[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 172 (Wednesday, October 30, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H8608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE

  (Mr. RUIZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. RUIZ. Madam Speaker, earlier this month, James Madison Elementary 
School in Indio, California, closed after rust, mold, and corrosion 
were found in the columns and the walls supporting the building, 
compromising the school's infrastructure and putting students, 
teachers, and staff at risk.
  This is symptomatic of outdated and weak infrastructure in schools 
throughout our Nation. Thankfully, the Desert Sands Unified School 
District board closed the school and transferred students to another 
facility.
  The cost of our schools' outdated infrastructure is adding up. We 
need big and bold investments in school infrastructure to keep our 
students safe, prevent school closures, and help our students compete.
  That is why I cosponsored and urge a vote on the Rebuilding America's 
Schools Act of 2019, to invest $100 billion in schools' much-needed 
physical and digital infrastructure.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to cosponsor H.R. 865, the 
Rebuilding America's Schools Act of 2019, and prioritize students' 
well-being, safety, and education.

                          ____________________