110 HR 2906 IH: 10th Congressional District of U.S. House of Representatives 2007-06-28 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
-I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2906 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 28, 2007 Mr. Kirk introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To establish a pilot program under which the Secretary of Education makes grants to establish and support the 10th Congressional District of Illinois School Conservation Corps.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the 10th Congressional District of Illinois School Conservation Corps Act.
2.
School Conservation Corps pilot program
(a)
Establishment
From amounts made available to carry out this section, the Secretary of Education shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary makes grants to chapters to establish and support a school conservation corps. (b)
Scope
The pilot program shall be carried out in the 10th congressional district of Illinois. (c)
Chapters
In this section, the term chapter means a group, at a public high school, consisting of at least 10 students of that high school and at least one advisor age 21 or older. (d)
Amount of grants
(1)
In general
Each grant under this section— (A)shall include a base amount of $1,000; and (B)may, at the discretion of the Secretary, include an additional amount of up to $5,000, subject to paragraph (2). (2)
Matching requirement for additional amounts
An additional amount under paragraph (1)(B) may be included only to the following extent: (A)
In general
The chapter matches each $1 of the additional amount with $1 from non-Federal sources raised by the chapter. (B)
Partnerships
The chapter matches each $1.03 of the additional amount with $1 from non-Federal sources raised by the chapter for an activity sponsored in collaboration with one or more of the following entities: (i)Illinois Open Lands. (ii)Illinois Audubon Society. (iii)Ducks Unlimited. (iv)Environmental Defense. (e)
Use of grant amounts
(1)
In general
Amounts granted under this section shall be used to sponsor activities to improve environmental protection in the region in which the pilot program is being carried out. (2)
10th congressional district of Illinois
With respect to the congressional district specified in subsection (b), the activities sponsored shall include, in order of priority, the following: (A)Providing volunteers for cleaning up the Lake Michigan watershed. (B)Finding ways for schools and families to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. (C)Establishing recycling programs for student and school waste. (D)Becoming volunteers to assist in the cleanup of Waukegan Harbor. (E)Leading seminars for local leaders and the public on the dangers of mercury pollution. (F)Meeting with local mayors and village councils to encourage their reduction of greenhouse gases and encourage recycling. (G)Forming groups to ask large companies to provide financial tax incentives to lower greenhouse gas emissions. (f)
Duration
The pilot program shall be carried out in fiscal years 2008 and 2009. (g)
Evaluation
(1)
In general
After the period of the pilot program, the Secretary shall evaluate the success of the pilot program. In carrying out the evaluation, the Secretary shall determine whether the pilot program met the following goals: (A)Achieving 29 percent of the activities specified in subsection (e)(2). (B)Involving 21 percent of all public high school students in the congressional district specified in subsection (b) with the program. (2)
Report and recommendations
Upon completing the evaluation, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the evaluation. The report shall include the Secretary’s recommendations as to whether— (A)to expand the program to other congressional districts; (B)to change the current goals; or (C)to allow the program to continue unchanged. (h)
Funding
From amounts appropriated to the Environmental Protection Agency, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall transfer to the Secretary such sums as may be necessary to carry out the pilot program.