schools before any new commitments were entered into to renovate or repair other schools. The motion to table was agreed to, 57-41. [HR 3061, Vote 319, 11/1/01] XXXX Voted to Transfer School Construction Funds to Title I. In 2001, XXXX voted to transfer $925 million in funds for the school construction program to Title I grants for disadvantaged students. Senate Democrats insisted that there were other ways to increase aid for poor schools, without sacrificing school construction funding. Across the country, 59,400 schools, 76% of all schools, were in disrepair and in need of construction funds. [HR 3061, Vote 316, 11/1/01; CQ Weekly, 11/3/01] XXXX Voted Against Federal Aid to Build Small Schools. In 2001, XXXX voted against an amendment offered by Senator Feinstein (D-CA), to allow some federal funds to be used to build new small schools. It would allow the U.S. Department of Education to award grants to reduce the size of schools, in other words, to build small schools. Senator Feinstein offered this amendment because she “believes children learn better and teachers teach better in smaller schools. Many of our schools are just too big… Studies have shown again and again and again that student achievement improves when school and class size are reduced.” The amendment passed on a vote of 52-46. [S 1, Vote 181, 6/12/01; Congressional Record, page S6103, 6/12/01] XXXX Voted Against $1.6 Billion to Renovate and Repair Aging Schools. In 2001, XXXX voted to kill an amendment that would have provided $1.6 billion for the construction and renovation of public elementary and secondary school buildings. The average American school is 42 years old and has an outdated electrical system, roof, or plumbing. Many of these dilapidated schools have urgent needs. The amendment was killed on a party line vote of 49-50. [S 1, Vote 108, 5/16/01; Washington Post, 5/17/01; Houston Chronicle, 5/17/01] XXXX Voted Against Community-Based Technology Centers. In 2001, XXXX voted against an amendment to authorize $100 million over five years to establish 1,000 community based technology centers across the country. The money will help buy computers for children and adults to use in local centers. The amendment allows non- profit organizations such as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America to apply to the Department of Education for grants to start a community tech center. The amendment passed on a close vote of 50-49. [S 1, Vote 96, 5/9/01] XXXX Opposed An Amendment To Divert Tax Cuts To School Construction Spending. In 2000, XXXX voted to kill an amendment that would shift $5.938 billion from tax cuts to the Education, Training, Employment, and Social Services budget function, with the stated hope that it would be spent on school modernization projects. Additionally, the amendment would spend another $787 million of the on-budget surplus that is intended for debt reduction on that budget function. The motion to table was agreed to, 54-45. [Vote 62, 4/6/00] XXXX Opposed Shifting $1.2 Billion To School Construction Funds From Tax Breaks For Education Savings Accounts. In 2000, XXXX voted to move ahead with the proposed education savings account (ESA) tax breaks, rather than create a new federal school construction program. Under the proposed program, $1.2 billion in tax credits would be given to lenders who gave loans to qualifying States and school districts for school construction projects. The vote was on a motion to table the Robb amendment to the Affordable Education Act of 1999. [Vote 17, 3/1/00; Congressional Quarterly Daily Monitor, 3/1/00] XXXX Voted Against $5.7 Billion for Helping State and Local Governments Renovate or Rebuild Crumbling School Buildings. In 1999, XXXX voted to kill the motion to recommit the bill to the Senate Finance Committee with instructions to reduce or defer $5.7 billion in new tax cuts in order to allow for tax incentives for building and renovating schools. [Vote 242, 7/30/99] XXXX Voted against $10 Billion in Tax Credits for School Modernization Bonds. In 1998, XXXX voted to kill an amendment that would have provided $10 billion in tax credits over ten years for bonds to help school districts and local governments renovate or rebuild crumbling school buildings. [Vote 90, 4/21/98] XXXX Voted Against Amendment to Rebuild and Repair 5,000 Public Schools With $22 Billion in Public Bonding Authority. In 1998, XXXX voted against the motion to waive Budget Act to permit consideration of an amendment that assumes President's key initiatives for child care, school class size, medical research, and Medicare 74