Expressing support for designation of April 26, 2010, as National Healthy Schools Day.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 1280, ``Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the goals and ideals of National Healthy Schools Day.''

Let me begin by thanking my colleague Representative Paul Tonko for introducing this piece of legislation into the House of Representatives as it is important that we diligently work towards the improvement of deteriorating public schools across the nation and also work towards the improvement of construction techniques in schools.

The issue of environmental hazards in schools has been a growing problem over the last several decades. It is unfortunate that in schools across the nation investigators can find unchecked renovations, pesticide misapplications, unsafe drinking water, and indoor air pollutants such as mold infestations.

It is unreasonable to think that our children can receive the best possible learning environment when they are expected to learn under these types of conditions.

There are also a wide range of problems stemming from poor air quality and ventilation problems in schools. It has consistently been shown that these types of air quality problems can lead to poor concentration, respiratory illnesses, learning difficulties, and even cancer in students.

Today there are approximately 55,000,000 children and 7,000,000 adults who spend their days in the Nation's more than 125,000 public and private schools. Students and teachers also spend an average of 30 to 50 hours per week in school.

These numbers equate to nearly 20 percent of our nation's population spending their days in schools across the country--many of which are currently facing deterioration in the quality of their buildings while in the face of massive budget cuts. Therefore it is critical that we work together to seek comprehensive solutions to the trend of deteriorating schools in our nation.

A recent study showed that approximately one-third of public school principals reported that some environmental factors in their schools have interfered with classroom instruction. This report highlights an increasingly troubling trend among schools of deteriorating environmental factors.

In fact school facilities with poor building quality can result in lower test scores, poor attendance, and health problems for students and staff. These problems are only worsened for the nearly 9 percent of American students who are known to have asthma. Asthma is also the leading cause of absence from school and is aggravated by poor air quality and ventilation problems in schools.

To meet these challenges, I believe that we should begin working with school districts across the nation towards the implementation of healthy and high performance schools.

These types of schools would be designed to improve indoor environments while reducing energy and maintenance costs. They would also provide for an improvement in the quality of ambient light, would reduce exposures to toxic substances and would provide a healthier and safer learning environment for children.

Healthy and high performance schools are designed with specific environmental factors in mind, such as pollutant source controls, proper ventilation mechanisms, and moisture and mold controls. It is imperative that school districts in our nation recognize the importance of these new construction and maintenance techniques and work to ensure the improvement of student and teacher health across the board.

By officially designating April 26, 2010 as `National Healthy Schools Day,' we in Congress will be sending a strong message to students and teachers across the nation that we intend to provide healthy and safe buildings for students to learn in. We will also be sending a message to school districts across the nation that it is vitally important to build new schools with renewable resource materials and energy efficient appliances.

We must always ensure that schools and children receive all the necessary tools for their continued growth. Furthermore it is vitally important that we continue to work with state and local agencies including independent school districts across the nation for the implementation of these measures in public schools.

I would like to again thank my colleague Representative Paul Tonko for introducing H. Res. 1280. I ask my colleagues for their support of this legislation as well as their continued support for children, teachers and public schools across the nation.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H. Res. 1280 and the rule.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1280) expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the goals and ideals of National Healthy Schools Day, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on H. Res. 1280 into the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1280, a resolution recognizing the goals and ideals of National Healthy Schools Day.

Every year we celebrate National Healthy Schools Day to promote healthy and green school environments for all children. Across the country, more than 55 million children and 7 million adults spend their days in over 125,000 public and private schools in the United States. That is why it is essential that we recognize the importance of healthy learning environments. This year, National Healthy Schools Day 2010 focuses on the importance of good indoor air quality, nontoxic cleaning supplies, and environmentally friendly building materials.

The need for healthy schools is clear. Scientific studies show that poor environmental conditions in schools harm students' health and academic achievement. On the other hand, healthy

schools help students reach their maximum potential. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, more than half of the schools in the U.S. have problems linked to unhealthy indoor air quality. Too many school districts struggle with the poor physical condition of their facilities, and this reality has only become worse because of the fiscal crisis affecting our country.

Schools in urban and rural areas are often overcrowded, unhealthy, inadequately maintained, and reduce quality learning. Healthy school environments encourage better school attendance and participation. Kids who feel healthy are more likely to stay in school. Healthy schools also encourage students to spend time at school for extracurricular activities, which is a key part of President Obama's goal to make our schools the community centers that they should and could be. All students deserve dry, clean, and quiet facilities with good indoor air, lighting and sanitation.

