Volume 156, No. 60 covering the 2nd Session of the 111th Congress (2009 - 2010) was published by the Congressional Record.
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“NATIONAL HEALTHY SCHOOLS DAY” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H2906-H2907 on April 27, 2010.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
NATIONAL HEALTHY SCHOOLS DAY
Ms. WOOLSEY. 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.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 1280
Whereas 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;
Whereas children spend an average of 30 to 50 hours per week in school;
Whereas one-third of public school principals report that some environmental factors interfere with classroom instruction;
Whereas some environmental hazards that are common in schools include unsafe drinking water, ventilation problems and poor indoor environmental quality which are associated with a wide range of problems that include poor concentration, poor attendance, lower student test scores, respiratory illnesses, cancer, and other safety hazards;
Whereas about 9 percent of the Nation's students have asthma, which is a leading cause of school absenteeism and is aggravated by poor air quality and ventilation problems;
Whereas healthy and high performance schools are designed to improve indoor environments and other environmental factors by improving ventilation, providing for moisture and mold controls, temperature and humidity controls, as well as acoustics and noise controls, and other design elements;
Whereas healthy and high performance schools provide a healthier and safer learning environment for children and improved academic achievement and well-being;
Whereas National Healthy Schools Day is an important day to celebrate and promote healthy and green school environments for all children;
Whereas National Healthy Schools Day is coordinated by Healthy Schools Network in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Council of Educational Facility Planners--International and is celebrated on the first day of School Building Week; and
Whereas April 26, 2010, would be an appropriate day to designate as ``National Healthy Schools Day'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the designation of National Healthy Schools Day; and
(2) supports the goals and ideals of this day which include the promotion of healthy and safe places to learn.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Petri) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.
General Leave
Ms. WOOLSEY. 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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from California?
There was no objection.
Ms. WOOLSEY. 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. PETRI. 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.
Ms. WOOLSEY. 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. TONKO. 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?
Ms. WOOLSEY. 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.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1280, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``Expressing support for designation of April 26, 2010, as National Healthy Schools Day.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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