U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) Votes to Green Schools, Create New Jobs
U.S. Rep. Kendrick B. Meek (D-FL) today voted in favor of legislation that will improve our public schools, create clean energy jobs, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and lower energy costs for taxpayers. The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act (H.R. 2187) passed by the House will invest in our schools in order to boost our economy now and help prepare our children for the jobs of the future.
"Our students, administrators, educators, and communities throughout South Florida deserve a chance to upgrade our school buildings and boost student achievement while creating good local jobs in new, clean energy industries," said Rep. Meek. "Because research has determined a correlation between school facility quality and student achievement, I am determined that this legislation will better the future leaders of South Florida and beyond."
The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act provides over $6 billion in federal funds to upgrade school buildings to make them more energy efficient and more reliant on renewable sources of energy. Miami-Dade County Public Schools will receive approximately $54.6 million in funding and Broward County Schools will receive approximately $28.3 million in funding. The bill also generates long-term savings for schools by reducing energy expenses. Green schools reduce pollution by using about 30 percent less water and energy than conventional schools, and emit almost 40 percent less harmful carbon dioxide.
According to calculations by the Economic Policy Institute, this legislation's construction funding would support as many as 136,000 new jobsmany in areas that will give workers the valuable skills they need to excel in a clean energy economy.
"This legislation is a stepping stone to get out of our nation's current economic crisis. It modernizes school buildings, saves money for our schools, creates jobs and gets us closer to our goal of providing every child with a world class education by giving more students and teachers a safe, environmentally-friendly learning environment," added Rep. Meek. "An initiative that creates jobs and prepares workers for the clean energy jobs of the future is impetrative now."
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