Hudson Amendments Improve School Funding and Safety, Increase Accountability in Defense Industry
July 30, 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (NC-08) has secured three amendments approved today in the latest appropriations bill focused on improving school funding and safety, as well as increasing accountability in the defense industry.
"As Fort Bragg's Congressman and a dad, I care deeply about our military and improving education in North Carolina," said Rep. Hudson. "These amendments will directly benefit schools in our community that receive Impact Aid funding and will help create safer schools everywhere. I will continue to champion common sense solutions that protect taxpayers, improve education and support our military."
The first amendment increases Impact Aid funding by $1 million. This builds upon the $15 million increase for the program which Rep. Hudson has already helped to secure. Impact Aid is a critical program that supplements lost tax revenue for communities with a high number of students from military families. This funding is critical in counties surrounding Fort Bragg. The flexibility in this program means funding can be used for priorities like new school buses, classroom supplies, and student counselors who provide mental health services. Rep. Hudson has worked to support Impact Aid after hearing many concerns from communities that rely on its funding.
This amendment builds on a provision he secured in the National Defense Authorization Act authorizing a report to examine the effects of underreporting eligible student numbers in the Impact Aid program. Recommendations from this report will help improve future funding for schools in military communities.
To improve the safety of our schools, Rep. Hudson's second amendment adds $1 million for research to study the root causes of school violence. The amendment builds upon previous efforts as part of the STOP School Violence Act. This is the second year in a row that Rep. Hudson's school safety initiatives have received robust funding.
Rep. Hudson's final amendment approved today enforces the importance of accountability in the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and improves efforts to address bribery, fraud and corruption. For years, both sides of the aisle have expressed concern over the lack of a complete and transparent audit of the Department of Defense. Rep. Hudson's amendment highlights the need for DLA to improve its commitment to fighting fraud and protecting taxpayers.
The appropriations amendments approved today also build on previous provisions he secured in an earlier appropriations bill to address PFAS chemicals including GenX.
###