“We are facing some serious challenges as a nation, but I believe that we’ll meet those challenges,” Kissell said. “We’re doing some serious business here.”
Kissell is proposing several amendments to the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment (AERR) Package that would provide federal money to the public and private sectors of the district and state.
The package is being debated in Congress presently, and will be voted on soon, Kissell said.
First, Kissell announced Tuesday a provision will be included in the House’s version of the AERR Package providing nearly $214 million to public schools in the 8th Congressional District of North Carolina, including Richmond County.
“The House version of the stimulus package, should it be approved by Congress, will include an increase in Title I grants, which provide funds for programs in high-poverty areas which assist disadvantaged children who struggle to meet academic standards,” a press release from Kissell’s office reads.
The release explains the construction portion of the funds will go to build new classrooms, and during the first year of the two-year plan, special education programs will receive increased financial support.
Under the plan, Richmond County would receive over $8.3 million over two years.
In the first year, the school district would get a total of over $5.7 million, with just over $1.3 million going toward the Title I increase, nearly $3.4 million toward construction and over $1.05 million to special education improvements.
In the second year, RCS would receive $2,585,600, with $1.3 million designated for Title I and nearly $1.3 million for special education.
Richmond County Schools officials could not be reached for comment.
The Associated Press is reporting that under the economic recovery plan the House Democrats and President Barack Obama have drafted, $41 billion in grants would go to local school districts.
Additional funding for education under the plan would include $79 billion in state fiscal relief to prevent cuts in state aid, $21 billion for school modernization, $16 billion to boost the maximum Pell Grant to $5,320 and $2 billion for HeadStart.
It was also reported that $35.5 billion would be designated to subsidize locally issued bonds for school construction, teacher training, economic development and infrastructure improvements.
“We’ll be holding a conference call in the near future, and the chair of the education committee will be hosting that event, where we will be talking with superintendents and school board members and people who are involved in the education of our children to keep them informed as to where this stands, and to determine how to utilize this money as wisely as possible,” Kissell said.
Kissell is also backing a proposal that would help the embattled textile industry of North Carolina.
Congressional Quarterly mentioned Kissell in a recent article as one of the representatives “in the winner’s circle” for his backing of an amendment to the bill providing that uniforms purchased through Homeland Security be made American-made products.
“This amendment is an extension of the Berry Act that states that all Department of Defense uniforms have to be American-made,” Kissell said over the phone Wednesday morning. “This Act is to create jobs ... this is not only something that would create jobs, but that would be sustained.”
He used the analogy of the public works programs being discussed currently in Washington to explain his proposal’s benefits.
“This is not something where you build a bridges then move on, this would keep people occupied and employed,” he said. “And really, what better jobs are there than to manufacture the uniforms of those who protect us.”
Please read below:
Textile & apparel manufacturing sector get boost from Kissell Bill
January 30, 2009 (USA)
The U.S. House of Representatives adopted by voice vote an amendment offered by Congressman Larry Kissell (D-NC) to H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, that would mandate that any textile and apparel products purchased by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) be made with 100 percent U.S. content. The amendment extends the current Berry Amendment program to the Department of Homeland Security but only would cover prospective procurement of uniforms and other textile product for TSA workers by the U.S. government.
“We would like to thank Congressman Kissell in particular for offering this amendment which has been long sought after by the textile industry. The Kissell Amendment will provide an important stimulus to the U.S. textile and apparel manufacturing sector, which employs almost 470,000 workers in the United States,” said Anderson Warlick, Chairman of the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO).
“In addition to our appreciation to the entire House, we would also like to extend a special thanks to the House leadership and Congressmen Bennie Thompson (D-MS), David Price (D-NC), John Spratt (D-SC), Howard Coble (R-NC), and Mike Michaud (D-ME) for their hard work and support in securing passage this amendment that will create many new badly needed U.S. jobs,” said Bruce Raynor, President of UNITE HERE.
“The Kissell Amendment will immediately help textile and apparel companies because it will cover all uniforms purchased by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees. This program can be expanded by the Obama Administration to cover other DHS agencies such as FEMA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the U.S. Immigration Service – nearly one hundred thousand uniformed employees in all – and we will be asking the President to make that change,” said Auggie Tantillo, Executive Director of the American Manufacturing Trade Action Coalition (AMTAC).
“Another benefit of the Kissell Amendment is that it does not require any additional taxpayer money because it involves programs that are already in place and which are already fully funded,” said Karl Spilhaus, President of the National Textile Association (NTA).
“Now that the House has added this critical amendment to the stimulus package, it is incumbent upon the U.S. Senate to adopt it too. We look forward to working closely with our friends in the Senate to make sure that this happens,” said Kevin M. Burke, President and CEO of the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA).
“Enactment of the Kissell Amendment will have an important impact on jobs across the United States because textile and apparel companies often rely on sales of uniforms and other textile products to the government to provide critically needed employment and production,” said Ruth Stephens, Executive Director of the U.S. Industrial Fabrics Institute (USIFI).
“It should also be noted that the Kissell Amendment was carefully crafted so as not to violate any U.S. trade agreements or obligations,” said Larry McClendon, Chairman of the National Cotton Council (NCC).
The U.S. textile and apparel sector has been hit particularly hard by the economic downturn with 60,000 jobs lost during the past twelve months. In the past year, 44 textile plants have closed, including 14 in North Carolina, 10 in South Carolina, 4 in Georgia, 7 in Alabama, and 7 in Virginia.
National Council of Textile Organizations
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Why didn't you trade your car while Bush and Robin Hayes was in office? Oh, I forgot that is when our plants and jobs started going out of the United States. My, how soon we forget how the last eight years have been.
Larry didn't put us in the mess, but he is there to help us get out of it. The United States can't get much worse than when Larry and he friends got to Washington.
Did you talk with Hayes about all of the wrong things he did for you and me? Have you checked to see how much the United States is in debt because of Hayes and his friends?
One thing I can say at least someone is trying to give us jobs and not send them else where.
Please explain how this type of government spending is going to improve our economy? I have just survived my fourth rounds of layoffs at a local business that supplies parts to the big three auto makers. We all have to make it by living within our means and government should be no different and actually should be setting the example to follow. I could really use the extra $100 a week tax money that comes out of my check to stimulate our local economy. I'm driving a 1989 American made auto that has 250K miles on it and praying everyday that it doesn't quit. I could use that money to buy a car from a local car dealer, who in turn could replace it with more inventory and make a profit so he doesn't have to layoff one of his staff. This in turn would keep someone on an car assembly line working, and then it would come right back to me at my place of employment as a parts supplier. This is how capitalism works. If government spending could get us out of this problem then just how did get here in the first place? And as for the schools issue, I have a student at the new ninth grade academy and it doesn't look run down and neither did any of his previous schools. Just how many permanent high paying jobs is the new work on Highway #1 going to create?
In case you didn't know Wright, the schools and public buildings in this country are crumbling. I know it has been the goal of Republicans to destroy this country for years. They dumped billions of dollars onto the streets of Baghdad but now they don't want to spend a dime to rebuild the crumbling infrastructure of America.
Just who are the Anti-Americans in this country?
Keep up the good work, Congressman Kissell. And keep working to get Industry into Richmond County so we can justify building the new Industrial Training Center at the RCCC. By the way, where is that money that was bragged about having been approved after the 2006 election?