[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 74 (Thursday, May 14, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1167-E1168]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    21ST CENTURY GREEN HIGH-PERFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. ANN KIRKPATRICK

                               of arizona

                    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:

  Mrs. KIRKPATRICK of Arizona. Mr. Chair, I want to thank Chairman 
Miller for adopting my amendment in his Manager's amendment to the 21st 
Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act. My proposal 
will double the funding available to improve tribal and outlying school 
infrastructure.
  With this bill, we recognize that our children need a modern, well-
maintained learning environment to get the education it takes to 
compete in the global economy. We have allowed far too many of the 
schools that serve our Native American communities to fall short of 
that standard, and this is a great opportunity to get them on the right 
track.
  My mother was a schoolteacher on tribal lands in eastern Arizona and 
my district is home to 11 tribes, so I have seen firsthand the 
challenges Indian Country's schools face. Less than half of Native 
American students graduate high school, and less than 14 percent get 
the college degree that is becoming more and more important to getting 
jobs in the

[[Page E1168]]

21st century. One in four Native Americans live in poverty, and our 
failure to provide educational resources they need is a major reason 
why.
  We have been doing less and less for tribal education in recent 
years, letting funding for repairs and modernization decrease 
dramatically. As a result, there is a huge backlog of tribal schools 
and facilities that require major repairs or complete replacement. As 
long as we continue to allow funding levels for tribal school 
construction to fall, that number will keep growing.
  It's time for us to do more, and this amendment is a great step in 
the right direction. By doubling the funding available for improving 
tribal school facilities, we will be putting our resources where they 
are needed most and can do the most good. This funding will go a long 
way towards addressing basic needs in my district and at schools across 
the Nation, helping ensure that kids living on tribal lands have the 
same opportunities as every other child in the country. I urge my 
colleagues to support it.

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