McIntyre Votes To Help Improve Schools, Create New Jobs, and Strengthen Energy Independence - May 19th, 2009

 Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Mike McIntyre 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 bill provides $24.3 million for Southeastern North Carolina school districts.

 
The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act passed by the U.S. House will invest in our schools in order to boost our economy now and help prepare our children for the jobs of the future.
 
Congressman McIntyre stated, “Our schools should be safe and healthy learning environments for our children. This bill gives us a chance to upgrade our school buildings and boost student achievement while creating good local jobs in new, clean energy industries.”
 
        McIntyre continued, “This is exactly the kind of smart legislation we need to get out of this economic crisis.  This bill 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. At the same time, it modernizes our schools and prepares our workers for a new, clean American energy economy.”
 
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.
 
North Carolina’s 7th Congressional District will receive approximately $25 million in funding. The bill also generates long-term savings for schools by reducing energy expenses. Green schools reduce pollution by using about 30% less water and energy than conventional schools, and emit almost 40% 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 jobs – many in areas that will give workers the valuable skills they need to excel in a clean energy economy.
 
“Right now, our schools are hundreds of billions of dollars short of the funding needed to bring them up to good condition,” said McIntyre. “The quality of a school isn’t just important for our children’s health – it’s critical for their learning. The legislation we passed today provides the necessary funds to build the kind of safe, healthy, clean schools that will prepare our students for the 21st century.”
 
Estimated Funding from the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act
 
School District                                Funding Amount
 
Bladen County Schools                         $896,000         
Brunswick County Schools                  $1,564,000
Clinton City Schools                               $437,000                                    
Columbus County Schools                   $1,054,000
Cumberland County Schools              $7,531,000
Duplin County Schools                          $1,293,000        
Fort Bragg Schools                                  $647,000
New Hanover County Schools            $2,896,000
Pender County Schools                         $673,000
Robeson County Schools                      $5,814,000
Sampson County Schools                     $1,104,000
Whiteville City Schools                         $484,000
 
Total –                                         $24,393,000