AIA Vice President, Government & Community Relations, Paul Mendelsohn said, “We are especially disappointed that the funding to modernize schools has been eliminated in the Senate version of the stimulus bill. Not only are America’s schools in desperate need of repairs, but the money allocated in the House version of the bill would result in the creation of 400,000 jobs nationwide. Schools are the only building type where, through green design, you can reduce energy consumption, improve the environment and create a learning environment where students will be better prepared to compete in a global workplace.”
Mendelsohn added, “As President Obama remarked in his news conference, ‘Why wouldn’t you want to invest in state of the art schools?’ We call on Congress to include the $14 billion for green, high-performing schools in the final version of the stimulus bill.”