[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 11, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3517-S3518]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JOHNSON (for himself, Mr. Daschle, Mr. Campbell, Mr. 
        Cochran, and Mrs. Murray):
  S. 594. A bill to provide for the issuance of bonds to provide 
funding for the construction of schools of the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Indian 
Affairs.
  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I, along with Senators Daschle, Campbell, 
Cochran, and Murray introduce the Indian School Construction Act. This 
legislation establishes an innovative funding mechanism to enhance the

[[Page S3518]]

ability of Indian tribes to construct, repair, and maintain quality 
educational facilities.
  For education construction in fiscal year 2004, President Bush 
proposes a total of $292.6 million, the same level as was requested in 
FY 2003. Of this total, $131.4 million is for new school construction 
to replace seven trial schools on the BIA Priority List, one of those 
is in my home state of South Dakota. While I am pleased that seven 
schools will be replaced this year, there are literally dozens of 
schools that are in desperate need of replacement and repair. Simply, 
the process for replacing schools does not meet the need.
  American Indians have been, and continue to be disproportionately 
affected by both poverty and low educational achievement. The fact that 
children are expected to learn despite inadequate educational 
facilities undoubtedly contributes to this disparity.
  This bill provides a mechanism whereby an escrow account will be set 
up with a one time appropriation. Money would be placed in the escrow 
account and the tribal governments could use that account to issue 
bonds for purposes of constructing elementary and secondary schools. 
This allows tribal governments an opportunity to construct schools, 
even if the schools are low on the BIA priority list and are not slated 
for immediate construction under the direct appropriation process. 
Ultimately, this would mean that our children can learn in a better 
environment more quickly.
  I urge my colleagues to closely examine the Indian School 
Construction Act and join me in working to make this innovative funding 
mechanism a reality.
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