[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    21ST CENTURY GREEN HIGH-PERFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES ACT

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                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 13, 2009

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2187) to 
     direct the Secretary of Education to make grants to State 
     educational agencies for the modernization, renovation, or 
     repair of public school facilities, and for other purposes:

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chair, I stand before you today in 
support of H.R. 2187, the ``21st Century Green High-Performing Public 
School Facilities Act''. It is important that our youth have quality 
educational facilities. I support this bill because it directs the 
Secretary of Education to make grants to State educational agencies for 
the modernization, renovation, or repair of public school facilities, 
which many of our schools around the country are in desperate need of.
  The grants that this piece of legislation will not only structurally 
improve the learning facilities, but make them safe, healthy, high-
performing, and equipped with up-to-date technology. Our children can 
have access to updated science and engineering laboratory facilities, 
libraries, and career and technical education facilities. Furthermore, 
when a local educational agency receives a grant they can use the money 
for structural purposes such as repairing, replacing, or installing 
roofs. As well as extensive, intensive or semi-intensive green roofs, 
electrical wiring, plumbing systems, sewage systems, lighting systems, 
or components of such systems, windows, or doors, including security 
doors.
  The monies allotted to schools will also benefit the health of our 
students. As Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus I am very 
concerned about the toxins that our children are exposed to in their 
own classrooms. The legislation can provide for the abatement, removal, 
or interim controls of asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, mold, 
mildew, or lead-based paint hazards which we must remove from all of 
our buildings in America. They will be able to breathe better once 
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are replaced 
resulting in better air quality.
  Our students must be safe while at school. If there is an emergency, 
the schools must be prepared to handle it. Money from grants can also 
be used to bring public schools into compliance with fire, health, and 
safety codes, including professional installation of fire/life safety 
alarms, including modernizations, renovations, and repairs that ensure 
that schools are prepared for emergencies.
  Finally, we need to think ahead to the future. Our nation needs to 
become aware of our wastefulness and make strides to become greener. 
Schools will be able to get a head start going green by making the 
necessary changes to reduce the consumption of coal, electricity, land, 
natural gas, oil, and/or water. In addition, schools can focus on 
energy efficiency and renewable energy by making improvements to 
building infrastructure to accommodate bicycle and pedestrian access, 
renewable energy generation and heating systems, including solar, 
photovoltaic, wind, geothermal, or biomass, including wood pellet, 
systems or components of such systems, make them more energy efficient, 
reduce class size.
  This is an important piece of legislation that I urge all of my 
colleagues to support. Support it for our nation's children and our 
nation's health.

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