Inspiring New STEM Professionals by Investing in Renovation of Education Spaces Act or the INSPIRES Act
This bill directs the Department of Education to establish grant programs (1) for the modernization, renovation, or repair of career- and technical-education facilities; and (2) to enable secondary schools that are located in rural areas or that serve Native American students to improve facilities that provide science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and to support high-speed internet in STEM facilities.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6109 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6109
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by
establishing a program to support the modernization, renovation, or
repair of career and technical education facilities, to enable schools
serving grades 6 through 12 that are located in rural areas or that
serve Native American students to remodel or build new facilities to
provide STEM classrooms and laboratories and support high-speed
internet, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 5, 2020
Mr. Cox of California (for himself, Ms. Johnson of Texas, Mr. Ryan, Mr.
Nadler, Mr. Blumenauer, Ms. Garcia of Texas, Ms. Meng, Ms. Schrier, Mr.
Khanna, Mr. Tonko, and Mr. Cuellar) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by
establishing a program to support the modernization, renovation, or
repair of career and technical education facilities, to enable schools
serving grades 6 through 12 that are located in rural areas or that
serve Native American students to remodel or build new facilities to
provide STEM classrooms and laboratories and support high-speed
internet, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Inspiring New STEM Professionals by
Investing in Renovation of Education Spaces Act'' or the ``INSPIRES
Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Technological advancement has increased the types of
jobs available now and for the foreseeable future. Over the
next 10 years, employers will be looking to fill an estimated
2,600,000 openings for the top 10 occupations in the collective
fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
(referred to in this section as ``STEM''). STEM jobs pay well;
STEM workers earn an average of $14,000 per year more than non-
STEM workers at every education level. However, projections
suggest that the United States won't have enough skilled
workers to fill STEM jobs.
(2) STEM skills and knowledge are now required in a wide
range of occupations, including many that are not traditionally
considered to be science or engineering-related, such as
sustainable agriculture, management of natural resources, and
health care. Because of the growing use of STEM skills across
all job sectors, the distinction between a ``rural'' as
compared to an ``urban'' job is blurring. For instance,
renewable energy development and bio-based product
manufacturing employ workers in a variety of areas of the
United States. Known as the ``new collar'' economy, the
phenomenal growth in job opportunities for those who are
prepared will also support the growth of communities: places to
raise families and invest in the future.
(3) While students at all grade levels can benefit from
STEM education, the evidence points to ensuring quality STEM
education for middle school students during school and non-
school hours. Good STEM experiences in middle school will lead
to positive attitudes toward and expectations of STEM
experiences in high school. In the middle grades, students
begin to demonstrate formal logical operations (critical
thinking). Further, middle school students have been shown to
be highly susceptible to developing opinions about their
competence and interest in STEM learning. Providing students
with additional time in after school and summer STEM programs
allows students opportunities to engage in hands-on learning
that sparks interest in STEM fields and careers. Students who
engage in well-designed laboratory experiences develop problem-
solving and critical-thinking skills, and gain exposure to
reactions, materials, and equipment in a lab setting. Sustained
investments in hands-on experiences help inspire students to
further their education and prepare them for high-technology
careers by fostering skills sought by potential employers.
Hands-on experiences significantly advance learning at all
levels of science education when appropriately designed and
guided by qualified educators, in a safe learning environment
that is student-centered and curriculum-driven. The classroom
should contain enough resources, space, and storage to permit
long-term multidisciplinary projects, individual and small-
group learning, inquiry and project-based learning.
(4) Native American communities, including American Indian,
Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian populations, have a long
history of discrimination and poverty and have higher high
school drop-out rates than other underserved groups. In
assessments of mathematics and reading throughout elementary
and secondary school grades, American Indian and Alaska Native
children score lower in mathematics and reading proficiency as
compared to other groups. Only 28 percent of Native Hawaiian
students in Hawaii demonstrate mathematics proficiency as
compared with 49 percent of non-Native Hawaiian students. In
reading, 34.8 percent of Native Hawaiian students tested
proficient compared to 54.3 percent of non-Native Hawaiian
students. Further, the United States is obligated under the
Federal trust responsibility to help raise the standard of
living and educational achievement of Native Americans to a
level comparable to non-Natives.
