Bills to Aid School Facilities Get Attention

A new federal investment in school facilities would help raise student achievement, save school districts money on energy costs, and spur the troubled U.S. economy, Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, said at a hearing last week.

But leading committee Republicans said the government should consider other demands for federal education aid before committing to financing school construction projects. And some GOP members of Congress said that labor laws unnecessarily drive up the cost of federally financed school facilities.

The House panel heard testimony Feb. 13 from Democratic lawmakers who have sponsored a spate of bills aimed at providing federal resources for school construction, including so-called “green schools,” which are generally more energy-efficient and seek...