[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 117 (Friday, August 2, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9668-S9670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AMENDMENT ACT OF 1996

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the consideration of calendar 542, S. 1873.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1873) to amend the National Environmental 
     Education Act to extend programs under the Act, and for other 
     purposes.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Environment and Public 
Works, with an amendment to strike all after the enacting clause and 
insert in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Environmental 
     Education Amendments Act of 1996''.

     SEC. 2. OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.

       Section 4 of the National Environmental Education Act (20 
     U.S.C. 5503) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (1) by inserting after ``support'' the 
     following: ``balanced and scientifically sound'';
       (B) by striking paragraph (6);
       (C) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (13) as 
     paragraphs (6) through (12), respectively; and
       (D) in paragraph (12) (as so redesignated), by inserting 
     before the period the following: ``through the headquarters 
     and the regional offices of the Agency''; and
       (2) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
       ``(c) Staff.--The Office of Environmental Education shall--
       ``(1) include a headquarters staff of not more than 10 
     full-time equivalent employees; and
       ``(2) be supported by 1 full-time equivalent employee in 
     each Agency regional office.
       ``(d) Activities.--The Administrator may carry out the 
     activities specified in subsection (b) directly or through 
     awards of grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts.''.

     SEC. 3. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS.

       Section 6 of the National Environmental Education Act (20 
     U.S.C. 5505) is amended--
       (1) in the second sentence of subsection (i), by striking 
     ``25 percent'' and inserting ``15 percent''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(j) Lobbying Activities.--A grant under this section may 
     not be used to support a lobbying activity (as described in 
     the documents issued by the Office of Management and Budget 
     and designated as OMB Circulars No. A-21 and No. A-122).''.

     SEC. 4. ENVIRONMENTAL INTERNSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS.

       (a) In General.--The National Environmental Education Act 
     is amended--
       (1) by striking section 7 (20 U.S.C. 5506); and
       (2) by redesignating sections 8 through 11 (20 U.S.C. 5507 
     through 5510) as sections 7 through 10, respectively.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--The National Environmental 
     Education Act is amended--
       (1) in the table of contents in section 1(b) (20 U.S.C. 
     prec. 5501)--
       (A) by striking the item relating to section 7; and
       (B) by redesignating the items relating to sections 8 
     through 11 as items relating to sections 7 through 10, 
     respectively;
       (2) in section 4(b) (20 U.S.C. 5503(b))--
       (A) in paragraph (6) (as redesignated by section 2(1)(C)), 
     by striking ``section 8 of this Act'' and inserting ``section 
     7''; and
       (B) in paragraph (7) (as so redesignated), by striking 
     ``section 9 of this Act'' and inserting ``section 8'';
       (3) in section 6(c)(3) (20 U.S.C. 5505(c)(3)), by striking 
     ``section 9(d) of this Act'' and inserting ``section 8(d)'';
       (4) in the matter preceding subsection (c)(3)(A) of section 
     9 (as redesignated by subsection (a)(2)), by striking 
     ``section 10(a) of this Act'' and inserting ``subsection 
     (a)''; and
       (5) in subsection (c)(2) of section 10 (as redesignated by 
     subsection (a)(2)), by striking ``section 10(d) of this Act'' 
     and inserting ``section 9(d)''.

     SEC. 5. NATIONAL EDUCATION AWARDS.

       Section 7 of the National Environmental Education Act (as 
     redesignated by section 4(a)(2)) is amended to read as 
     follows:

     ``SEC. 7. NATIONAL EDUCATION AWARDS.

       ``The Administrator may provide for awards to be known as 
     the `President's Environmental

[[Page S9669]]

     Youth Awards' to be given to young people in grades 
     kindergarten through 12 for outstanding projects to promote 
     local environmental awareness.''.

     SEC. 6. ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COUNCIL AND TASK 
                   FORCE.

       Section 8 of the National Environmental Education Act (as 
     redesignated by section 4(a)(2)) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)(2), by striking the first and second 
     sentences and inserting the following: ``The Advisory Council 
     shall consist of not more than 11 members appointed by the 
     Administrator after consultation with the Secretary. To the 
     extent practicable, the Administrator shall appoint to the 
     Advisory Council at least 1 representative from each of the 
     following sectors: primary and secondary education; colleges 
     and universities; not-for-profit organizations involved in 
     environmental education; State departments of education and 
     natural resources; business and industry; and senior 
     Americans.'';
       (2) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph (2) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(2) Membership.--Membership on the Task Force shall be 
     open to representatives of any Federal agency actively 
     engaged in environmental education.''; and
       (3) in subsection (d), by striking paragraph (1) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(1) Biennial meetings.--The Advisory Council shall hold a 
     biennial meeting on timely issues regarding environmental 
     education and issue a report and recommendations on the 
     proceedings of the meeting.''.

