[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 7390]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             GREEN SCHOOLS

  (Mr. ASHFORD asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. ASHFORD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to applaud several Nebraska 
schools for their nationally recognized roles in protecting the 
environment.
  Two Omaha schools--the Edward ``Babe'' Gomez Heritage Elementary 
School and the Wilson Focus School--along with the Lincoln School 
District, have been named 2015 Green Ribbon Schools by the U.S. 
Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan.
  These schools have been honored for their promising efforts to reduce 
negative environmental impact, ensure environmental education, promote 
better health, and cut utility costs.
  As Secretary Duncan has noted, these schools are ``an inspiration and 
deserve the spotlight for embodying strong examples of innovative 
learning and civic engagement.''
  It is clear that the honorees are powerful examples of the ways in 
which schools can help students cut school costs, provide healthy 
learning environments, and prepare for the real world ahead.
  I also want to take this opportunity to honor my good and late 
friend, Senator Ron Raikes from Ashland, Nebraska, who with me 
developed the legislation for the focus schools in Nebraska. He has 
been and is sorely missed.

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