On February 10th, the U.S. Senate approved their version of the economic recovery package, known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1). While the bill includes many provisions that will stimulate the design and construction industry through tax relief and investments in our nation’s buildings, the Senate eliminated some key provisions that would create jobs and improve the built environment.

 

Although the House-passed bill includes $14 billion for K-12 school modernization and $6 billion for modernization of higher-education facilities, the Senate bill provides zero funding for these initiatives. The American Construction Inspectors Association (ACIA) believes that an investment in modernizing school buildings will not only create healthy, safer, more sustainable and better places to learn; it creates jobs for thousands of design and construction professionals.

 

Congressional leaders are now working to decide what provisions will stay in the final bill and those that will be taken out before they send it to the president. We are hearing that House and Senate leadership hope to have a final agreement by today. 

  

Contact your members of Congress today and ask that they urge Congressional leaders to support the House-passed funding levels for school modernization in the final economic recovery bill. To find your local representative, please visit www.opencongress.org > Representatives.