Press Release
Rep. Cuellar Helps Secure $1.4 Billion for Military School DistrictsSA schools on military bases will receive funding for education
Washington,
July 12, 2018
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Olya Voytovich, D.C. Press Secretary & Leslie Martinez, District Press Secretary
(Olya Voytovich 202-226-1583 & Leslie Martinez 956-725-0639)
Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) helped secure $1.4 billion, a $52 million increase from fiscal year 2018, in the U.S. House of Representative’s fiscal year 2019 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill for the Impact Aid program, which supports education for children of military personnel, including children living on tribal lands and military bases throughout the country, including San Antonio, Military City, U.S.A. The bill also funds programs aimed at supporting military families that have children with things like autism, intellectual disabilities, physical deformities, visual or hearing impairments, and mental health disorders. This legislation passed full committee markup yesterday and is scheduled to move for a vote on the House Floor this summer. Independent School Districts (ISDs) in Texas and across the country rely greatly on Impact Aid funding to support children of our military personnel. In Congressman Cuellar’s district, these regions include the San Antonio Independent School Districts of Randolph Field, Lackland, Fort Sam Houston, and Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City, which use money secured in appropriations bills to fund various construction and expansion projects. Federally-controlled lands, tribal reservations, and low-rent housing properties across the country are not subject to state or local taxes, which means these jurisdictions do not receive tax revenues. This means that schools in these regions do not receive revenue from the local and state governments, impacting the level of education students receive. The Impact Aid program subsidizes schools and education projects in these tax-exempt jurisdictions to ensure students receive a quality education. In fiscal year 2017, the Department of Education (DOE) reported that an estimated $5.13 million was provided for thousands of children attending schools in both the Judson Independent and Randolph Field Independent School Districts in the local San Antonio area. In the past, Randolph High School in San Antonio has used the Department of Education grant to cover $10.4 million in project costs that have been used towards the construction of a new cafeteria and gymnasium, benefiting the students and staff in the Randolph Field ISD. (See attached bill language) “We need to ensure that students who go to school in, or around, military bases receive a quality education,” said Congressman Cuellar. “Children should not be penalized according to whether or not their school is located on federally-controlled land. I helped secured this funding so that all children have the opportunity to meet and exceed their intellectual potential and achieve their career goals.” Congressman Cuellar added, “I would like to thank my fellow Appropriators, Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro for helping me secure these funds. This money will ensure that everyone, including children on military bases and underrepresented Hispanic communities, get the opportunities and education they deserve.” Randolph Field ISD Superintendent Lance Johnson stated, "Impact aid is critical, not only to the success of our students, but to the existence of RFISD as an institution of excellence in education. Without it, we simply could not remain open. Congressman Cuellar has long been a champion for impact aid. He fully understands the federal governments obligation to schools such as ours with regards to this program, and the crucial part it plays in the lives of our military families. His leadership is greatly appreciated. We appreciate his continued support and understanding as we serve the students of the families who serve our nation." Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) speaks at the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Government Agencies Appropriations Committee Markup for fiscal year 2019 in Washington on Wednesday. See video from the markup here. See attached bill language here. |