[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 2 (Friday, January 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E35]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF THE IMPACT AID SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION BILL

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                             HON. LEE TERRY

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 5, 2007

  Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation to 
help schools educating the children of U.S. service members and schools 
serving Native American children on federal lands.
  My legislation will improve the distribution of school construction 
grants under the Impact Aid program. Impact Aid compensates schools 
affected by a federal presence such as military installations or Native 
American reservations. Because federal lands are exempt from local 
property taxes, school districts located on or near federal lands lose 
a major source of revenue without the federal Impact Aid program.
  Currently, school construction grants under Impact Aid allow unequal 
funding between military school districts and Native American school 
districts. For example, although 36 percent of the one million federal 
students are from military impacted schools, the majority of school 
construction dollars are spent on the 12 percent of Native American 
students.
  In 2005 and 2004, $27 million in Impact Aid competitive construction 
grants were awarded. In 2005, only 1 of 8 competitive grants was 
awarded to a military impacted school district. In 2004, only three of 
15 recipients were military school districts, and only one of 17 
recipients in 2003 was a military school. In contrast, the formula 
grants under the Impact Aid School Construction program are equally 
distributed between military and Native American schools.
  Considering that Impact Aid has historically been underfunded in 
meeting the needs of local school districts serving military and Native 
American families, this legislation is critical to ensure the most 
equitable use of available dollars.
  Instead of sending 60% of funding toward 12 percent of federal 
students, the legislation I am introducing today would ensure 80% of 
school construction funding will be equally distributed between 
military and Native American schools. This approach will help ensure a 
high-quality education for the children of our military members 
selflessly serving our Nation. Priority would also be given to Native 
American districts in qualifying for emergency construction grants in 
recognition of the poor condition of too many Native American schools.
  This legislation will also help schools affected by Global Rebasing 
at the Department of Defense (DoD). Over the next four years, DoD 
estimates that 38,000 military children will be returning to U.S. 
schools from closing overseas military bases. Under this legislation, 
schools that experience a 10% increase in the number of military 
students would be allowed to apply for emergency Impact Aid 
construction grants.
  I am confident this excellent legislation will improve the Impact Aid 
program to better serve American families. I am proud that both Native 
American school districts and military-impacted school districts 
support the common-sense approach of this bill. I look forward to 
working with my colleagues on the reauthorization of Impact Aid later 
this year, and urge every Member of Congress to review and cosponsor 
this legislation.

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