Pallone Announces New Initiative to Modernize Schools and Creat Jobs at Building Trades Convention

LONG BRANCH, NJ – On Tuesday, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) unveiled a new initiative that would create jobs while modernizing America’s schools through a new federal grant program modeled after the successful Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, or TIGER Discretionary Grant program. TIGER grants provide robust federal dollars for large-scale surface transportation projects. Pallone’s plan, the School Modernization Grant Program or SMGP would be a competitive grant program where states and municipalities can apply for funds to cover critical school modernization needs.

Pallone announced his proposal today before a receptive crowd at the New Jersey State Building & Construction Trades Council 109th Annual Convention in Atlantic City.

“The youth of our nation deserve a fair shot at the American dream, but without a good school environment or the necessary tools, we might be setting up them up for failure,” said Pallone. “Not only will these school construction grants benefit our children, but they will create quality jobs in our communities.”

Under Pallone’s plan, grants could cover anything from building new science labs to overhauling and upgrading a failing heating and cooling system in a school. A specific portion of this grant funding will be set aside for Title I school districts, or schools with a high percentage of students from low-income families.

According to “Rebuild America’s Schools,” of the existing 80,000 schools in our country at least one-third are in need of extensive repair or replacement. At least two-thirds have troublesome environmental conditions: the presence of asbestos, lead in water and paint, leaking underground storage tanks and radon, or they lack noise control or physical security.

“It seems that without concern for the consequences, House Republicans have proposed cut after cut to our nation’s infrastructure and programs investing in our nation’s children. Congress must put forth policies that create jobs while also modernizing our country’s infrastructure, and my proposal does just that,” added Pallone.