     SEC. 7. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING 
                   FOUNDATION.

       (a) Change in Name.--
       (1) In general.--The first sentence of subsection (a)(1)(A) 
     of section 9 of the National Environmental Education Act (as 
     redesignated by section 4(a)(2)) is amended by striking 
     ``National Environmental Education and Training Foundation'' 
     and inserting ``Foundation for Environmental Education''.
       (2) Conforming amendments.--The National Environmental 
     Education Act (20 U.S.C. 5501 et seq.) is amended--
       (A) in the item relating to section 9 (as redesignated by 
     section 4(b)(1)(B)) of the table of contents in section 1(b) 
     (20 U.S.C. prec. 5501), by striking ``National Environmental 
     Education and Training Foundation'' and inserting 
     ``Foundation for Environmental Education'';
       (B) in section 3 (20 U.S.C. 5502)--
       (i) by striking paragraph (12) and inserting the following:
       ``(12) Foundation.--`Foundation' means the Foundation for 
     Environmental Education established by section 9; and''; and
       (ii) in paragraph (13), by striking ``National 
     Environmental Education and Training Foundation'' and 
     inserting ``Foundation for Environmental Education'';
       (C) in the heading of section 9 (as redesignated by section 
     4(a)(2)), by striking ``NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION AND 
     TRAINING FOUNDATION'' and inserting ``FOUNDATION FOR 
     ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION''; and
       (D) in subsection (c) of section 10 (as redesignated by 
     section 4(a)(2)), by striking ``National Environmental 
     Education and Training Foundation'' and inserting 
     ``Foundation for Environmental Education''.
       (b) Board of Directors; Number of Directors.--The first 
     sentence of subsection (b)(1)(A) of section 9 of the National 
     Environmental Education Act (as redesignated by section 
     4(a)(2)) is amended by striking ``13'' and inserting ``19''.
       (c) Acknowledgment of Donations.--Section 9(d) of the 
     National Environmental Education Act (as redesignated by 
     section 4(a)(2)) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(3) Acknowledgment of donors.--The Foundation may 
     acknowledge receipt of donations by means of a listing of the 
     names of donors in materials distributed by the Foundation, 
     but any such acknowledgment--
       ``(A) shall not appear in educational material to be 
     presented to students; and
       ``(B) shall not identify a donor by means of a logo, 
     letterhead, or other corporate commercial symbol, slogan, or 
     product.''.

     SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 10 of the National Environmental Education Act (as 
     redesignated by section 4(a)(2)) is amended by striking 
     subsections (a) and (b) and inserting the following:
       ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out this 
     Act--
       ``(1) $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1997, 1998, 
     1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002; and
       ``(2) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 
     2003 through 2007.
       ``(b) Limitations.--
       ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), of the amounts 
     appropriated under subsection (a) for a fiscal year--
       ``(A) not more than 25 percent may be used for the 
     activities of the Office of Environmental Education;
       ``(B) not more than 25 percent may be used for the 
     operation of the environmental education and training 
     program;
       ``(C) not less than 40 percent shall be used for 
     environmental education grants; and
       ``(D) 10 percent shall be used for the Foundation for 
     Environmental Education.
       ``(2) Administrative expenses.--Of the amounts made 
     available under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year for the 
     activities of the Office of Environmental Education, not more 
     than 25 percent may be used for administrative expenses.''.

     SEC. 9. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       The amendments made by this Act shall take effect as of the 
     later of--
       (1) October 1, 1996; or
       (2) the date of enactment of this Act.

