Newhouse, Levin Introduce Resolution to Honor 70th Anniversary of Impact Aid
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) and Mike Levin (D-CA) introduced a resolution to recognize and celebrate the 70th anniversary of Impact Aid on September 30, 2020. As Co-Chair of the House Impact Aid Caucus, Rep. Newhouse leads 90 bipartisan members to support and advocate for the Impact Aid program, which provides critical reimbursements for school districts impacted by nontaxable federal property.
"Central Washington's students and school districts greatly benefit from the Impact Aid program, and I am proud to support these critical reimbursements," said Rep. Newhouse. "From tribal reservations to Bureau of Reclamation lands, the federal government has a large footprint in our district, and we have a responsibility to ensure our students have access to the educational opportunities they deserve – despite a significantly diminished local tax base. I thank Rep. Levin for partnering with me to introduce this resolution recognizing 70 years of Impact Aid."
"The Impact Aid program provides critical support to over 1,200 school districts that serve some of our most vulnerable student populations. We must continue to provide these school districts with the resources they need to serve students during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond," said Rep. Levin. "Impact Aid is also critical for the military families I serve and schools on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, including San Onofre Elementary and Mary Fay Pendleton Elementary. I'm proud to lead this bipartisan resolution with Rep. Newhouse reaffirming our commitment to supporting them."
"For 70 years, Impact Aid has played a critical role in school districts' efforts to provide all students with the opportunities they need to meet their full potential," said Hilary Goldmann, Executive Director of the National Association of Federally Impacted Schools. "The flexible funds provided by the program are used for instructional materials, technology, staffing, social emotional supports and other priorities identified by local officials. In the context of COVID-19, Impact Aid is keeping students, staff and communities safe and learning. We thank Congress for its continued support of the program, which recognizes the Federal government's obligation to school districts where it holds land."
Click here to read the full text of the resolution.
Nearly 880,000 children of our men and women in uniform, children residing on Indian lands, children in law-rent public housing, and children of civilians working or living on federal land are considered "federally-connected children" who are served by local educational agencies eligible for Impact Aid Basic Support payments.
For Fiscal Year 2019, Washington's 4th Congressional District's school district received the following Impact Aid Basic Support payments:
Columbia School District #206: $137,132.51
Grand Coulee Dam School District #301-J: $126,932.80
Granger School District #204: $42,182.10
Mt. Adams School District #209: $2,886,034.90
Nespelem School District #14: $1,538,060.55
Okanogan School District #109: $76,374.45
Omak School District #19: $96,763.25
Toppenish School District #202: $496,796.75
Wapato School District #207: 2,265,797.94
Background:
The Impact Aid Program was signed into law by President Harry Truman in 1950. The program is the oldest K-12 federal education program. Nationwide, approximately 1,200 school districts enrolling more than 10 million students benefit from Impact Aid funding. Click here to learn more.