Tell the U.S. Senate to Promote More Green Public School Facilities Across America
Last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3021, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, by a vote of 250-164.
This is a tremendous victory for public schools, educators and children. The legislation authorizes $6.4 billion annually to help states and school districts address school conditions that compromise learning and teaching. The bill also creates more than 100,000 well-paying construction jobs and supports AFT efforts to promote green, sustainable schools.
Even with this victory, there is more work ahead to get assistance to states and localities to upgrade their schools. In the coming weeks, we will turn our efforts to moving similar legislation in the U.S. Senate, and we need your help by urging your senators to support these efforts.
Tell me more
Dear [ Decision Maker ],
As schools strive to meet new and higher standards, we no longer can overlook the fact that a safe and modern learning environment is integral to raising student performance. Too many of our students must learn and too many school staff must teach and work in overcrowded and aging school buildings. Under these conditions, students and educators are working tirelessly to meet the new academic expectations, making these goals even more difficult to achieve.
Across the nation, states are facing the most serious fiscal crisis in more than half a century. While their ability to repair and modernize schools may be limited, the need for federal assistance to help states and localities improve deteriorating and outdated school buildings remains urgent.
The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities ACT (H.R. 3021), which recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives, addresses this issue by authorizing $6.4 billion a year to assist in meeting these goals. The bill would create more than 100,000 well-paying construction jobs. This legislation also stresses the need for environmentally sound construction that will improve energy efficiency and air quality by meeting widely recognized green building standards.
The bill correctly leaves to local officials the decision on which projects to undertake; but, when implemented, the legislation will free up local funds to provide additional assistance to needed education programs.
Now that the House has acted on legislation to make the necessary investments and improvements in our school learning and working environments, I urge you and your colleagues to move similar legislation in this session of Congress. America's system of public education deserves better for its students and educators.
(Edit Letter Below)
Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]
|
Take Action on this Issue
Send this message to:
Complete the following to send this message.
If you have participated before, just type in your email address and set your prefix, then submit the form.
* Required Field
** Some older email programs may not display HTML correctly.
|
Print