Crowley, Serrano applaud passage of PCB cleanup bill

Congressmen Joseph Crowley (D- and José Serrano applauded passage of the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act (H.R. 2187) that included a provision written by Crowley-Serrano to help school districts fund cleanup of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination in New York City and throughout the country. This initiative will provide schools with access to funding for critical modernization, renovation and repair projects.

“We have a responsibility to ensure that our children are taught in a healthy school environment,” said Crowley. “Like asbestos and lead paint, the presence of PCBs in school classrooms is unacceptable. That is why I teamed up with my good friend Joe Serrano to raise awareness in Congress of this dangerous contaminant and to include the cleanup of PCBs in broader legislation that will keep our schools safe for our children.”

The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act (H.R. 2187) provides critical funding to states and school districts to help ensure that school facilities and learning environments are safe, healthy, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and technologically advanced; the Crowley-Serrano provision makes grants and low-interest loans available to local educational agencies for the removal, abatement, or interim controls of PCBs during the construction, modernization or repair of public schools.

The Act passed the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 275-155, and now goes to the Senate for consideration.