[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 35 (Tuesday, March 18, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      THE PARTNERSHIP FOR REBUILDING AMERICA'S SCHOOLS ACT OF 1997

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NITA M. LOWEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 18, 1997

  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to introduce the 
Partnership for Rebuilding America's Schools Act of 1997.
  This is an exciting day for me. I began working on this issue with 
Senator Carol Moseley-Braun nearly 2 years ago. Now, thanks to the 
leadership of President Clinton, we are finally beginning to tackle 
this problem.
  Today, all over America, our schools are inadequate, overcrowded, and 
literally falling down. In Miami, students learn to read and write in 
temporary trailers. Here in our Nation's Capital, schools are closed 
for violating the fire code. In New York City, students dodge falling 
plaster and attend class in hallways and bathrooms.
  A GAO report released last summer confirmed the worst. Record numbers 
of school buildings across America are in disrepair. One-third of all 
schools--serving 14 million students--need extensive repairs. About 60 
percent of schools need to have roofs, walls, or floors fixed.
  With school enrollment skyrocketing, this problem will only get 
worse.
  It's time for the Federal Government to act. The bill we are 
introducing today will provide $5 billion in Federal funding for school 
construction across the Nation. Funds will be distributed to the 50 
States and the 100 largest school districts based on the numbers of 
school children in poverty.
  This bill won't completely solve the problem, but it will make a 
crucial difference. For the first time the Federal Government will 
enter into a partnership with our local communities to rebuild our 
schools.
  We know that America is only as good as our schools--and we know that 
this is a local problem that deserves a national response.
  The situation in New York City is dire. A survey conducted by my 
office revealed 25 percent of New York City public schools hold classes 
in bathrooms, locker rooms, hallways, cafeterias, and storage areas. 
Almost half of school buildings have roofs, floors, and walls in need 
of repair.
  A report by the New York City Commission on School Facilities 
revealed the following: Nearly half of New York City's school children 
are taught in severely overcrowded classrooms; 270 schools need new 
roofs; over half of the city's schools are over 55 years old; and 
approximately one-fourth still have coal-burning boilers.
  We simply cannot prepare America's children for the 21st century in 
19th century schools. Students cannot learn when the walls of their 
classrooms are crumbling down around them. We can't teach computer 
technology next to coal-burning boilers.
  I expect that there will be opposition to this bill. We know that not 
everyone believes the Federal Government should address this problem. I 
join today with the 41 original cosponsors of the Partnership for 
Rebuilding America's Schools Act to state that the Federal Government 
can no longer afford to ignore this ticking timebomb. Government at all 
levels must work together to solve this national crisis.

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