideration, was to meet the needs of the 
Mineral County School District in Nevada which consists of 94 percent 
Federal land and is in dire need of new elementary school construction 
on the Walker River Indian Reservation at Schurz. The situation faced 
by the students at Schurz was also recognized by the Senate 
Appropriations Committee in its report on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education fiscal year 1995 appropriations. A drafting 
inaccuracy in the definition, however, may construe a different meaning 
and should be interpreted to mean 90 percent Federal land by acre. Is 
this the understanding and intent of the committee?
  Mr. PELL. The Senator is correct. The definition should be 
interpreted to authorize a local education agency as eligible under the 
infrastructure title if the district consists of at least 90 percent 
Federal land as is the case for the Mineral County School District in 
Nevada.
  Mr. REID. Also included in title XII, section 12004(a)(2), is a 
special rule stating that the Secretary of Education may reserve up to 
1 percent of the amount appropriated under section 12013 to provide 
assistance to Indian schools in accordance with this title. I would 
like to clarify with the chairman whether this provision, as intended 
by the committees of both the House and Senate, would include former 
Bureau of Indian Affairs schools that were transferred to a public 
school district before 1960, but still serves its intended population: 
high concentrations of Indian students.
  Mr. PELL. The Senator is correct. Schools such as those he mentioned 
would qualify under the section that the Senator specifically cited, 
section 12004(a)(2).
  Mr. REID. Finally, I would like to clarify for the record that the 
Secretary shall award grants made available under title XII, section 
12005(a)(6), on the basis of six criteria with the sixth category being 
any such other criteria as the Secretary may prescribe.
  Mr. PELL. The Senator is correct. I foresee this sixth category as 
essential in allowing the Secretary to award grants to districts like 
Mineral County. In fact, I urge the Secretary in implementing this 
legislation to utilize criteria within this category to fund a school 
infrastructure project in the Mineral County School District in your 
State of Nevada and remedy the critical need for a new school there at 
Schurz.
  Mr. REID. I thank the chairman for clarifying these provisions of the 
bill and for his support of our Nation's educational infrastructure. 
The Senator from Rhode Island has worked diligently and admirably to 
improve the standards for education and educational opportunities for 
students across the Nation.
  Mr. PELL. I thank the Senator from Nevada for his kind 
remarks.

                          ____________________