[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14832]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                BRING THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT TO THE FLOOR

  (Ms. CASTOR of Florida asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to urge the House GOP 
leadership to bring the American Jobs Act to the floor.
  One of the primary reasons we've got to work together on a jobs 
strategy is to modernize and repair schools all across the country. 
This will create thousands and thousands of jobs. Small business 
contractors, electricians, and others can repair our schools.
  Back home in Florida, the school districts are having to delay 
maintenance. Teachers are being laid off, and schools are unable to 
invest in the modern science labs that will help prepare our kids for 
the jobs of the new century.
  Yesterday, Vice President Biden visited Oakstead Elementary, north of 
Tampa, which is an A school. It opened 5 years ago, was built for 700 
students, but they have over 1,000 students at Oakstead. And even with 
the overcrowding, the school district has had to release eight 
teachers. That is not smart.
  ``To keep this a grade-A school, we're going to have to keep teachers 
in the classroom,'' the Vice President said.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my GOP colleagues not to block the American Jobs 
Act. Our small business owners and contractors are ready to modernize 
schools, and parents like me want dedicated teachers in the classroom.

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