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, today the Senate is passing an important 
piece of legislation, S. 1873, the National Environmental Education Act 
amendments. I introduced this bill on June 13 along with my colleagues, 
Senators Chafee, Lieberman, Faircloth, Kempthorne, Moynihan, Reid, and 
Lugar. Since that date nine more senators have joined me in this 
bipartisan show of support for this legislation.
  This bill will reauthorize the educational efforts at the National 
Environmental Education and Training Foundation and the EPA's Office of 
Environmental Education. These programs support environmental education 
at the local level. They provide grant money and seed money to 
encourage local primary and secondary schools and universities to 
educate children on environmental issues.
  With the importance of the environment and the continuing debate on 
how best to protect it, it is vital to educate our children so that 
they truly understand how the environment functions.
  Over the last few years environmental education has been criticized 
for being one-sided and heavy-handed. People have accused environmental 
advocates of trying to brainwash children and of pushing an 
environmental agenda that is not supported by the facts or by science. 
They also accuse the Federal Government of setting one curriculum 
standard and forcing all schools to subscribe to their views. This is 
not how these two environmental education programs have worked, and I 
have taken specific steps to ensure that they never work this way.
  The programs that this act reauthorizes have targeted the majority of 
their grants at the local level, allowing the teachers in our community 
schools to design their environmental programs to teach our children, 
and this is where the decisions should be made. In addition, the grants 
have not been used for advocacy or to lobby the Government, as other 
grant programs have been accused of doing.
  This legislation accomplishes two important functions. First, it 
cleans up the current law to make the programs run more efficiently. 
And second, it places two very important safeguards in the program to 
ensure its integrity in the future.
  I have placed in this bill language to ensure that the EPA programs 
are balanced and scientifically sound. It is important that 
environmental education is presented in an unbiased and balanced 
manner. The personal values and prejudices of the educators should not 
be instilled in our children. Instead we must teach them to think for 
themselves after they have been presented with all of the facts and 
information. Environmental ideas must be grounded in sound science and 
not emotional bias. While these programs have not been guilty of this 
in the past, this is an important safeguard to protect the future of 
environmental education.
  Second, I have included language which prohibits any of the funds to 
be used for lobbying efforts. While these programs have not used the 
grant process to lobby the Government, there are other programs which 
have been accused of this and this language will ensure that this 
program never becomes a vehicle to lobby Congress or the Executive 
branch.
  This bill also makes a number of housekeeping changes to the programs 
which are supported by both the EPA and the Education Foundation which 
will both streamline the programs and make them more efficient.
  For those people who remain concerned about the Federal role in 
environmental education let me assure everyone that I will be 
personally monitoring these programs. If there are abuses or 
questionable grants or programs I will be the first to call for an 
investigation or to invoke the oversight functions of Congress. 
Educating our children is a serious matter and should not be abused by 
anyone. It is my intent and goal that these programs provide objective 
material in a balanced and scientifically sound manner that does not 
instill any particular viewpoint in our Nation's youths. We need to 
teach our children the facts and let them reach their own conclusions, 
and I believe this bill accomplishes this goal.
  I thank my colleagues for supporting this bill and I hope the House 
can act

[[Page S9670]]

quickly and this legislation can be signed into law.
  Mr. CHAFEE. Mr. President, I join Senator Inhofe in urging the Senate 
to pass S. 1873, the National Environmental Education Act Amendments of 
1996. I commend Senator Inhofe for his leadership on this bill. Mr. 
Inhofe and other members of the Senate Environment and Public Works 
Committee have crafted a reauthorization of the National Environmental 
Education Act of 1990. It is a bipartisan bill sponsored by 11 members 
of the Environment and Public Works Committee, including myself and 
Senators Inhofe, Baucus, Lieberman, Faircloth, Kempthorne, Moynihan, 
Reid, Lautenberg, Smith, and Graham.
  S. 1873 extends the authorization for programs authorized by the 
National Environmental Education Act until 2007. The bill also includes 
a number of changes to make programs authorized under the act operate 
more effectively and efficiently.
  The goal of the National Environmental Education Act is to increase 
public understanding of the environment and to advance and develop 
environmental education and training.
  The act has been successful in supporting environmental education 
through grants and training programs aimed at schools, nature centers, 
museums, and other educational organizations. The act has benefited 
thousands of teachers and millions of students--children and adults.
  Educational programs supported through this act increase the public's 
awareness and knowledge about environmental issues, and provide them 
with the skills needed to make informed decisions.
  I urge my colleagues to support passage of this important 
environmental education legislation.
  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
committee substitute be agreed to, the bill be deemed read the third 
time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any 
statements relating to this bill appear at the appropriate place in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1873), as amended, was deemed read the third time and 
passed.

                          ____________________