Bryan Howard
Legislative Director
U.S. Green Building Council

While many in the green schools movement have been focusing on President Obama’s “American Jobs Act” that would allocate $25 billion for school modernization, Tuesday brought a vote on the floor of the House of Representatives to improve the resource efficiency of America’s charters schools.

As part of the debate on H.R. 2118: Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act, which reauthorizes and modifies federal charter programs, Congressman Rush Holt of New Jersey offered a common sense amendment, to give priority to facility grant recipients that utilize green building rating systems and certifications.

Congressman Holt’s amendment received the support of a bipartisan group of legislators from all across the country but did not have the votes needed to be adopted. To see how your member of Congress voted click here.

It can be discouraging that some members of Congress are still not translating the benefits of reduced operating expenses, enhanced learning environments and increased accountability of taxpayers’ dollars that green schools offer. However it is encouraging that some members continue to work in a bipartisan fashion to solve problems.

The effort by Congressman Holt and others is only one bite of the apple, in the effort to improve charter schools programs as the Senate has yet to consider these programs.

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