National Healthy Schools Day highlights simple steps we can take that can improve school environments for our children. This year's healthy schools campaign focuses on the importance of green, nontoxic cleaning products. Approximately 25 percent of chemicals in cleaning products used in schools are toxic and contribute to poor indoor air quality, smog, cancer, asthma and other diseases. Simply replacing toxic products with all natural cleaners could immediately improve the health of our students.

Additionally, Mr. Speaker, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides guides and assessments on their Web site to help schools improve indoor air quality. National Healthy Schools Day raises awareness of tools like these to help make our schools healthier and safer for kids.

Mr. Speaker, this resolution in support of National Healthy Schools Day serves to recognize the importance of healthy, safe, and green learning environments in our Nation's schools. I thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko) for introducing this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to recognize the gentleman from New York (Mr. Tonko), the author of this legislation, for as much time as he may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution recognizing National Healthy Schools Day authored by Congressman Tonko from New York, and recognizing the importance of ensuring healthy and green school environments for all of our children.

I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from California and the gentleman from Wisconsin. I rise today in support of H. Res. 1280, a resolution that I introduced to recognize National Healthy Schools Day. National Healthy Schools Day recognizes the importance of having a clean, healthy and safe indoor environment in our Nation's schools.

Each day millions of students, teachers, and staff go to work and school in our Nation's schools. Not all of these are healthy environments, especially for our young children. The EPA estimates that up to one-half of those schools have problems with indoor air quality. And 32 million students attend schools that have self-reported environmental problems with their facilities that can affect our children's health and learning.

Indoor air quality is one of the most common environmental problems in schools, which can aggravate children's allergies and asthma problems. Nine percent of our Nation's schoolchildren have asthma, which is the leading cause of absenteeism in schools. Other common environmental problems in schools include mold infestations, lead and copper contaminated drinking water, playgrounds and classrooms with high levels of pesticides, unchecked furnaces and buses leaking carbon monoxide, and exhaust from gasoline-powered equipment.

These problems affect the health of our Nation's schools and the people in them, and can contribute to absenteeism, learning difficulties, sick building syndrome, staff turnover, and liability issues for our school districts.

Research shows that simple steps can be taken to make our schools healthier. Heating and ventilation equipment can be improved to enhance indoor air quality. New schools can be built with a healthy design at non-polluted sites, in more sustainable ways that reduce energy and maintenance costs. Nontoxic products can be used for cleaning, maintenance and teaching. The use of natural light can be improved.

Healthy and high performance schools are designed to improve the indoor environment for the students and staff members who go to work and school in these buildings each and every day. They are more energy efficient and lead to better overall health. Many States, in fact, have already adopted guidelines for building healthy and high performance schools, like my home State of New York.

National Healthy Schools Day draws attention to the importance of having a safe and healthy school environment for our Nation's students. National Healthy Schools Day is supported by the Healthy Schools Network, the EPA, the National Education Association, and many more organizations. I am proud to be counted as a supporter of National Healthy Schools Day, and look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues here to ensure that every student has a healthy environment in which to learn. After all, our children are the foundation for this country's great future. Shouldn't we be providing them with the safest and healthiest places to learn?

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1280 expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the goals and ideals of National Healthy Schools Day. Most parents recognize the importance of keeping their children healthy, and strive to do so. National Healthy Schools Day recognizes the important role that schools also play in keeping students healthy and ready to learn.

Approximately 55 million children spend 30-50 hours a week in our Nation's schools. Local communities strive to make their school buildings places that support positive environments in which learning can thrive. For example, by taking steps to improve indoor air quality, school districts can decrease irritants in the air that may aggravate asthma and allergies in some children. Districts are also responsible for ensuring that school buildings are safe from physical danger and that all children will be protected during their time at school.

National Healthy Schools Day promotes schools that support parents' efforts to ensure their children are safe and healthy whether at home or at school.

I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring local schools that meet the commitment to keeping all children healthy and safe.

I have no additional requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1280, a resolution expressing the support of the House of Representatives for National Healthy Schools Day. Unhealthy school environments have a traumatic effect of our students' health, learning, and productivity, and increase health care costs down the road. Fifty-five million students spend the week in American schools, and it is critical to our Nation's future that they be provided a safe and healthy learning environment.

While we take time to recognize this important issue, I would like to acknowledge the work of the Healthy Schools Campaign, a Chicago-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to encouraging and nurturing healthy school environments. Under the leadership of Founding Executive Director Rochelle Davis, the Healthy Schools Campaign has been a champion and model in the push to develop healthy school meals, which studies show have a significant impact on the cognitive and behavioral well-being of students.

We must work to ensure that every child born in this country has the opportunity to take advantage of its great resources. Guaranteeing a healthy school environment for all children will play a critical role in this effort, and I will continue to strongly support legislation and initiatives targeting that goal.