American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will send millions of dollars to North Texas school districts

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson today voted in favor of H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was approved by a vote of 244-188 in the House.  Developed with the Obama administration, the economic recovery package will create and save three to four million jobs, give 95 percent of American workers an immediate tax cut and invest quickly in the economy.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will provide North Texas school districts with hundreds of millions of dollars in funding over 2009 and 2010, much of which will be targeted to repairing, renovating and modernizing school infrastructure.  Additionally, North Texas school districts will receive tens of millions of dollars to allow them to maintain the services they currently provide, and tens of millions of dollars will be allocated under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which provides support for special needs students.  The Dallas Independent School District will receive over $200 million over the two-year period.

Congresswoman Johnson submitted two statements to the Congressional Record in support of the American Recover and Reinvestment Act, one on infrastructure investment and one on science and technology.  Both follow:

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  I ask unanimous consent to revise and extend my remarks.   

I want to commend my Chairman, Mr. Oberstar, and Chairman Obey for elevating the importance of infrastructure investment towards the economic recovery of our nation.

I strongly support the underlying bill, particularly the infrastructure components, which direct desperately needed funds into our nation’s roads, bridges, transit systems, airports, and water-related infrastructure.

Over the past two years, the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment has held numerous hearings on the nation’s water-related infrastructure needs.  Whether it is the $300 to $400 billion investment needed to restore and upgrade our nation’s network of wastewater treatment infrastructure, or the projected $50 to $60 billion for vital projects of the Corps of Engineers, the water-related infrastructure needs of this nation are staggering, and growing ever larger.

Each $1 billion of Federal funds invested in infrastructure creates or sustains approximately thirty-four thousand jobs and $6.2 billion in economic activity.

The $3 billion in infrastructure investment funding in the bill for the State of Texas will provide a real, tangible benefit to the seven hundred thousand individuals currently unemployed in my state – whether as a paycheck for those responsible for constructing these vital projects, or through increased productivity for small businesses that produce the materials needed for these vital infrastructure projects. 

However, unlike other economic recovery proposals, infrastructure investment provides not only a short-term benefit to American families, it also provides a long-term benefit in terms of sustainable and reliable infrastructure, as well as the potential for increased productivity for the nation’s economy through the efficient movement of goods and services. 

It also can enhance the overall quality of the nation’s water-related environment through the implementation of environmental restoration projects by the Corps of Engineers, and through the control of pollutant discharges from combined sewer and sanitary sewer upgrades.

Finally, infrastructure investment provides one of the only benefits that cannot be shipped off to foreign lands.  The direct beneficiaries of domestic infrastructure projects are our towns, our local communities, our constituents. 

I support the bill and yield back the balance of my time. 

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As snow drifts outside our nation’s Capitol, we acknowledge that we as a nation are in the midst of an economic winter.  I support H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, because I believe that the federal and state programs funded therein will provide needed stimulus to our economy.

With record numbers of Americans unemployed, with our defense budget stretched in war, with our children slipping in educational competitiveness, and with the sick and elderly facing a deepening well of poverty, it is time to act.  Congress and the Administration have swiftly assembled a package of wide-ranging support in many important areas.  I particularly support the science and educational stimulus activities.

Science and technology funding go directly to the high-tech workforce.  Investments in the Advanced Research Project Agency for Energy will support research into energy sources and energy efficiency.  The bill also contains funding toward a more reliable, energy-efficient electricity grid to keep up with tomorrow’s technologies.  It contains money for the National Institute of Standards and Technology to fund grants for research science buildings at colleges and universities.  Funding for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will enable more scientists to conduct climate change research.  Investments in scientific research are investments in our future.  They will pay for themselves ten-fold over future generations and very well could save our planet from the destructive effects of global warming.

Educational opportunities for all students are an imperative investment in our future.  This recovery package will make bold investments to provide children with a 21st century education, modernize our schools and colleges, and make college more affordable.  An investment of $14 billion for modernization of K-12 schools is badly needed.  The legislation also contains money to enable bright students to go to college.  It improves current higher education tax credits by creating a new “American Opportunity” tax credit with a maximum of $2,500, rather than the current maximum of $1,800.  This expansion will make college more affordable for millions of low- and moderate-income students.  It also provides additional support for the Head Start program, which will provide important development services to 110,000 additional low-income preschool children.  Furthermore, the bill provides funds for competitive grants to provide financial incentives for teachers who raise student achievement and close the achievement gaps in high-need schools. 

We must invest in our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other Minority Serving Institutions.  Currently, there exists a “digital divide” between HBCU campuses and their counterparts.  There is a great need to update campus technology and develop educational and technological opportunities for students and staff.  Because of their unique resources, HBCUs continue to be extremely effective in producing African American graduates and preparing them to compete in the global economy.  HBCUs represent nine of the top ten colleges that graduate the most African Americans who go on to earn Ph.D.s. I request to insert data into the record demonstrating the important value that HBCUs add, when it comes to minority education.  The distinctive ability of HBCUs to provide opportunity and advancement to African American students is undeniable and is worthy of federal support. 

When Americans think of this landmark stimulus bill, shovel-ready projects may immediately come to mind.  However, investments in research and in math and science education will pay long-term dividends.  They not only will create new jobs, but they will elevate our workforce by providing an excellent education.  These investments will open a world of opportunities for millions who previously had none.  This bill is an investment in our future: tomorrow and for decades to come.

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U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson is the highest-ranking Texan on the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and a senior member of the Science Committee. She represents the 30th Congressional District of Texas, which, includes Downtown Dallas, Fair Park, Oak Lawn, Old East Dallas, Pleasant Grove, & South Oak Cliff; all of Balch Springs, DeSoto, Hutchins, Lancaster & Wilmer and parts of Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights and Ovilla.