[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 88 (Thursday, June 27, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6260-S6261]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ROCKEFELLER:
  S. 2699. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand 
the incentives for the construction and renovation of public schools; 
to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, today I am introducing two bills 
aimed at addressing our national school infrastructure crisis. Schools 
across America have been allowed to fall into ill repair, and in some 
school districts, there is a serious need for new school construction.
  The Department of Education has found that the average age of a 
public school building in this country is 42 years old, an age when 
buildings tend to deteriorate. In 1995, the GAO found that the unmet 
need for school construction and renovation in the United States was a 
staggering $112 billion.
  When our schools are in poor condition, our children suffer and our 
Nation suffers. Studies have shown that children in well-kept schools 
perform better than children in deteriorating buildings. Certainly our 
children deserve the advantages that come with studying in a safe, 
clean, modern environment. The state of our schools is unacceptable, 
and it is our responsibility to do all we can to remedy this situation.
  These bills are the first pieces of my education agenda for 2002. In 
addition to investing in school construction, we must also invest in 
school leadership. Within the next few weeks, I intend to promote 
initiatives for school principals and incentives to recruit and retain 
teachers. School leadership will be essential in meeting the higher 
standards set by our new Leave No Child Behind Act, and principals play 
a pivotal role. I will be pushing legislation to ensure that we invest 
in leadership programs to help principals be bold leaders of reform. 
Also, I intend to introduce tax incentives to reward highly qualified 
teachers as a way to recruit and retain the best and the brightest for 
our classrooms. Building leadership among principals and teachers is as 
essential to quality education as modern schools.
  These efforts build on my ongoing education efforts on math and 
science and technology. In 1996, I was proud to sponsor the E-Rate 
program with Senator Snowe to connect our classroom to the Internet 
because our students must be connected to modern technology to gain the 
skills needed for the 21st century. This year, I am working hard to 
enact the National Math and Science Partnership Act to authorize almost 
a $1 billion a year for five years for the National Science Foundation 
to invest in promoting quality math and science education. The 
combination of these legislative initiatives should help provide the 
essential resources and leadership necessary to achieve our education 
goals.
  I can see the effects of deteriorating school buildings in my State 
of West Virginia. There alone, the need for school construction, 
renovation, and repair is rapidly approaching a staggering $2 billion 
over the next 10 years, a sum West Virginia cannot meet without 
assistance.

[[Page S6261]]

  West Virginia has, in the past, benefitted greatly from Federal 
programs designed to improve the quality of school buildings, and the 
money we've received has been put to excellent use. Funding made 
available by the Qualified Zone Academy Bond program, a program in 
which the Federal Government authorizes the states to sell school 
construction bonds and then pays the interest to the bond holders, has 
provided my state with over $4 million in bond funding since 1998. This 
money has been used to renovate science labs, install wireless computer 
equipment, remove asbestos, and provide modular classrooms, among many 
other valuable projects. Another program, a direct funding initiative 
included in the FY 2001 final budget agreement, has also been a great 
success in West Virginia and across the nation.
  Many schools in my State are unable to take advantage of school 
bondings because some local communities are so needy that they cannot 
afford even the low- or no-interest loans that program makes available. 
And when areas which are already disadvantaged are hit with natural 
disasters, such as the heartbreaking catastrophic flooding West 
Virginia has now suffered two years in a row, school districts cannot 
be expected to keep up with their infrastructure needs.
  The direct funding initiative in the 2001 budget made $1.2 billion in 
grants available for emergency school renovation and repair and 
technology improvements across America. West Virginia was fortunate to 
receive nearly $8 million in funding from the program, enabling our 
schools to replace roofs, fix faulty wiring and sewage systems, remove 
asbestos, and make themselves better prepared for fire emergencies.
  The success stories from these programs prove that we can make a real 
impact in the quality of schools in our nation. I am proud to introduce 
two bills today designed to build upon these past successes: the 
America's Better Classroom Act and the Building Our Children's Future 
Act.
  The America's Better Classroom Act is designed to expand and build 
upon the success of the Qualified Zone Academy Bond, or the QZAB 
program. It expands this program by $2.8 billion so even more school 
districts will be able to take advantage of the low-or no-interest 
school construction loans that it provides. QZAB's are aimed at schools 
in disadvantaged areas. To qualify, a school must be located in an 
empowerment zone, enterprise community, or 35 per cent of its students 
must be eligible for free or reduced lunch.
  In addition to expanding the QZAB program, the America's Better 
Classroom Act creates a new $22 billion bonding program designed to 
help all school districts meet their renovation needs. Funding to 
states will be allocated based on the Title I funding formula. In this 
way, many more school districts will have the opportunity to reap the 
benefits of no- or low-interest loans for school renovation and repair. 
This legislation is similar to a House bill sponsored by Congresswoman 
Nancy Johnson and Congressman Charlie Rangel. I look forward to working 
with the House colleagues on this crucial program.
  The second bill I introduce today is the Building Our Children's 
Future Act, a $5 billion initiative designed to help schools that, due 
to poverty, high growth, or unforseen disaster, are unable to meet 
their repair and renovation needs. Many districts that are facing these 
difficult challenges find themselves so strapped that they cannot even 
afford to pay back the principle on an interest-free loan. These areas 
need direct help, and this grant program provides it.
  The Building Our Children's Future Act gives each State funding based 
on Title I, with a priority to target funding to schools that have been 
damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster or are located in a high 
poverty or high growth areas, defined by the state. This makes certain 
that states have the flexibility to put the money where it is needed 
the most.
  The bill also recognizes that not all renovation needs are the same. 
In the 21st century, providing students and teachers with access to 
technology will be a critical part of keeping schools up-to-date. 
Likewise, we have made a commitment to assist states in covering the 
costs of special education, a commitment that will undoubtedly require 
renovation and construction to accommodate special needs. For this 
reason, the Building Our Children's Future Act sets aside a portion of 
its funds for states to make technology improvements and carry out 
programs under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
  Finally, the Building Our Children's Future Act also makes money 
available to schools with high Native American populations and schools 
located in outlying areas, so that no group will be left behind as we 
seek to remedy our school infrastructure crisis.
  I believe that America's Better Classroom Act and the Building Our 
Children's Future Act are important steps toward giving our children 
the learning environments they deserve. When our schools are in 
disrepair, we cannot expect our educational system to be any different. 
I hope you will join me in supporting these two bills and, in doing so, 
join me in supporting the futures of our children and our Nation.

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