[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 194 (Tuesday, December 18, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             IN SUPPORT OF THE FAIR FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS ACT

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                             HON. LEE TERRY

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 17, 2007

  Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Fair Funding 
for Schools Act, a law designed to build upon the important strides for 
local school districts that have been taken over the past 57 years by 
the Impact Aid program.
  Because people living on Federal property do not pay local property 
taxes, often do not pay State income taxes, and have the ability to 
shop for groceries and other necessities at a base PX that does not 
charge sales tax, local school districts are left without a funding 
source they otherwise would have. The Impact Aid Program is designed to 
replace the lost tax revenue that local school districts depend on to 
provide a free pubic education to the communities they serve. Impact 
Aid has provided nearly $25 million dollars in funding for schools 
throughout my district, and over $1.2 billion for the more than 1,400 
school districts currently receiving Impact Aid funding.
  Impact Aid is the most efficient education program because money is 
wired directly from the Department of Education to the school's bank 
accounts, avoiding administrative costs at the State level. There are 
no strings attached to the money and local schools can use it in any 
way the school board sees fit. In the past this money has been used for 
such necessities as construction, salaries and supplies. As a leading 
member and co-chair of the House Impact Aid Coalition and the father of 
children receiving a public education, I understand the importance of 
this money to schools in my district and districts across the country.
  The current re-authorization proposed by Congresswoman Hirono and me 
makes an already strong program even stronger and more efficient. Our 
proposal eliminates duplicative provisions that are no longer 
necessary, corrects a major error in the previous reauthorizations 
allocation formula, updates the law to meet the challenges of base 
realignments and troop deployments currently faced by this Nation, and 
it simplifies and reforms a number of provisions to the law that 
ensures a smooth road ahead for school districts that rely on this 
money as an integral part of their budgets.
  I would also like to mention the important contributions to this 
reauthorization made by Congressman Chet Edwards and Congressman John 
Carter of Texas. The insight they provided proved to be invaluable as 
we met with people involved in drafting our proposal. The suggestions 
of Congressman Carter and Congressman Edwards strengthen this 
reauthorization and ensure that it will meet the needs of all the 
school districts affected by Impact Aid.
  The Congress must continue to recognize the sacrifice our men and 
women in uniform make for all of us and provide their children with the 
best education possible. The Fair Funding for Schools Act achieves that 
goal, in Nebraska, Hawaii and every other State in the Union that 
receives Impact Aid dollars. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this important legislation.




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