[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 32 (Tuesday, March 14, 2006)]
[House]
[Page H941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1930
                        NEW SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION

  (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to 
reintroduce the ``Expand and Rebuild America's Schools Act,'' H.R. 
4945.
  This important piece of legislation would create a class of bonds 
that would provide for much-needed construction of new schools. The 
bonds will be targeted to help overcrowded, high growth rate schools 
that are struggling to provide a learning space for their students.
  To be eligible to participate in this program, schools must be able 
to fulfill certain requirements: Schools must seek out more assistance 
from local, private businesses and corporations through public-private 
partnerships; they must demonstrate that programs to alleviate 
overcrowding have already been implemented; and they must have high 
growth rates and high teacher-to-student ratios.
  My bill will help schools with limited financial resources combat 
their major overcrowding problems, and help stop the continuing 
infrastructure crisis in our schools.
  If passed, this bill will provide local school districts with a real 
incentive to pass their own local school construction bonds. I urge my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this new school construction by 
cosponsoring the Expand and Rebuild America's Schools Act.

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