II 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3622 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 26 (legislative day, September 17), 2008 Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Levin, and Mr. Brown) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To establish a grant program to promote the conservation of the Great Lakes and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Great Lakes Conservation Education Act.

2.

Purpose

The purpose of this Act is to establish a competitive grant program to increase knowledge about, raise awareness of, and educate the public on the importance of conservation of the Great Lakes in order to improve the overall health of the Great Lakes.

3.

Great Lakes education grants

(a)

Authority To award

The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to award grants to eligible entities to carry out eligible activities. (b)

Eligible entity defined

In this Act, the term eligible entity means an educational entity or a nonprofit nongovernmental organization, consortium, or other entity that the Secretary of Commerce finds has a demonstrated record of success in carrying out conservation education or outreach programs. (c)

Eligible activity defined

In this Act, the term eligible activity means an activity carried out in a State, or across multiple States, that is adjacent to one of the Great Lakes that provides hands-on or real world experiences to increase knowledge about, raise awareness of, or provide education regarding the importance of conservation of the Great Lakes and on actions individuals can take to promote such conservation, including— (1)educational activities for students that are consistent with elementary and secondary learning standards established by a State; (2)professional development activities for educators; (3)Great Lakes conservation activities that have been identified by a State and adjacent States as a regional priority; or (4)Great Lakes stewardship and place-based education activities. (d)

Use of subcontractors

An eligible entity awarded a grant under subsection (a) to carry out an eligible activity may utilize subcontractors to carry out such activity.

4.

Reports

(a)

Reports from grantees

The Secretary of Commerce may require an eligible entity awarded a grant under section 3(a) to submit to the Secretary a report describing each activity that was carried out with the grant funds. The Secretary may require such report to include information on any subcontractor utilized by the eligible entity to carry out an activity. (b)

Reports from the Secretary

Not later than December 31, 2010, and once every 3 years thereafter, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to Congress a report on the grant program authorized by section 3(a). Each such report shall include a description— (1)of the eligible activities carried out with grants awarded under section 3(a) during the previous fiscal year and an assessment of the success of such activities; (2)of the type of education and outreach programs carried out with such grants, disaggregated by State; and (3)of the number of schools, and schools reached through a formal partnership with an eligible entity awarded such a grant, involved in carrying out such programs.

5.

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each fiscal year to carry out this Act.