Senate Begins School Overhaul Bill for Federal Investment in School Construction

Now that the House passed the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009, which authorizes more than $4 billion for elementary and secondary school facility projects over the next two fiscal years, the Senate is currently working on its version of the bill. The House version of the bill authorizes $2.1 billion in 2010 and 2011 to renovate and modernize facilities for elementary and secondary schools (K-12), and authorizes $2.5 billion in 2011 to renovate and modernize facilities for community colleges. AGC has long-advocated for increased federal investment in school construction, as there is substantial opportunity for investment in upgrading and improving the unmet needs for school construction and renovation, which is estimated to be $3.7 billion. The average age of a public school building is estimated to be over 40 years old, the same age that schools have been documented to deteriorate. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP). Committee staff currently working on the bill indicated that the Senate will be writing their own bill language, but that the goal is to match the numbers in the House bill. The unofficial timetable is to finish the bill and have it to the president before the end of the year to maximize the savings and effectiveness of the student aid portions of the bill. Given this timeframe, it is unlikely that there will be time for any hearing on the legislation, as the health care debate has presently taken the majority of attention and resources. While AGC supports the overall bill, it includes the same Buy American language as was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) that AGC continues to oppose. Committee staff currently working on the bill has indicated that while they would like to keep the Buy American language in the bill, they see it as unlikely to make it into the final Senate language. AGC will urge Senators to support the bill without the Buy American restrictions. For more information click here. For more information, contact Marco Giamberardino at (703) 837-5325 or giamberm@agc.org.