A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

FOR RELEASE
June 28, 2000

Contact:
John Emekli
(202) 401-3026

Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Richard W. Riley
on the Classroom Modernization Act

For three years, the Clinton-Gore Administration has urged Congress to pass urgently needed legislation to renovate and modernize our nation's school buildings. I am glad to see that at long last, growing numbers of the majority in Congress are recognizing that there is a necessary federal role in responding to this critical need.

Earlier this year, President Clinton proposed $1.3 billion for no-interest loans for immediate repairs of school buildings and renewed his proposal for $24.8 billion of tax-credit bonds to fund new construction for overcrowded schools and major renovation needs, including much needed funding for Native American schools.

Time is short to act on these critical proposals before the Congress adjourns. Regrettably, the appropriations bill passed by the House earlier this month included no funds for this important purpose and the House leadership has blocked consideration of the Administration's $24.8 billion tax-credit bond proposal.

Besides coming late to the game, the Classroom Modernization Act, introduced earlier this week in the U.S. House of Representatives, has many shortcomings. This new legislation offers no targeting for high-need areas. It unnecessarily pits charter schools against other public schools, instead of recognizing that they are all public schools and should be treated equally. Furthermore, while the legislation puts significant restraints on how states and local communities can use these critically needed funds, it also leaves open the possibility that they could be used for non-construction purposes. Even though one-fifth of schools have inadequate roofs, plumbing, heating and cooling systems, or electrical wiring problems, most of these schools would be ineligible for aid under this proposal.

A better way already has been proposed. More than 200 Members, nearly a majority of the House, have co-sponsored the bipartisan Johnson-Rangel bill, America's Better Classroom Act of 2000. This legislation supports $24.8 billion of tax-credit bonds that are crucial to helping local school districts repair crumbling schools and build new ones to accommodate growing student enrollments. While I urge the supporters of the new proposal to work to improve it, I call on them to take a more meaningful step and join the growing number of House members - both Republicans and Democrats alike - who are currently supporting the bipartisan Johnson-Rangel bill.

Let us put aside our partisan differences and do right by our nation's children.

###