[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1201]
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. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    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. WATERS. Mr. Chair, I rise in strong support of H.R. 2187, the 
21st Century Green High-Performing Schools Facilities Act. In addition 
to authorizing critical funding for school modernization, this bill 
also authorizes a specific funding stream of $600 million over six 
years for public schools that were damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and 
Rita.
  We know that these funds are critically needed. As Education Week 
reported, in the hours after Hurricane Katrina struck, more than 100 
public schools in New Orleans were flooded. And the roughly two dozen 
schools that didn't flood suffered wind and rain damage.
  Even though it has been nearly four years since the storm, many 
children continue to attend classes in temporary structures that are 
ill-suited to providing a 21st Century education. In addition, 21 
percent of schools remain closed.
  The funds authorized in H.R. 2187 will help put an end to the legacy 
of damage left by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation.

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