[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 144 (Thursday, October 23, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H9476-H9477]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            INTRODUCTION OF SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION LEGISLATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Sanchez] is recognized for 5 minutes.

[[Page H9477]]

  Ms. SANCHEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on an issue of 
national importance that has been ignored by this Congress. Schools 
across the Nation are bulging at the seams and the Department of 
Education predicts that overcrowding of America's schools will only 
worsen over the next decade. Yet school construction was not a part of 
our budget agreement and it has not been a part of the debate on this 
floor.
  The Secretary of Education recently released a Baby Boom Echo report 
citing that kindergarten through 12th grade enrollments will be at an 
all-time high of 53 million this fall. By the year 2007, the number 
will reach over 54 million. How much longer can we ignore the problem 
of school overcrowding?
  In my county, Orange County, we have one of the youngest populations 
in the Nation and Orange County schools are perfect examples of how 
overcrowding can create problems for schools and students across the 
Nation.
  Schools in my congressional district have one of the highest growth 
rates in the Nation, between 2.4 percent and 5 percent per year.
  Each time that I go home to my district, I visit one of those 
schools. During many of these visits, I have witnessed high schools and 
junior high classrooms where 50 or 60 or 65 students are crammed into 
one classroom. I have seen two classes being taught in one room. I have 
seen too many schools who use portable and temporary structures because 
they cannot afford to build new ones.
  Our kids are not getting the attention they need and their learning 
is being inhibited. In addition, schools are quickly deteriorating 
because of extended and increased use.
  Local school districts and States have obviously been unable to 
address school construction needs and, unfortunately, we have not given 
them an incentive to do so from the Federal level. That is why I have 
introduced the Expand and Rebuild America's Schools Act, which is a 
bill that will assist our local education agencies with the financing 
of school construction bonds.
  The Expand and Rebuild America's Schools Act offers a 2-year pilot 
bond program that local school districts can take advantage of when 
financing school construction needs. The bonds are interest free. 
Because the Federal Government will provide a tax credit to lenders in 
the amount of the interest that would otherwise be paid.
  But more importantly, this bill will reward schools that have high 
standards and that continue to succeed amidst bad conditions.

                              {time}  1800

  This bond program will help those schools that have severe 
overcrowding problems, illustrated by year-round schedules and the use 
of these portable classrooms. Qualifying criteria for the program 
includes high growth rates and high student-teacher ratios.
  Finally, this bill allows schools to apply for the program directly 
through the Department of Education, avoiding any State bureaucracy in 
funding decisions or program administration.
  I hope this Congress will soon realize the importance of education, 
of our schools, and of our children. Let us make school construction 
and this bill a priority for our legislative agendas.

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