DELAURO: INVESTMENT IN SCHOOLS WILL CREATE JOBS, IMPROVE EDUCATION

FAST Act could provide up to $223 million for Connecticut school modernization

New Haven, CT – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) visited the West Haven High School today to discuss the Fix America's Schools Today (FAST) Act, which would modernize America's schools, improving the quality of education, helping schools to save money through energy efficiency upgrades, and creating jobs.

Included by President Obama in the American Jobs Act, the FAST Act would invest $30 billion in American K-12 schools and community colleges. With so many school districts facing budget cuts, these funds would enable schools to make needed renovations improving the learning environment for our kids and putting people to work on labor-intensive jobs. Experts estimate that for every billion dollars invested in school construction and building repair, up to 10,000 jobs could be created.

$25 billion would be quickly distributed to K-12 schools around the country using formulas already in place, with 40 percent going to the top 100 neediest school districts, and 60 percent to be split equally among the states to be distributed to local education agencies through competitive grants. The remaining $5 billion would be made available to community colleges. Under this proposal, Connecticut would be eligible for $185 million in grants for K-12 schools, and $38 million for community colleges. Totaling up to $223 million in funding for the state, Connecticut could see up to 2,400 local jobs created.

Congresswoman DeLauro was joined by West Haven Mayor John Picard, West Haven Federation of Teachers President Patti Fusco, and Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the New England Regional Council of Carpenters Mark Erlich.

"Nothing is more important to our economy right now than creating jobs—and not just in Connecticut, but all across America. And construction jobs have been particularly hard hit recently. That is why I am glad to see the Fix American Schools Today Act included as part of the President's American Jobs Act. It meets two critical needs – improving the infrastructure of our schools and putting Americans back to work," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "The FAST Act will help modernize our schools and make sure all can provide kids with the educational setting they need to succeed—and I hope to see it work here in West Haven and across the country."

"The city of West Haven is excited about having Congresswoman DeLauro here and about the prospects of being able to renovate some of our schools," said Mayor Picard. "A direct result of these renovations will be to help us save energy and create numerous jobs, and this is something that I support completely.

"The FAST Act and the American Jobs Act are about reinvesting in our public education systems and restoring strength to our economy," said Patti Fusco, president of the West Haven Federation of Teachers. "Children everywhere deserve a quality education that includes up-to-date, modern schools."