[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 34 (Thursday, March 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H961]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        SUPPORT THE SCHOOL RECONSTRUCTION AND MODERNIZATION ACT

  (Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the conditions 
of elementary and secondary schools in New York City. I wish to bring 
to light to my colleagues the dire conditions faced by students in New 
York and across our country.
  Many of my colleagues may ask why the Federal Government needs to 
become involved in school renovation and construction issues which are 
historically local concerns. The simple answer to my colleagues is 
because the problem has grown so large that localities or States alone 
cannot handle it. They simply cannot handle it.
  A recent survey by the Division of School Facilities in New York City 
concluded that in my district alone 19 new schools are needed to 
alleviate the overcrowding in my districts. Currently, three of the 
five community school districts in my district, my congressional 
district, are operating over capacity. The fact is, we are 9,789 seats 
short, 9,789 seats short. I ask my colleagues to think about that: 
almost 10,000 students for which the schools simply do not have any 
room.
  Mr. Speaker, that is not the worst problem. Population growth is 
expected to increase over the next 10 years, leaving us 44,822 seats 
short.
  This is why I support and Congress must pass the Democratic School 
Reconstruction and Modernization Act.

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