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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, July 31, 2008=20
Congress Votes to Fund the Sustainability Movement in Higher Education
(Washington) - Today Congress passed all provisions of the Higher =
Education Sustainability Act (HESA) as part of the new Higher Education =
Opportunity Act of 2008 (HR 4137). HR 4137, expected to be signed into =
law shortly by President Bush, creates a pioneering "University =
Sustainability Grants Program" at the Department of Education. It will =
offer competitive grants to institutions and associations of higher =
education to develop, implement and evaluate sustainability curricula, =
practices, and academic programs.
This is the first new federal environmental education funding program =
authorized in 18 years. Endorsed by over 220 colleges and universities, =
higher education associations, NGOs and corporations, this grant program =
will provide the catalyst for colleges and universities to develop and =
implement more programs and practices around the principles of =
sustainability. The bill also directs the Department of Education to =
convene a national summit of higher education sustainability experts, =
federal agency staff, and business leaders to identify best practices =
and opportunities for collaboration in sustainability.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the original Senate sponsor of HESA, =
explains: "Colleges are a natural breeding ground for the kind of =
innovation we need to move to new, environmentally-friendly energy =
sources. Our young people know the stakes. They know that developing =
sustainable energy programs will affect their lives, their economic =
well-being, and the planet they are inheriting. These grants will help =
college students take the reins of the movement to make energy last =
longer and have less of an impact on our environment."
"As the world's population increases, so does our impact on the =
environment, which makes it more vital than ever to invest in training =
the next generation of scientists, engineers, planners and business =
professionals," said Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), one of the =
three original sponsors of HESA in the House of Representatives. "By =
providing grants to universities and institutions to develop =
sustainability programs, we can protect the planet while helping =
maintain America's economic competitiveness."
Congressman Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), another original House co-sponsor, =
added: "What better way to promote sustainability than to encourage our =
institutions of higher learning to create academic programs to teach its =
concepts, and to implement sustainable practices themselves. Society =
will reap the benefits of the excellent return on investment gained by =
educating students in sustainable practices."
The Campaign for Environmental Literacy organized the broad alliance of =
higher education and environmental organizations supporting the bill. =
CEL's Director Jim Elder noted: "As we begin to connect the dots among =
our nation's many challenges in energy, national security, sustainable =
economic development, environmental protection, and social justice, it =
is imperative that our schools incorporate this fundamental perspective =
in their teaching and practice. Higher education is embarking upon a =
major and highly ambitious transition to accomplish this, and we =
gratefully applaud Congress for recognizing the need to help." For more =
information, visit www.FundEE.org.
CONTACT: Jim Elder, Director, Campaign for Environmental Literacy
(978) 526-7768, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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