[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4012]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            PROTECTING IMPACT AID FOR NORTH SUBURBAN SCHOOLS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MARK STEVEN KIRK

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 16, 2006

  Mr. KIRK. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill to ensure the 
federal government fulfills an important obligation to the families of 
servicemen and women in my district. In 1950, Congress established the 
Impact Aid program to assist school districts and communities that lose 
their property tax base because of the presence of the federal 
government. Though the program was fully-funded between 1950 and 1969, 
funding levels in more recent years have not kept pace with the amount 
required. I am happy that my Illinois Senators are introducing a 
companion bill to the same effect.
  Due to a unique housing situation for the Great Lakes Naval Training 
Facility, Impact Aid funding should be higher in five of my school 
districts. This Naval base is located in North Chicago, one of the 
poorest school districts in my state. However, some service members and 
their families live in housing the Navy obtained when Ft. Sheridan and 
Naval Air Station Glenview, located well away from North Chicago, were 
closed in the 1990's. These former bases are located within the 
boundaries of other school districts--districts that bear the economic 
cost of educating children from a base, but receive none of the 
economic benefits a base provides. Thus, it is vitally important that 
we both ensure North Chicago continues to receive heavily impacted 
payments for the benefit of students living there, and that the 
surrounding communities are more fairly compensated for their loss of 
property taxes.
  Mr. Speaker, we cannot abdicate our responsibility towards our 
military families. I have already introduced a bill this Congress, H.R. 
390, the Government Reservation Accelerated Development for Education 
Act (GRADE-A), to fully fund the Impact Aid program. However, the 
situation in my district warrants special attention. In order to ensure 
that our students most in need continue to receive necessary resources, 
I have introduced a new bill to help North Chicago remain qualified for 
heavily impacted payments, and Glenview and Highland Park receive fair 
compensation.
  By passing this bill, the federal government will be fulfilling its 
responsibility to these communities, and giving our military families 
the support they deserve. I urge the local communities to continue to 
work to come to an agreement that most importantly, takes care of our 
students .

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