(5) To meet the challenge of educating youth to fulfill the
demand for STEM workers, public schools in the United States
must be equipped to educate all youth in STEM skills,
especially youth who are underserved or socially disadvantaged.
(6) The median age of United States schools is 65 years.
Nearly 50 percent of school buildings in the United States need
significant repairs or upgrades, including clean and safe
classrooms and laboratory spaces, up-to-date technology, and
broadband. Moreover, the condition of school facilities has a
measurable effect on student achievement.
(7) For all of these reasons, the future workforce of the
United States needs safe, clean, well-equipped school
facilities where, regardless of historic or current
disadvantages, students can reach their full potential and
learn the knowledge and skills that place students on a secure
pathway to enhance the capacity of the United States to compete
globally.
SEC. 3. STEM EDUCATION FACILITIES; CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION
FACILITIES.
(a) Career and Technical Education Facilities.--Title V of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7305 et seq.)
is amended--
(1) by redesignating part C as part E;
(2) by redesignating sections 5301 and 5302 as sections
5501 and 5502, respectively; and
(3) by inserting after part B the following:
``PART C--STEM EDUCATION FACILITIES
``SEC. 5301. DEFINITIONS.
``In this part:
``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a
local educational agency, a consortium of local educational
agencies, or an education service agency.
``(2) Eligible school.--The term `eligible school' means--
``(A) a public school that--
``(i) serves students in any of grades 6
through 12; and
``(ii)(I) is located--
``(aa) in a rural area, as defined
in section 25.503 of title 7, Code of
Federal Regulations, or any successor
regulation;
``(bb) on or near trust land, as
defined in section 3765 of title 38,
United States Code;
``(cc) on or near a substantially
underserved trust area, as defined in
section 306F(a) of the Rural
Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C.
936f(a)); or
``(dd) in an eligible community, as
defined in section 1456 of the Safe
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-16);
or
``(II) is determined by an Indian tribe or
tribal organization to serve Native American
students; or
``(B) a Bureau-funded school, as defined in section
1141 of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C.
2021).
``(3) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
``(4) Native american.--The term `Native American' has the
meaning given the term in section 102 of the Older Americans
Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3002).
``(5) Public-private partnership.--The term `public-private
partnership' means a partnership--
``(A) between a grantee or subgrantee under this
part and a private entity (which may be a nonprofit
organization, business, or other nongovernmental
entity); and
``(B) through which the private entity will provide
some or all of the required match under section
5302(e).
``(6) Qualified project.--The term `qualified project'
means--
``(A) the modernization, renovation, or repair of
facilities to provide STEM classrooms or laboratories,
including updates related to student and faculty health
and safety, which may include--
``(i) improving the energy efficiency of a
facility;
``(ii) improving the cost-effectiveness of
a facility in delivering quality education;
``(iii) improving student, faculty, and
staff health and safety at a facility;
``(iv) improving, installing, or upgrading
educational technology infrastructure;
``(v) retrofitting an existing building for
career and technical education purposes; and
``(vi) a one-time repair of serviceable
equipment at a facility, or replacement of
equipment at a facility that is at the end of
its serviceable lifespan, that will be used to
further educational outcomes;
``(B) building new facilities to provide STEM
classrooms or laboratories; or
``(C) supporting the establishment and maintenance
of high-speed internet for a STEM classroom or
laboratory.
``(7) STEM.--The term `STEM' means the fields of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics, and related fields
(including computer science).
``(8) Tribal organization.--The term `tribal organization'
has the meaning given the term in section 658P of the Child
Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n).
``SEC. 5302. STEM EDUCATION FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT.
