[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 20794]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



SUPPORT FOR FEDERAL-STATE-PARTNERSHIPS RELATIVE TO SCHOOL MODERNIZATION

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise to express my strong support for 
initiatives to create a federal-state-local partnership relative to 
public school construction and renovation throughout America. At a time 
when unprecedented budget surpluses are being projected by budget 
leaders at both the White House and in Congress, it seems clear to me 
that some modest portion of these funds ought to be used to assist our 
school districts. In South Dakota, it has become increasingly difficult 
to pass school bond issues, given the fact that real estate taxes are 
already too high and our state's agricultural economy has been 
struggling. The result is an enormous backlog of school construction 
needs, and the costs of repair and replacement only increase with each 
passing year.
  To propose a new school construction partnership is not to suggest 
some sort of ``federalization'' of K-12 public education. The decisions 
as to whether to replace or repair a school would remain with the local 
school districts where they belong, and by far the largest share of the 
expense would continue to be met by local taxpayers. Even so, a federal 
effort to reduce interest costs or otherwise participate in reducing 
the total cost of school construction could often times make the 
difference between a successful project or none at all. If the federal 
government were to simply block grant these funds, the dollars would 
have to be disbursed in such a broad manner that no school district 
would receive a sufficient amount of help to seriously make a real 
difference.
  While I appreciate that school construction assistance must be 
targeted to help needy school districts first, I do want to convey my 
strong opinion that the eligibility requirements for a federal-local 
partnership should not be so restrictive as to eliminate the 
possibility of many of our school districts from participating. South 
Dakota has a great many school districts which are not completely 
impoverished, but yet find it almost impossible to pass a bond issue 
and otherwise adequately fund their education programs. This program 
should apply to more than just the extreme poverty situations of inner 
urban areas and remote rural areas. It should apply as well to the many 
small and medium size communities all across our country that seriously 
struggle with school construction and renovation needs.
  I applaud and support these efforts to invest a small portion of our 
Nation's wealth in improved educational opportunities and facilities 
for all--this investment now, will result in improved academic 
performance, better citizenship and a stronger economy for generations 
to come.

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