[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 25247]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION LEGISLATION NEEDED BEFORE THE END OF 
                             106TH CONGRESS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Capps) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. CAPPS. Madam Speaker, today I would much rather be on my way 
back home to the central coast of California in order to spend time 
with my constituents. Instead, I rise to express my deep concern over 
an issue that greatly affects them as well as millions of other 
Americans: Schools in this country and in my communities which are 
overcrowded and in great disrepair.
  In these last few hours in the 106th Congress, I am disappointed that 
we have not yet passed comprehensive school modernization legislation. 
But we are still in session and there is still time.
  I strongly believe that education is a local issue. But overcrowding 
is a national crisis which demands a strong national response, not just 
a token. I have come to stand here on this floor several times on this 
topic. Recently, I held a letter signed by over 300 students from 
Peabody Elementary School in Santa Barbara expressing their desire for 
real, meaningful school construction legislation.
  Now, this is a school in Santa Barbara built for 200 students which 
now houses over 600. These students know how disadvantaged they are 
when portable classrooms take up precious outdoor space which should be 
used in the development of their bodies and minds through physical 
activity. Time and time again, I have visited schools throughout my 
district which suffer from similar circumstances.
  Madam Speaker, there is not a school in the Santa Maria Bonita 
district whose enrollment is not hugely impacted. One school comes to 
mind, Oakley, which was built for 480 students and now houses over 800. 
The high school district in Santa Maria is hoping to pass a bond 
measure because of the extreme overcrowding.
  In San Luis Obispo, Cambria Grammar School was built to handle 200 
students. They now have eight portables in its playground space with 
345 students. Students who are kindergartners, the youngest of all, 
have been moved to a nearby middle school and they are housed in a 
small portable with a small fenced-in playground.
  I spent 20 years as a school nurse in the Santa Barbara School 
District, and I have seen firsthand the damage that deteriorating 
classrooms have. The students cannot thrive academically if they are 
learning in overcrowded and crumbling buildings. This is the most 
crucial time in their lives for learning and we have an opportunity to 
do something about this.
  Madam Speaker, I supported the America's Better Classrooms Act, a 
strong bipartisan measure, 225 cosponsors. It would have provided 
approximately $25 billion in interest-free funds to State and local 
governments so that school construction and modernization projects 
could occur. Such funding would help schools like Peabody, Oakley and 
Cambria Grammar Schools to make improvements in classrooms, playgrounds 
and would help reduce class sizes.
  I believe here in Congress we must set our standards high to ensure 
that all children have the right start. All children deserve to have 
safe, clean, modern school environments to be part of each day.
  So, Madam Speaker, this 106th Congress is coming to an end, but our 
students have a lifetime of learning ahead. They need our help now. I 
believe we can still act and must act to pass comprehensive school 
construction legislation in this session of Congress.

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