[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 62 (Tuesday, May 8, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H1937]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    INTRODUCTION OF IMPACT AID BILL

  (Mr. KIRK asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, 21 of my bipartisan colleagues and I 
introduced my first bill, a measure important for the education of 
military children. Our bill is called GRADE-A, the Government 
Reservation Accelerated Development for Education Act, and it 
guarantees that federally-impacted schools receive the dollars they 
need from the impact aid program.
  Mr. Speaker, over 5,000 military personnel qualify for food stamps, 
and people who wear their country's uniform sometimes fall below the 
poverty line while their kids go to schools financially teetering on 
the edge. As we boost military pay and housing, we must also care for 
military kids.
  Mr. Speaker, over 90 percent of the funding for education comes from 
local funds, from funds such as property taxes. But what happens if 
that property is owned by the Federal Government and off the tax rolls? 
Kids report to class with no property tax dollars needed for their 
school.
  GRADE-A guarantees that the Federal Government will step in to ensure 
that these kids have the resources they need for their education. It 
ensures that when the military and other children from Federal property 
report for school that they are welcomed in a good school with sound 
financial backing. GRADE-A has been endorsed by the National 
Association of Federally Impacted Schools and many school 
administrators across the Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, as we make education our priority, let us remember the 
children of men and women in uniform.

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