[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 76 (Monday, May 18, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1181-E1182]
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. BOBBY BRIGHT

                               of alabama

                    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 of 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:

  Mr. BRIGHT. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of my amendment to 
H.R. 2187, the 21st Century Green High Performing Public School 
Facilities Act. Put simply, this amendment allows the Secretary of 
Education to reserve 5 percent of Section 102 grant funds for local 
educational agencies serving geographic areas with significant economic 
distress or recovering from a natural disaster.
  In its current form, the bill sets aside money for schools damaged in 
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Indeed, those two storms caused

[[Page E1182]]

unprecedented damage to the Gulf Coast, including my home state of 
Alabama. Americans will never forget the images of storms that 
overwhelmed a city and region and left hundreds of thousands of people 
homeless and destroyed its infrastructure, including schools and 
educational facilities.
  However, Congress would be shortsighted if we don't recognize that 
natural disasters happen across the country, across all seasons. 
Whether it's wildfires in the west, floods in the Midwest, ice storms 
in the north, hurricanes in the Gulf, or tornadoes throughout the 
country, our schools are also damaged when Mother Nature strikes.
  The specific need for this amendment came to my attention because of 
the ongoing struggles that a community in my district has experienced. 
On March 1, 2007, a tornado ripped through the town of Enterprise, 
Alabama. In the middle of its 180-meter path of damage was Enterprise 
High School, full of children going about their daily routines and 
preparing themselves for their futures. The tornado left eight children 
dead, and left a community devastated by more than just material 
losses.
  Over two years after the tornado, Enterprise is still struggling to 
fully rebuild, and the memories of those departed weigh heavily on the 
minds of the city and surrounding Coffee County. The high school 
continues to conduct classes out of nearby Enterprise-Ozark Community 
College. Though construction for a new school is underway, the city and 
school board has exhausted most of their options for fully funding the 
rebuilding of the school. Whenever I talk to Mayor Ken Boswell and 
Superintendent Jim Reese, finding a way to get Enterprise High School 
reopened as quickly as possible is always at the top of their priority 
list.
  I cite the example in Enterprise because I'm sure other school 
districts across the country will experience similar issues as they 
recover from natural disasters. Over the past two months, my district 
alone has seen flooding and storms that have led to at least one 
federal disaster declaration. Small towns across America are simply not 
equipped to rebuild a mainstay in their communities like schools when 
they are destroyed by natural disasters. This is a way for the federal 
government to lend a helping hand to school districts in need.
  Moreover, I am a believer in the old adage ``if you're going to do 
something, do it right.'' Rebuilding and repairing these schools to 
21st Century and environmentally efficient standards will help create a 
positive and healthy learning experience for our students. The families 
and students who utilize these schools will be able to take pride in 
them for years to come.
  In closing, I would like to thank Chairman Miller and his staff on 
the Education and Labor Committee for their attention to this issue and 
working with my staff to help draft this amendment. I would also like 
to thank the Rules Committee for ruling in favor of the amendment and 
allowing me to present it on the floor today. Finally, I thank my 
colleagues from Texas Henry Cuellar and Al Green for their continuing 
support and commitment on this issue.
  I urge passage of this amendment, and passage of the final bill.

                          ____________________