[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 146 (Saturday, October 8, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 8, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                    WINDOW ROCK, AZ SCHOOL DISTRICT

  Mr. BUMPERS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 5220, a bill relating to 
the Window Rock, AZ School District, just received from the House; that 
the bill be deemed read three times, passed, and the motion to 
reconsider be laid upon the table; further that any statements on this 
measure appear in the Record at the appropriate place as though read.
  The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the bill (H.R. 5220) was deemed read three times and passed.
  Mr. DeCONCINI. Mr. President, I rise today in support of H.R. 5220, 
which addresses an urgent situation facing one of Arizona's school 
districts, Window Rock Unified School District No. 8, located in the 
capital of the Navajo nation. This bill simply allows the Secretary of 
Education to accept district No. 8's application for impact Aid funds 
as if it was timely received. Unbeknownst to District No. 8 until 
recently, their application for Impact Aid funds was lost in the mail.
  The Navajo Indian Reservation, including this district, is extremely 
dependent on Impact Aid funding which compromises about 30 percent of 
its annual; budget. Without this bill, the district will lose 
approximately $10 million of their fiscal year 1994 and fiscal year 
1995 funds. As we all know, Impact Aid funds were created to serve 
children whose parents live or work on Federal property not subject to 
property taxes. These funds allow Window Rock to educate approximately 
3,200 students annually almost all of whom are native Americans. 
However, the loss of these funds would be devastating to a community 
already hit with numerous socio-economic burdens. Therefore, I urge my 
colleagues to join me in support of this bill which will assist the 
administrators, staff and, most importantly, the children of Window 
Rock Unified School District.

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