[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 4038-4039]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORTING JOBS WITH THE JONAS SALK ELEMENTARY CAP UNDO REGULATORY 
                    ENVIRONMENTAL DELAY (CURED ACT)

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BRIAN P. BILBRAY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2012

  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation that 
will place a 90-day deadline on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to 
issue a final decision for a permit to build an elementary school in my 
district. After nearly 10 years of delays, it is time to move forward 
on this critical school for the children in

[[Page 4039]]

my congressional district. The bill does not sidestep environmental 
review. Endangered species and habitat will be protected. It is time to 
recognize and place the impact of delay to the community on equal 
footing.
  Jonas Salk Elementary is a proposed school site within the community 
of Mira Mesa in San Diego, California. With nearly one in 10 San Diego 
residents out of work, this is a ``shovel-ready'' project that has been 
the victim of nearly a decade of bureaucratic regulatory delays. This 
has hurt students, deprived the community of park amenities and much 
needed jobs.
  This school is needed to ease existing overcrowding at Mason 
Elementary, Hage Elementary and other San Diego-area schools. The 
proposed project is located within an existing community, on a lot that 
has been vacant and graded since 1978. Along with the school, the 
project envisions a park and joint-use facilities to benefit the 
region.
  The San Diego Unified School District Board approved the plans to 
build Jonas Salk Elementary in 2003, with the intent of serving 
students in 2006. Unfortunately, the elementary school has been 
indirectly delayed by an environmental lawsuit and various agency 
delays for nearly a decade. If enacted, my legislation will help ensure 
that students will be able to attend this long delayed school in 2014.
  At a time when schools are overcrowded and the resources to build 
schools are scarce, to delay a project with both the need and the 
resources to construct with no real impact to the environment is 
unacceptable. The intent of this bill is to not allow the opening of 
the school to slip any further. The San Diego Unified School District 
has done its due diligence to protect the environment and provide for 
students. My bill recognizes the school district's efforts and ensures 
that the final determination is issued in a timely manner so that the 
school can finally be built and begin servicing the community. Projects 
that provide an obvious community benefit and produce much needed jobs 
should be encouraged, not punished with costly and pointless delays.

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