``(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall carry out a program
to improve STEM education facilities by awarding grants to States,
Indian tribes, and tribal organizations to enable those States, Indian
tribes, and tribal organizations to carry out qualified projects at
eligible schools or to award subgrants to eligible entities or tribal
educational agencies to carry out qualified projects at eligible
schools.
``(b) Reservation, Allotment, and Use of Funds.--
``(1) Reservation of funds for indian tribes and tribal
organizations.--From amounts made available to carry out this
section, the Secretary shall reserve 10 percent for Indian
tribes and tribal organizations to enable Indian tribes and
tribal organizations to carry out, or to award subgrants to
tribal educational agencies to carry out, qualified projects at
eligible schools.
``(2) Allotments and use of funds for states.--
``(A) Allotments.--From amounts appropriated to
carry out this part for each fiscal year and not
reserved under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall allot
to each State that has an application approved under
this section an amount that bears the same relationship
as the number of schools in the State that are rural
schools designated with a locale code of 41, 42, or 43,
as determined by the Secretary, bears to the number of
all such schools in the United States and on such
Indian lands for that fiscal year.
``(B) Use of funds.--A State receiving an allotment
under subparagraph (A) shall use the allotment to award
subgrants to eligible entities to carry out qualified
projects at eligible schools.
``(c) Application.--
``(1) Grant application for states.--
``(A) In general.--A State that desires to receive
a grant under this part shall submit an application to
the Secretary at such a time, in such a manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may
require. Such information shall include, at a minimum--
``(i) a description of the process that the
State will use in selecting and awarding
subgrants to eligible entities;
``(ii) an assurance that such process will
meet the requirements described in paragraph
(2);
``(iii) an assurance that in awarding
subgrants to eligible entities, the State will
give priority to eligible entities that are
part of a public-private partnership; and
``(iv) if the State has formed a public-
private partnership, a description of that
partnership, including how the private entity
partner will contribute to the required match
under subsection (e)(1).
``(B) Priority.--In awarding grants to States, the
Secretary shall give priority to States that have
formed a public-private partnership.
``(2) Subgrant application.--A State that receives a grant
under this section shall require an eligible entity that
desires a subgrant to submit an application that contains, at a
minimum, the following information:
``(A) A detailed description of the qualified
projects that the eligible entity will carry out with
subgrant funds.
``(B) A description of the need for those qualified
projects.
``(C) A description of how the eligible entity will
ensure that the qualified projects will be adequately
maintained.
``(D) An identification of the eligible schools
that will benefit from the qualified projects.
``(E) A description of how the facilities or
internet supported by the qualified project will be
used for providing educational services in STEM during
the school day, summer, and in after school programs.
``(F) If the eligible entity has formed a public-
private partnership, a description of that partnership,
including how the private entity partner will
contribute to the required match under subsection
(e)(2).
``(3) Grant application for indian tribes or tribal
organizations.--
``(A) In general.--An Indian tribe or tribal
organization desiring a grant under this section shall
submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in
such manner, and accompanied by such information as the
Secretary may require, including a description of any
public-private partnership that the Indian tribe or
tribal organization has formed and how the private
entity in such partnership will contribute to the
required match described in subsection (e)(3).
``(B) Priority.--In awarding grants to Indian
tribes or tribal organizations, the Secretary shall
give priority to Indian tribes or tribal organizations
that have formed a public-private partnership.
``(d) Environmental Standards.--The Secretary shall encourage, but
not require, eligible entities, Indian tribes, tribal organizations,
and tribal educational agencies to ensure that the modernization,
renovation, repair, or building supported by the qualified project
meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building
rating standards, Energy Star standards, Collaborative for High
Performance Schools (CHPS) criteria, Green Building Initiative
environmental design and rating standards (Green Globes), the Living
Building Challenge certification standards, or equivalent standards
adopted by entities with jurisdiction over or related to the eligible
entity or Indian tribe or tribal organization.
