Asbestos Removal Funds Freed for Schools
President Reagan signed a resolution Tuesday clearing the way for distribution of $47.5 million to help needy school districts remove asbestos from buildings.
The Administration had maintained that federal assistance was no longer needed, but both houses of Congress passed the resolution urging prompt distribution of the funds.
The money was contained in legislation signed by Reagan last year setting standards for removal of asbestos.
In January, the Administration sent Congress a rescission request asking for permission not to spend the money. To become effective, the rescission needed approval of both the House and Senate by last Sunday.
Instead, the House passed on Feb. 24 and the Senate a few days later the resolution urging the Administration to spend the money. The resolution said that unless the funds were quickly distributed, school districts would not get the money in time to do removal work this summer.
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