U.S. Rep. Schwartz’s Green Jobs and Green Schools Initiatives Pass Congress

By THE OFFICE OF CONGRESSWOMAN ALLYSON SCHWARTZ (D-13)

Washington, D.C. – Earlier today, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz (PA-13) helped to pass the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act. This innovative plan makes targeted investments to modernize, upgrade and repair school facilities across the country. According to projections by the Economic Policy Institute, construction funding in this bill will support as many as 136,000 new construction jobs, many in green work, providing workers valuable new skills.

“In improving the energy-efficiency, health, and safety of America’s public schools, we not only strengthen learning environments for our children we create jobs and preserve our planet,” said U.S. Rep. Schwartz.

A long-standing environmental advocate, Schwartz put forth two additional initiatives as part of this bill to help strengthen its aims. Both of Schwartz’s efforts, encouraging Job Corps participants and community college students to gain practical work experience in the field of green building and green construction, and offering additional flexibility for schools to think creatively about greening efforts, passed the House.

“From America’s schools to America’s workforce, we have a responsibility to grow the 21st century economy by thinking green,” said Schwartz. “The plans I offered allow our schools flexibility in their greening efforts, and ensure that we take steps to develop a well-trained green labor force.”

To meet the needs of the growing American green economy, there is tremendous demand for a qualified and skilled green workforce. As such, Schwartz and U.S. Rep. Maffei (NY-25) offered an amendment encouraging Job Corps participants and community college students enrolled in degree or certificate programs relating to green building to be involved in the modernization, renovation, and repair projects funded by the bill. This will allow these students to gain valuable employment experience, and will help to build our nation’s green workforce. Job Corps, a Department of Labor initiative, is a residential education and job-training program for at-risk youth 16-24 years old.

The second initiative offered by Schwartz and U.S. Rep. Lujan (NM-03) allows schools additional flexibility in being able to put forth innovative solutions that can help lower energy costs and provide classroom enrichment. The Lujan/Schwartz amendment accomplishes this by adding, “greenhouses, gardens (including trees), and other facilities for environmental, scientific or other educational purposes or to produce energy cost savings,” to the list of allowable fund uses in a section of the bill. Adding these types of activities, such as targeted tree planting, reduces building energy costs, which will help school districts save money and reinvest in their classrooms.

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