[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 37 (Friday, February 26, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E179]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        INTRODUCTION OF THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS RENEWAL ACT OF 2021

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, February 26, 2021

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Madam Speaker, today I introduced the Public 
Buildings Renewal Act of 2021. This legislation will spur private 
investment in public building infrastructure throughout the United 
States by creating $5 billion in Private Activity Bonds for the 
development of government-owned public buildings. Critically, this 
legislation intends that these bonds are compliant with Davis-Bacon 
labor standards.
  In every American community, there are serious concerns about the 
condition of our schools, public hospitals, justice facilities, 
universities, and libraries. With state and local budgets becoming 
increasingly strained, officials have chosen to save money by steadily 
reducing capital investment in public buildings. But years of 
underinvestment have led to facilities that are inadequately 
maintained, fail to comply with current codes or disability 
requirements, and do not have adequate security--endangering the 
public. Throughout the country, the average public school building is 
at least 40 years old, and the current backlog of maintenance and 
repair projects adds up to more than $45 billion annually in unmet 
funding needs. It is past time that we upgrade our public buildings to 
provide a safe, modern, and efficient experience from coast to coast.
  Presently, the use of public-private partnerships to develop 
government owned public buildings is restricted because, unlike 
transportation projects, public buildings are not currently eligible 
for Private Activity Bonds. This unnecessary impediment prevents public 
building from combining tax-exempt financing with private, taxable 
financing, resulting in lower project costs for our state and local 
governments. The Public Buildings Renewal Act adds public buildings as 
a new class of projects eligible for financing with Private Activity 
Bonds, allowing state and local governments to invest in public 
building infrastructure projects more easily. Once enacted, state and 
local governments would be able to enter long-term contracts with a 
private sector company to design, build, finance, and/or operate and 
maintain the building for a defined period. This legislation is 
intended to provide an additional financing option to state and local 
governments looking to improve their public buildings, not be a panacea 
for all projects.
  We can no longer accept schools and hospitals in disrepair, deferred 
maintenance, and delayed capital investment. I look forward to working 
with my colleagues in the House and Senate to include this legislation 
in an infrastructure investment package.

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