[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2167 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2167

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, to establish a program to support the 
modernization, renovation, or repair of career and technical education 
                  facilities, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 22, 2023

Mr. Schatz (for himself and Mr. Padilla) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
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, to establish a program to support the 
modernization, renovation, or repair of career and technical education 
                  facilities, 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 
        821,300 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 $22,000 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.
            (3) 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.
            (4) 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.
            (5) 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, and inquiry and project-based learning.
            (6) The United States has unique trust and treaty 
        obligations to provide comprehensive quality educational 
        opportunities to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native 
        Hawaiians and support Native-serving schools. However, many 
        Native American students do not have equitable access to STEM 
        educational opportunities. Surveys suggest that fewer than half 
        of all American Indian and Alaska Native public high school 
        students have access to a full range of mathematics and science 
        courses. Additionally, schools serving Native students 
        frequently dismissed and devalued traditional STEM knowledge, 
        discouraging Native student engagement in STEM areas. As a 
        result, Native Americans receive only 0.6 percent of STEM 
        undergraduate degrees and account for only 0.3 percent of the 
        United States engineering workforce.
            (7) 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.
            (8) 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.
            (9) For all of these reasons, the future workforce of the 
        United States needs safe, clean, well-equipped school 
        facilities where all students can reach their full potential 
        and learn the knowledge and skills that place them on a secure 
        pathway to enhance the capacity of the United States to compete 
        globally.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (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) Educational service agency.--The term ``educational 
        service agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 8101 
        of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 7801).
            (4) Eligible agency.--The term ``eligible agency'' means a 
        local educational agency, a consortium of local educational 
        agencies, or an educational service agency.
            (5) 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) a tribal educational agency;
                    (F) an Indian Tribe;
                    (G) a Tribal organization; or
                    (H) another entity determined appropriate by the 
                Secretary.
            (6) 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(b) of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)).
                    (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)).
            (7) 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;
                                    (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).
            (8) 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).
            (9) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (10) Local educational agency.--The term ``local 
        educational agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 
        8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 7801 et seq.).
            (11) 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).
            (12) Public-private partnership.--The term ``public-private 
        partnership'' means a partnership--
                    (A) between a State or an eligible agency 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 4(e).
            (13) Qualified stem education facility project.--The term 
        ``qualified STEM education facility project'' means--
                    (A) the modernization, renovation, or repair of 
                facilities to provide STEM classrooms or laboratories 
                (including instrumentation and major laboratory 
                equipment) and 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; or
                            (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.
            (14) Qualified cte facility project.--The term ``qualified 
        CTE facility project''--
                    (A) means the modernization, renovation, or repair 
                of a facility that will be used to improve the quality 
                and availability of STEM 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; or
                            (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.
            (15) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (16) STEM.--The term ``STEM''--
                    (A) means the fields of science, technology, 
                engineering, and mathematics, and related fields 
                (including computer science); and
                    (B) includes culturally based or traditional 
                knowledge fields in science, technology, engineering, 
                or mathematics.
            (17) Tribal educational agency.--The term ``tribal 
        educational agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 
        6132(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 7452(b)(3)).
            (18) 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).
            (19) Trust land.--The term ``trust land'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 3765 of title 38, United States Code.

