U.S. Representative Solomon P. Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi. (File photo: RGG/Steve Taylor)

WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 - This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is returning for a legislative session in order to vote on H.R. 1586, the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act.

This bill will make available $10 billion to provide grants to state and local governments to help them retain and hire teachers and other educational professionals. It also extends, for sixth months, increased federal funding to help states cover the costs of their Medicaid programs, which would cost $16.1 billion. The entire $26.1 billion in costs in this bill is fully offset by other federal spending cuts.
 
I am very pleased to note that within this legislation is specific language crafted by the Texas Democratic delegation in Congress requiring that Governor Perry and the State of Texas certify that our emergency appropriations for public education will be used solely to add new funds for public education and not misused for other purposes as was done last year with the State Fiscal Stabilization Funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.We want to ensure that any new emergency funds Congress provides for education betters our Texas schools.
 
These funds would go to local schools as long as the Governor certifies that (1) federal funds are not used merely to replace state education support, and (2) education funding will not be cut proportionally more than any other item in the upcoming Texas General Appropriations Act. This prevents any further shell games with federal education dollars at the expense of local schools districts. This approach has been endorsed by Texas statewide education organizations representing teachers, principals, school boards, school administrators, and nearly 40 superintendents, including our own Brownsville ISD, Corpus Christi ISD, Gregory-Portland ISD, Kingsville ISD, Port Aransas ISD, and Robstown ISD.
 
Governor Perry along with Senators Cornyn and Hutchinson claim that it is unconstitutional to make such requirements for the state of Texas prior to the upcoming Texas legislative session. However, all that is required is a simple letter of assurance that education funds will not be cut disproportionately in the upcoming fiscal years from Governor Perry to the Department of Education. This is not unconstitutional; in fact, it is yet another excuse to continue denying our local school districts the additional federal monies that are desperately needed.

Our support for our local school districts reflects a two-fold understanding: First, local districts know best what the needs of their students, teachers, and administrators are. Second, especially in times of a difficult economy, we need to invest in our schools. As Dean of the Texas Democratic delegation, I have been fighting for this language to be included in the bill to ensure local school districts in Texas have the support they need.
 
Below is a list of funds that will go to each school district within the 27th Congressional district in Texas, should this bill become law next week and Governor Perry provide the required assurances:
 
AGUA DULCE ISD - $368,077
ARANSAS PASS ISD - $378,907
BANQUETE ISD - $277,331
BISHOP CISD - $109,732
BROWNSVILLE ISD - $16,710,725
CALALLEN ISD - $394,324
CORPUS CHRISTI ISD - $8,369,140
DRISCOLL ISD - $68,839
FLOUR BLUFF ISD - $524,427
GREGORY-PORTLAND ISD - $275,937
HARLINGEN CISD - $4,530,681
INGLESIDE ISD - $169,058
KENEDY ISD - $238,083
KINGSVILLE ISD - $1,051,782
LASARA ISD - $187,763
LONDON ISD - $20,030
LOS FRESNOS CISD - $3,776,769
LYFORD CISD - $480,346
POINT ISABEL ISD - $710,559
PORT ARANSAS ISD - $46,278
RAYMONDVILLE ISD - $1,360,585
RICARDO ISD - $143,249
RIO HONDO ISD - $677,938
RIVIERA ISD - $77,130
ROBSTOWN ISD - $1,568,877
SAN BENITO CISD - $3,904,280
SAN PERLITA ISD - $133,716
SANTA GERTRUDIS ISD - $15,249
TULOSO-MIDWAY ISD - $368,236
WEST OSO ISD - $547,777
 
Solomon P. Ortiz is U.S. Representative for Congressional District 27 in Texas. A Democrat, he resides in Corpus Christi. 

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