“I fully support the President’s initiative to assist high-need local educational agencies in making urgent repairs and renovations to public school facilities,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.  “This is particularly good news for American Samoa.  This legislation will allow American Samoa to compete for grants and loans to replace or repair roofs, electrical wiring or plumbing.  The grants may also be used to construct new schools,” Faleomavaega continued.

     While school repairs have primarily been a State and local concern, many communities are not able to meet the burden of providing adequate school facilities for all students.  The Public School Renovation and Repair Act now pending before Congress will provide Federal assistance to help high-need communities meet this need.  The Act will authorize funding and make grants, on a competitive basis, to local educational agencies.

     “The National Center for Education Statistics reported that ‘the average age for a school building in 1998 was 42 years and that local education agencies with relatively high rates of poverty tend to have relatively old buildings,’” Faleomavaega said.

     “What is even more tragic is that school condition is positively correlated with student achievement,” Faleomavaega continued.  “I commend the President for his initiative and leadership regarding this matter.”

“I believe it is more than appropriate for the Federal Government to address the inequities that exist in our public education system.  Now, more than ever, we must work to make public education more equitable for all students.  That is why I fully support this legislation and am committed to seeing that American Samoa’s interests are represented in this process,” Faleomavaega said.