By Peter Biello
Wilmington, NC – A bill waiting in the wings in Congress sets aside half a billion dollars for new school construction near growing military bases across the county.
The Military Children's School Investment Act would pay for the expansion and construction of schools near Pope Air Force Base, Fort Bragg or Camp Lejeune.
To qualify, schools would have to sustain an increase in enrollment by 250 students or 10%.
North Carolina Congressman Robin Hayes sponsored the bill. He says schools in those areas need the money because original base realignment plans left out money for building schools.
"What we're asking that the folks do is to provide authorization for funding so we can build adequate schools for the youngsters that would be coming, in our case to Fayetteville and the surrounding counties."
Hayes says he thinks there is enough bipartisan support in Congress to make this bill a law, and hopes the rally in Fayetteville raising awareness for the bill pressures Congress to schedule a vote on it.
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