``(e) Matching Funds.--
``(1) States.--A State that receives a grant under
subsection (b)(2) shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an
amount equal to 25 percent of the amount of the grant (which
may be provided in cash or in kind) to carry out activities
supported by the grant.
``(2) Eligible entities.--An eligible entity that receives
a subgrant under subsection (b)(2)(B) shall provide, from non-
Federal sources, an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount of
the subgrant (which may be provided in cash or in kind) to
carry out activities supported by the subgrant.
``(3) Indian tribes and tribal organizations.--An Indian
tribe or tribal organization that receives a grant under
subsection (b)(1) shall provide, from Federal or non-Federal
sources, an amount equal to 10 percent of the amount of the
grant (which may be provided in cash or in kind) to carry out
activities supported by the grant.
``(4) Waiver authority.--The Secretary may waive the
matching funds requirement under this subsection for a State,
Indian tribe, or tribal organization if the Secretary
determines that the State, Indian tribe, or tribal organization
will be unlikely to satisfy the matching requirement.
``(f) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this
part shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal and
State funds available to carry out the activities supported under this
part.
``(g) Technical Assistance and Administrative Costs.--The Secretary
may reserve not more than 3 percent of funds appropriated to carry out
this part for the administrative costs of this part and to provide
technical assistance to States, eligible entities, Indian tribes,
tribal organizations, and tribal educational agencies concerning best
practices in carrying out qualified projects.
``(h) Reporting Requirements.--Not later than 1 year after funds
are appropriated to carry out this part, and every 2 years thereafter,
the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report on the effect of the qualified projects supported
under this part on improving academic achievement.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this part not less than $100,000,000 for
fiscal year 2020 and each succeeding fiscal year.''.
``PART D--CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES
``SEC. 5401. DEFINITIONS.
``In this part:
``(1) Career and technical education.--The term `career and
technical education' has the meaning given the term in section
3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of
2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
``(2) Community college.--The term `community college'
means a public institution of higher education at which the
predominant degree awarded to students is an associate's
degree, including a 2-year Tribal College or University as
defined in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1059c) and a public 2-year State institution of higher
education.
``(3) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
``(A) an eligible institution;
``(B) a community college;
``(C) a local educational agency or consortium of
local educational agencies;
``(D) an educational service agency;
``(E) an Indian tribe;
``(F) a tribal organization; or
``(G) another entity determined appropriate by the
Secretary.
``(4) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible
institution' means any of the following:
``(A) An Alaska Native-serving institution or a
Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as such terms are
defined in section 317 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d)), a Native American-serving,
nontribal institution (as defined in section 319 of
such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059f)), or an Asian American and
Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution
(as defined in section 320 of such Act (20 U.S.C.
1059g)).
``(B) A Tribal College or University, as defined in
section 316 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c).
``(C) An 1890 Institution, as defined in section 2
of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education
Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601).
``(D) A 1994 Institution, as defined in section 2
of such Act (7 U.S.C. 7601).
``(E) A Hispanic-serving agricultural college or
university, as defined in section 1404 of the National
Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy
Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
``(F) A minority-serving institution, which shall
be defined as an eligible institution under section
371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1067q(a)).
``(5) Indian tribe.--The term `Indian tribe' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
``(6) Qualified project.--The term `qualified project'--
``(A) means the modernization, renovation, or
repair of a facility that will be used to improve the
quality and availability of science, technology,
engineering, mathematics, or career and technical
education instruction to students, and that may
include--
``(i) improving the energy efficiency of
the facility;
``(ii) improving the cost-effectiveness of
the facility in delivering quality education;
``(iii) improving student, faculty, and
staff health and safety at the facility;
``(iv) improving, installing, or upgrading
educational technology infrastructure;
``(v) retrofitting an existing building for
career and technical education purposes; and
``(vi) a one-time repair of serviceable
equipment at the facility, or replacement of
equipment at the facility that is at the end of
its serviceable lifespan, that will be used to
further educational outcomes; and
``(B) does not include new construction or the
payment of routine maintenance costs.