SEC. 4. STEM EDUCATION FACILITIES GRANTS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary shall carry out a program to 
improve STEM education facilities by awarding grants, through 
allotments under subsection (b), to States to enable the States to 
award subgrants to eligible agencies or tribal educational agencies to 
carry out qualified STEM education facility projects at eligible 
schools.
    (b) Allotments and Use of Funds for States.--
            (1) Allotments.--From amounts appropriated to carry out 
        this section for each fiscal year and not reserved under 
        subsection (g), 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 trust 
        lands for that fiscal year.
            (2) Use of funds.--
                    (A) Reservation of funds for qualified stem 
                education facility projects at schools serving native 
                americans.--From amounts provided to a State under 
                paragraph (1), each State with 1 or more eligible 
                schools described in item (bb) or (cc) of subclause 
                (I), or subclause (II), of section 3(7)(A)(ii) shall 
                reserve not less than 10 percent of the State's 
                allotment for qualified STEM education facility 
                projects at such eligible schools.
                    (B) Use of funds for qualified stem education 
                facility projects.--A State receiving an allotment 
                under paragraph (1) shall, use the amount of such 
                allotment remaining after any reservation required 
                under subparagraph (A) to award subgrants to eligible 
                agencies to carry out qualified STEM education facility 
                projects at eligible schools.
    (c) Application.--
            (1) Grant application for states.--A State that desires to 
        receive an allotment under this section 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--
                    (A) a description of the process that the State 
                will use in selecting and awarding subgrants to 
                eligible agencies;
                    (B) an assurance that such process will meet the 
                requirements described in paragraph (2);
                    (C) an assurance that in awarding subgrants to 
                eligible agencies, the State will give priority to 
                eligible agencies that are part of a public-private 
                partnership; and
                    (D) 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).
            (2) Subgrant application.--A State that receives an 
        allotment under this section shall require an eligible agency 
        that desires a subgrant to submit an application that contains, 
        at a minimum, the following information:
                    (A) A detailed description of each qualified STEM 
                education facility project that the eligible agency 
                will carry out with subgrant funds.
                    (B) A description of the need for each such 
                qualified STEM education facility project.
                    (C) A description of how the eligible agency will 
                ensure that each qualified STEM education facility 
                project will be adequately maintained.
                    (D) An identification of the eligible schools that 
                will benefit from the qualified STEM education facility 
                projects supported under the subgrant.
                    (E) A description of how the facilities or internet 
                supported by a qualified STEM education facility 
                project will be used to provide educational services in 
                STEM during the school day and the summer, and in after 
                school programs.
                    (F) If the eligible agency 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).
    (d) Environmental Standards.--The Secretary shall encourage, but 
not require, States receiving allotments under paragraph (1) to ensure 
that the modernization, renovation, repair, or building supported by 
the qualified STEM education facility 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 States.
    (e) Matching Funds.--
            (1) States.--A State that receives a grant under this 
        section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount 
        equal to 25 percent of the amount of the State's allotment 
        under subsection (b)(1) to carry out activities supported by 
        the grant.
            (2) Eligible agencies.--An eligible agency that receives a 
        subgrant under subsection (b)(2)(B) shall provide, from non-
        Federal sources, an amount equal to 10 percent of the amount of 
        the subgrant to carry out activities supported by the subgrant.
            (3) Type of match.--A matching requirement under this 
        subsection may be provided in cash or in-kind.
            (4) Waiver authority.--The Secretary may waive the 
        requirement under this subsection for a State if the Secretary 
        determines that the State will be unable to satisfy the 
        matching requirement.
    (f) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this 
section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal 
and State funds available to carry out the activities supported under 
this section.
    (g) Technical Assistance and Administrative Costs.--The Secretary 
may reserve not more than 3 percent of funds appropriated to carry out 
this section for the administrative costs of this section and to 
provide technical assistance to States and eligible agencies concerning 
best practices in carrying out qualified STEM education facility 
projects.
    (h) Reporting Requirements.--Not later than 1 year after funds are 
appropriated to carry out this section, 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 STEM education 
facility projects supported under this section on improving academic 
achievement.

SEC. 5. CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES IMPROVEMENT.

    (a) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated to carry out 
this section, 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 CTE facility projects;
            (2) guaranteeing loans made to eligible entities for 
        qualified CTE facility 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 CTE facility 
        projects.
    (b) Application.--An eligible entity that desires to receive a 
grant, loan guarantee, or payment of interest under this section shall 
submit an application to the Secretary at such a time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may require. The 
application shall include--
            (1) a detailed description of the qualified CTE facility 
        project;
            (2) in the case of a qualified CTE facility project 
        described in section 3(14)(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 CTE 
        facility project;
            (5) a description of how the eligible entity will ensure 
        that the qualified CTE facility project will be adequately 
        maintained;
            (6) a description of how the qualified CTE facility 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 CTE facility project will be used for providing 
        educational services in STEM, or career and technical 
        education;
            (8) if the qualified CTE facility project will seek 
        sustainability certifications, then a description of how the 
        modernization, renovation, or repair supported by the qualified 
        CTE facility 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 CTE facility project who are from 
        low-income families;
            (11) in the case of a qualified CTE facility project at a 
        facility that is used by students in a secondary school (as 
        such term is defined in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801)), 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 CTE 
        facility 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 partnership described in subsection 
(b)(12).
    (d) Supplement Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this 
section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal 
and State funds available to carry out the activities supported under 
this section.
    (e) Technical Assistance and Administrative Costs.--The Secretary 
may reserve a total of not more than 3 percent of funds appropriated to 
carry out this section--
            (1) for the administrative costs of this section; and
            (2) 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 section, 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 CTE facility projects 
supported under this section on improving academic achievement.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated--
            (1) to carry out section 4, not less than $25,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2024 and each succeeding fiscal year; and
            (2) to carry out section 5, not less than $25,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2024 and each succeeding fiscal year.
                                 <all>