21st Century Green High Performing Public School Facilities Act

Floor Speech

Madam Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3021, the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act.

I was proud to work with the chairman and Mr. Blumenauer to authorize the use of funds to improve building infrastructure to facilitate bike and pedestrian access. This could include bike storage facilities, safety lighting, lockers, safe travel routes on school grounds for bicyclists and pedestrians, and more.

Alternative modes of transportation and storage facilities for bicycles are recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council as criteria for obtaining certification as a green school and are critical to reducing emissions and the carbon footprint of our Nation's schools.

With skyrocketing gas prices, American families are feeling the pain at the pump. It's my hope that this amendment will help ease that burden by encouraging students, just as we did, to walk and bike to school rather than catch a ride with their parents or drive themselves. I would like to thank my friend Representative Blumenauer for working with me on this important provision and commend him for his tireless work on this issue.

Additionally, I would like to thank the distinguished chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, along with his staff, for their work to bring this legislation to the floor today.

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