``(7) Tribal organization.--The term `tribal organization'
has the meaning given the term in section 658P of the Child
Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n).
``SEC. 5402. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT.
``(a) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated to carry out
this part, the Secretary shall carry out a program to improve career
and technical education facilities by--
``(1) awarding grants to eligible entities to enable the
eligible entities to carry out qualified projects;
``(2) guaranteeing loans made to eligible entities for
qualified projects; or
``(3) making payments of interest on bonds, loans, or other
financial instruments (other than a refinancing) that are
issued to eligible entities for qualified projects.
``(b) Application.--An eligible entity that desires to receive a
grant, loan guarantee, or payment of interest under this part shall
submit an application to the Secretary at such a time, in such a
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
The application shall include--
``(1) a detailed description of the qualified project;
``(2) in the case of a qualified project described in
section 5401(6)(A)(vi), a description of the educational
outcomes to be furthered by the one-time repair of serviceable
equipment or replacement of equipment;
``(3) an indication as to whether the eligible entity
prefers to receive a grant, loan guarantee, or payment of
interest;
``(4) a description of the need for the qualified project;
``(5) a description of how the eligible entity will ensure
that the qualified project will be adequately maintained;
``(6) a description of how the qualified project will
improve instruction and educational outcomes at the facility,
including any opportunities to integrate project activities
within the curriculum of a school or institution;
``(7) a description of how the facility supported by the
qualified project will be used for providing educational
services in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or
career and technical education;
``(8) a description of how the eligible entity will
describe how the modernization, renovation, or repair supported
by the qualified project meets Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) building rating standards, Energy
Star standards, Collaborative for High Performance Schools
(CHPS) criteria, Green Building Initiative environmental design
and rating standards (Green Globes), the Living Building
Challenge certification standards, or equivalent standards
adopted by entities with jurisdiction over or related to the
eligible entity;
``(9) a description of the fiscal capacity of the eligible
entity;
``(10) the percentage of students enrolled in the eligible
entity or a school or institution served by the eligible entity
to be served by the qualified project who are from low-income
families;
``(11) in the case of a qualified project at a facility
that is used by students in a secondary school, the secondary
school graduation rates;
``(12) in the case of an eligible entity that has formed a
partnership with a private entity (which may include a
nonprofit organization, business, or other nongovernmental
entity), a description of that partnership, including how the
private entity partner will contribute to the qualified
project; and
``(13) such additional information and assurances as the
Secretary may require.
``(c) Priority.--In awarding grants, guaranteeing loans, or making
payments under subsection (a), the Secretary shall give priority to
eligible entities that have a public-private partnership as described
in subsection (b)(12).
``(d) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this
part shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal and
State funds available to carry out the activities supported under this
part.
``(e) Technical Assistance and Administrative Costs.--The Secretary
may reserve not more than 3 percent of funds appropriated under
subsection (g) for the administrative costs of this part and to provide
technical assistance to eligible entities concerning best practices in
school facility renovation, repair, and modernization.
``(f) Reporting Requirements.--Not later than 1 year after funds
are appropriated to carry out this part, and every 2 years thereafter,
the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report on the effect of the qualified projects supported
under this part on improving academic achievement.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this part not less than $100,000,000 for
fiscal year 2020 and each succeeding fiscal year.''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--The table of contents in section 2 of
the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 is amended--
(1) by redesignating the item relating to part C of title V
as part E of title V;
(2) by redesignating the items relating to sections 5301
and 5302 as the items relating to sections 5501 and 5502,
respectively; and
(3) by inserting before the item relating to part E of
title V, as so redesignated, the following:
``Part C--STEM Education Facilities
``Sec. 5301. Definitions.
``Sec. 5302. STEM education facilities improvement.
``Part D--Career and Technical Education Facilities
``Sec. 5401. Definitions.
``Sec. 5402. Career and technical facilities improvement.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
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