House Passes Green Schools Facilities Act

The 21st Century Green High-Performing Public Schools Facilities Act was passed May 14 by the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 275 to 155. The bill authorizes more than $6.4 billion in grant funds to support school repair, renovations and modernization projects in school districts nationwide.

Under the bill, school districts would be required to spend an increasing portion of funds received for projects consistent with identified green building systems, including the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification system, starting with half of such funds in 2010 and reaching 100 percent by 2015.

Md. Closer To Green Cleaning In Schools Bill

Gov. Martin O’Malley has signed into law a bill that requires green cleaning in Maryland’s K-12 public schools. The legislation goes into effect in October and mandates the purchase of products that are biodegradable, feature reduced packaging and have low toxicity, VOC content and life cycle energy use.

Maryland is the fifth state to sign mandates or recommendations for green cleaning in schools into law.

E-Verify Program Gaining In Popularity

The federal government’s E-Verify Web-based computer program that allows companies to check the work authorization of their employees is seeing a rise in use. About 1,000 businesses are signing up weekly, joining the more than 124,000 businesses already using the program.

E-Verify uses government databases to check names, birthdays and Social Security numbers of hires. The Department of Homeland Security made the program available in an effort to reduce the hiring of illegal immigrants — though there are concerns about its reliability and effectiveness. Homeland Security officials admit that there is plenty of room for improvement, and the program’s $112 million budget for the next fiscal year will be partially dedicated to improving the accuracy of databases and further training of employers to protect workers from discrimination.

A few states have required the use of the program by employers, but for most employers, participation is voluntary. Starting at the end of June, all federal contractors and subcontractors will be required to begin using it.

 

E-Verify Program Gaining In Popularity

The federal government’s E-Verify Web-based computer program that allows companies to check the work authorization of their employees is seeing a rise in use. About 1,000 businesses are signing up weekly, joining the more than 124,000 businesses already using the program.

E-Verify uses government databases to check names, birthdays and Social Security numbers of hires. The Department of Homeland Security made the program available in an effort to reduce the hiring of illegal immigrants — though there are concerns about its reliability and effectiveness. Homeland Security officials admit that there is plenty of room for improvement, and the program’s $112 million budget for the next fiscal year will be partially dedicated to improving the accuracy of databases and further training of employers to protect workers from discrimination.

A few states have required the use of the program by employers, but for most employers, participation is voluntary. Starting at the end of June, all federal contractors and subcontractors will be required to begin using it.




POSTED ON: 6/8/2009